How many "Switzerland" in Germany? Deutschsprachige Lander. Die Schweiz - German speaking countries
Do you love chocolate? And the mountains? And the huge blue lakes with clear water? And the sea?
But stop… No!… There is no sea HERE. I got carried away too much. But everything else is there! Still as it is!
And where do you think it is?
Well, tighten your convolutions a little ...
Hint: it's not in Italy... although close by...
Whoever could, he already guessed it ... And who, due to the January frosts, is late with a reaction, then it’s okay too ... Because now we will all be there.
Where? Yes, of course, in Switzerland!
To be more precise, it is in German Switzerland. And to be completely on point, then we are with you in the area of \u200b\u200bAlpine German Switzerland in the canton of Graubünden near the world-famous ski resort of St. Moritz.
How did you and I get here? Yes, as usual ... On Sunday morning, they got into their car with the thought "let's go to"! And let's go. Switzerland from Samara
Delov then? Only some 150 km. And besides, the road lay through Bergamo, and then through the beautiful Como (Lago di Como). Which is lazily spread out against the backdrop of the Alpine mountains in all its breathtaking beauty:
And so we crossed the Italian-Swiss border. By the way, there are no problems at the border for Italian citizens or for foreigners who have a residence permit in Italy. Although Switzerland is not a member of the European Union or the Schengen area, there are agreements between it and the European Union on unhindered entry and exit from the country for EU citizens and for foreigners who have a legalized right to reside in the EU countries.
Switzerland has its own money - Swiss francs, although without any problems you can pay in euros. The approximate ratio of the euro to the Swiss franc is 1.2 francs per 1 euro.
Considering that in recent months fuel prices in Italy have increased monstrously (from 1.3 euros per liter of diesel in the summer of 2011 to 1.8 euros per liter in January 2112), many Italians living in the area bordering Switzerland drive refuel in Switzerland. Previously, it was the other way around: the Swiss went to refuel in Italy because fuel in Switzerland has always been very expensive. Now (at the end of January 2012) the cost of a liter of diesel fuel in Switzerland is about 1.55 euros / liter, which is in any case cheaper than in Italy.
In general, we, too, having refueled at a border gas station, headed up to the Alps, closer to St. Moritz.
If even at the border the air temperature was about + 8⁰С and there were no hints of snow at all. (And this is at an altitude of about 1000 meters above sea level). Then, having risen up to a height of about 1400 meters above sea level, snow was already lying everywhere, although the temperature was not very low, but rather, on the contrary, + 5⁰С.
Let's admire the photo of Switzerland together?
And we met this lovely lake already descending back to Italy:
And this is the last Swiss village before the Swiss-Italian border:
1 day
Zurich
Arrival in Zurich. Transfer to the hotel.
Zurich sightseeing tour - 2 hours: A walk through the center of the largest and most important region in Switzerland...
Bahnhofstrasse, a unique bank street, each meter of which is worth all the gold. Exclusive fashion boutiques, department stores and street cafes. Lindenhof is an oasis of relaxation in the old town, offering a magnificent view of the right bank of the Limmat river. On this hill you will find the ruins of the Roman fortress Turicum. Goethe used to visit here...
The largest dial in Europe (8.7 m in diameter) on the oldest church in Zurich - St. Peter's Church. Fraumünster is a former church and orphanage for noble maidens, and also a gift to the city from King Ludwig of Germany. The world-famous windows of Marc Chagall adorn this particular church. Grossmünster is a symbol of the city with its 2 towers, from where the reformation began under the leadership of Zwingli and Bullinger in the first half of the 16th century. Niederdolph, a pedestrian area with small streets full of small shops, bars and restaurants. Spiegelgasse - the street on which Lenin worked on the preparation of the Russian Revolution in house number 14.
2 day
Zurich - Rhine Falls - Cities on the Rhine - Zurich
Excursion to the Rhine Falls and cities on the Rhine - 5 hours: Journey to the largest and most powerful waterfall in Europe - the Rhine Falls. Such a volume of falling water will surprise everyone without exception.
