WORKING IN SWITZERLAND

Cities

More about Switzerland and its cities can be found on the website: www.myswitzerland.com

Zürich

About 1/7th (1,187,600) of the population of Switzerland lives in the canton of Zürich. Zürich was established in 15 B.C. as the Roman customs post Turicum and has enjoyed city status since the 10th century. Zürich joined the Swiss confederation in 1351. The 19th century saw the city rise to become the financial and business capital of Switzerland. Zürich and its enchanting surroundings will delight you, with its cobbled streets, alpine panoramas, parks, rivers, mountains and lakes. Zürich (our little big city) has a variety of experiences to offer: street parties, street parades, watersports, in-line skating areas around the lake, outdoor cafes and sports, open air theatres and concerts in the summer; skiing and ice-skating, shows and operas, live concerts and museums, fondues and wine-tasting on boats in the winter.

The local language is Züridüutsch, a sub-dialect of Swiss-German, a group of dialects that differ considerably from the German spoken in Germany.

The city has a lot to offer lovers of architecture and art: the Fraumünster church with its Chagall windows; the twin spires of the Grossmünster; the impressive private collection of E.G. Bührle, to mention but a few delights.

The speciality restaurants, luxurious dining rooms and elegant cigar bars are a constant temptation for a little daily self-indulgence.

For more information on Zürich, go to: www.zurichtourism.ch

Basel

Basel is made up of two half-cantons: Basel Stadt and Basel Land.

Basel is both a frontier town and an important European commercial centre. Situated in the Upper Rhine valley in the heart of the region known as the point where three countries meet, it enjoys close cooperation with neighbouring France and Germany. With nearly 177,000 inhabitants, Basel is Switzerland’s second largest city after Zürich.

The local language is Baseldytsch, the Basel dialect of Swiss-German, a group of dialects that differ considerably from the German spoken in Germany

Basel is a major commercial centre for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries (it is home to world-famous companies such as the Novartis and Roche groups), while banking is also an important activity (Union Bank of Switzerland, the Bank for International Settlements).

Finally, this unique city enjoys a reputation as Switzerland’s cultural centre and boasts over thirty museums, numerous art galleries, and a lively contemporary and classical music and drama scene. The Messe Basel exhibition centre is Switzerland’s leading venue for trade fairs, congresses and symposiums and is host to major science, computer technology, transportation, watches and jewellery, art and antique fairs.

For more information about Basel, go to: www.baseltourismus.ch

Bern

The capital city featuring arcades and bears.

Bern began life in 1191 as a fortress town peopled by a colony of knights. Bern is derived from the German word for bear, and the bear is on the city’s coat of arms - legend has it that the town’s founder Berchtold V, Duke of Zähringen, named it Bern after killing one of the beasts during a hunt. The Bern of today is the federal capital and the political heart of Switzerland. Bern also lies at the geographical heart of Switzerland, where it is situated on a peninsula carved out of sandstone by the River Aare. With around 130,000 inhabitants, Bern is Switzerland’s fourth largest city.

The local language is Bärndütsch, another sub-dialect of Swiss-German

Thanks to its well-preserved architecture, Bern has retained a great deal of its medieval feel, and is listed in the UNESCO catalogue as one of the world’s major cultural assets. The city offers a great many historical and architectural gems such as towers, fountains and bridges, and its geranium-covered houses have also earned it the title of Europe’s most flower-decorated city.

Art and culture have always played an important role in the life of the Bernese. Bern’s world-famous museums, its old and established university, theatres, cultural caverns, concert halls, auctions and exhibitions attract visitors from around the world.

Bern is also an important commercial centre and its industrial activity includes and telecommunications, scientific instruments (the solar sail for the American moon missions was designed at the University of Bern), textiles, and chocolate (Bern is home to the world-famous Toblerone chocolate), the graphics industry, and machine engineering.

Visit the Bärengraben (stone Bear Pits, home to Bern’s living symbol) the Käfigturm (Prisoners‘ Tower and western entrance to thirteenth century Bern) the Zytglogge (sixteenth-century Clock Tower with astronomical clock and famous figure-play) and the Bundeshaus and Bundesterrasse (House of Parliament with a view of the Bernese Alps from the terrace). Women do appreciate Bern in particular for it’s 7 km of under cover shopping arcades.

For more information about Bern, go to: www.bernetourism.ch

Geneva

Located in the southwest corner of Switzerland between the Alps, the Jura mountains and Lake Geneva, the city has been immortalised by many poets and writers. The Rhone and the Arve are the main rivers which flow through this charming city which lies at an elevation of 373m above sea level. Geneva, home of the United Nations and the Red Cross, is the birthplace of democracy. Climb up to Cathedral St Pierre in the old town, stroll along the lake promenade and watch the sun set over the famous fountain. A short drive across the border will take you to Evian, famous for its mineral water.

For more information on this cosmopolitan city, go to: www.geneva-tourism.ch

A visit to Switzerland wouldn’t be complete without visiting: Lucerne, with its Transport Museum and lake steamers; Lausanne and its Olympic museum; Gruyère, home of the famous cheese; the Rhine Falls in Neuhausen, the Montreux Jazz Festival and Chateau Chillon, the Lago Maggiore, skiing or sledding down the Little Matterhorn in Zermatt and walking or cycling in the Bernese mountains.

We look forward to welcoming you to Switzerland soon!