Walk through the fabulous cities on the Rhine - Schaffhausen and Steim am Rhein. The latter is located right on the border with Germany and has one of the most beautiful squares in Switzerland with painted houses. Schaffhausen is a medieval town with a round fortress from the 16th century.
3 day
Zurich - Rapperswil (zug, Winterthur) - Lucerne
Departure from the hotel.
Excursion to Rapperswil - 3 hours: If you love roses, then you simply cannot miss visiting this city on the shores of Lake Zurich. A 13th-century castle whose entrance, instead of a massive oak door and iron bars, is made of roses. At the foot of the mountain on which the castle stands, there is a vineyard and a rose garden, which has more than 600 types of roses in its collection.
Even in Rapperswil there is a wonderful embankment, with the already familiar beggar swans and ducks, which have retained the remnants of self-respect and feed on something independently caught from the water. The embankment is planted with strange trees, somewhat reminiscent of chestnuts. Walk through the old city.
Excursion to Winterthur - 3 hours: Visit to a quiet green university town where bicycles are the means of transportation. The Winterthur Museum of Photography is one of the finest in Europe, and on top of the wooded hill above the city is the Oskar Reinhart Museum, home to an amazing collection of art from Holbein to Renoir.
Transfer to Lucerne (40 min). Hotel accommodation. Overnight in Lucerne.
Day 4
Zurich - Lucerne
Sightseeing tour of Lucerne - 2 hours: On the edge of the Firwaldstätt Lake, among the gentle hills, lies Lucerne, known for its unique surrounding landscapes throughout the world. Walking around the city will help you discover everything that this magical city is famous for. Water tower (Wasserturm) and covered bridge built in the first half of the 14th century. The famous paintings that appeared under the ridge of the bridge in the 17th century reflect events from the history of Switzerland of that period and the biography of Leodegar and Maurishius, the patron saints of Lucerne. The bridge is the oldest surviving wooden bridge in Europe! A walk along Weinmarkt Square, where once the inhabitants of Lucerne decided to unite with the cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwald, which gave rise to the Swiss Confederation. A visit to the Franciscan Church, considered one of the most beautiful Gothic churches in central Switzerland, and has the most beautiful pulpit in the country. Inspection of the Musegg wall, fortified with towers, which today is considered one of the longest and best preserved fortification walls in Switzerland. The oldest clock in the city, built by Hans Luther in 1535, is located on the Zyt tower. This clock is allowed to chime every hour one minute earlier than all other Lucerne city clocks! The Dying Lion is one of the most famous monuments in the world. Visit the Hof Church - the most important church building in the Renaissance style in Switzerland.
Day 5
Lucerne
Boat trip on the lake. Free time. Overnight in Lucerne.
Day 6
Lucerne - Bern
Departure from the hotel. Transfer to Bern (1 hour by car or train).
Sightseeing tour of Bern - 2 hours: Visiting the Old City, visiting the famous Bernese fountains dating back to the 16th century, the Parliament building, the ancient Cathedral, the Clock Tower (one of the oldest clock mechanisms in Europe, a clock with a fight and figures), the Opera House and Town halls. The famous Bearpit is a pit with bears, the symbol of Bern.
Day 7
Berne
Excursion to the medieval village of Gruyères - 6 hours: The Swiss firmly believe that their cheese is the best in the world. And if they do not have the same reverent attitude towards him as the neighbors of the French, then only from national modesty. One of the main centers of cheese making is Gruyere. A visit to a medieval castle of the 11th century, a local cheese factory, a frightening and slightly gloomy museum of the Swiss surrealist artist H.R. Alien movie, a Gigerian horror-style bar, and a tasting of traditional Swiss cheese dishes in a restaurant in a medieval village.
Day 8
Bern - Zurich
Transfer to Zurich airport (1 hour by car or train). Return flight.
Translation
Switzerland lies in the heart of Europe. It borders with Germany, Austria, Italy and France.
Switzerland is a mountainous country. The Alps define almost the entire landscape of the country. The largest rivers are Rhine, Rhone, Tessin, Inn, Aare. Switzerland has many small and larger lakes. The country does not have many minerals (asbestos, iron ore, coal). The country's greatest wealth is mountain air and a healthy climate, which is why Switzerland is a great place to attract many tourists from all over the world.
Switzerland has a long and interesting history. In 1291, three Swiss cantons entered into a defensive alliance as a defense against the Habsburg conquerors. This year is considered the founding year of Switzerland. Later, other cantons joined this union. A republic appeared, which became the current Switzerland.
Switzerland was guaranteed "perpetual neutrality" in 1815. Since that time, Switzerland has not taken part in any war. The policy of neutrality has led to the fact that many international organizations have their residences in Switzerland.
Switzerland is a federal country that consists of 26 cantons. Federation bodies: the Federal Assembly, the Bundesrat (Federal Council), and the Federal Court. Legislative power is vested in the Federal Assembly. The highest executive body is the Federal Council. The seat of the Federal Assembly and the Federal Council is Bern, the capital of the country. The population is 6.5 million inhabitants. Most of the population (72%) speaks German. German, French and Italian are equal national and state languages.
Switzerland is a highly developed industrial country. The economy is almost entirely based on imported raw materials and fuels, since its own mineral deposits are very small. The most prominent source of energy is water energy. The most important branches of industry: textile and light industry, machine and apparatus building, chemical industry. Switzerland produces more than half of the world's watches.
Agriculture does not cover the needs of the population, so many agricultural products are imported. Animal husbandry, cultivation of grain crops and fruit growing are the most developed. The economy as a whole is export-oriented (watches, looms).
Switzerland is a small country. But the contrast between its size and the role it plays in Europe's economy and politics has made the country a "little giant."
“Switzerland is a paradise,” Queen Elizabeth said so briefly and very accurately about this country.
There is an old parable that tells how, when God distributed natural resources on our planet, he did not have enough of them for only a small Switzerland.
And in order to restore justice, the Lord gave this country mountains with snow-white peaks, reminiscent of heavenly castles, bewitching waterfalls, countless rivers and lakes, and picturesque fertile plains. So, Switzerland has become a real embodiment of divine wisdom, more like paradise than reality.
Regions of Switzerland
Switzerland can be conditionally divided into three main geographical regions: the Jura mountain range, the Swiss plateau, and, of course, the visiting card of the country - the Alps. The area of the entire territory is 41,285 km2. Switzerland borders on five countries: in the south with Italy, in the north with Germany, in the east it is surrounded by Austria and Liechtenstein, and in the west is France. Thus, three European cultures converge here as a focus - French, German and Italian.
The Swiss Confederation consists of 20 cantons and 6 semi-cantons, each of which has its own culture, customs and its own capital. Some of the cantons are German-speaking, some are French-speaking, one is Italian-speaking. In addition, there are bilingual cantons - German and French are spoken there.
According to the Constitution, the official languages of Switzerland are German, French, Italian and Romansh.
German
The bulk of the Swiss population lives in the German-speaking cantons. In 19 of the 26 cantons, predominantly Swiss dialects are spoken.
French
In the west of the country, in Romandic Switzerland (Suisse romande), French is spoken. 4 cantons are French-speaking: Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel and Jura. 3 cantons are bilingual: the cantons of Bern, Friborg and Wallis speak German and French.
Italian language
In the canton of Ticino and in the four southern valleys of the canton of Graubünden, Italian is spoken.
Romansh
In the canton of Graubünden, three languages are spoken: German, Italian and Romansh. Romansh belongs to the smallest language group in Switzerland, accounting for 0.5% of the total population.
Other languages
The linguistic diversity of Switzerland, which has developed historically over many centuries, is complemented by the languages of foreigners emigrating to this country. According to the results of the 2000 census, emigrants from the countries of the former Yugoslavia constitute the largest language group among other foreigners, accounting for 1.4% of the total population.
Linguistic minorities
About 35,000 Rhaetomans usually know German in addition to their native language. They have no other choice because they are linguistic minorities. Italo-Swiss also cannot do without knowledge of other national languages.
The predominantly populous and economically developed German-speaking part of Switzerland encourages Italian-speaking Swiss to learn German in order to maintain the economic and political importance of their region.
Cantons of Switzerland
West of Switzerland this territory is a huge natural park with deep canyons, beautiful lakes and picturesque mountain slopes, planted vineyards and stretching from Lake Geneva through the Jura mountain ranges to the plains of the Rhine. The western part of Switzerland covers several French-speaking cantons: Vaud, Valais, Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, Friborg, Solothurn, Valais and partly Basel-Land.
This region is often referred to as the "Swiss Riviera". Here are the largest Alpine lakes - Geneva (Leman) and Neuchâtel, spread out in the so-called Valley of the Clock not far from the French border.
Northern part The country stretches along the Swiss Plateau, starting from Lake Geneva and ending at Lake Constance, it rests in the northwest on the Jura Mountains and smoothly passes into the foothills of the Alps in the south. There are a large number of ancient cities, clear lakes, waterfalls and emerald green vineyards on vast plains.
East End Switzerland is considered one of the most picturesque regions of Europe. Between the mountain ranges, the most beautiful natural lakes are hidden, surrounded by a colorful flower carpet of alpine meadows. This part of the country is the main sports center of the country. For fans of outdoor activities, the doors of numerous resorts, hotels and traditional chalets in small villages are open all year round.
central part The country is considered "the most Swiss" - here are the most developed mountain areas, magnificent green valleys, endless alpine meadows of the Bernese Highlands with the purest mountain rivers and lakes and many colorful settlements with ancient castles, cozy chalets and modern hotels.
In central Switzerland on the shores of Lake Zurich is the largest city in the country - Zurich - the financial and economic center of the country. The lake gives the city a unique charm. One of the best places for evening walks in Zurich is the shore of the lake, along which a chain of parks and embankments stretches.
Here in central Switzerland is Lake Lucerne - the lake of the Four Forest Cantons. It is surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks and emerald forests. On the charming shores of the lake there are cozy resort towns: Brunnen, Vitznau, Weggis and the center of the country's cultural life - Lucerne.
South part Switzerland covers the three largest cantons. The cantons of Valais and Graubünden have the largest number of famous ski resorts.
And the canton of Ticino, being the southernmost and sunniest region, offers its guests a relaxing holiday on the shores of transparent lakes or hiking in the mountains, which offer beautiful panoramic views.
The south of the country borders Italy and is an elegant resort area with promenades, trendy shops, restaurants, cafes and stunning landscapes.
Lugano is called the European Rio de Janeiro in miniature. This is an excellent resort for a classic holiday with a mild Mediterranean climate. In the same region is Lake Maggiore with a typical Italian landscape and lush vegetation.
The uniquely located town of Ascona - on the shores of the lake, between the mountains, at an altitude of only 194 meters above sea level - is one of the most prestigious lake resorts in Switzerland.
Approximately 66% of Swiss speak German, which is approximately 4.9 million people - quite a lot for a country with 8.4 million inhabitants. However, Swiss German differs significantly from Standard German. In this case, it is necessary to distinguish between two main variants of Swiss German. The first is the Swiss version of the literary German language (German: Schweizerhochdeutsch or Schriftdeutsch). In this case, we are talking mainly about written German in the form in which it is used in Switzerland. This national variant of German has certain differences from literary German in terms of vocabulary, phonetics and spelling. The second is the Swiss dialect of the German language (German: Schweizerdeutsch, in dialect - Schwizerdütsch or Schwiizertüütsch), which exists primarily in oral form. This option differs from the literary German already much stronger. A survey conducted by the Swiss radio DRS among students at the University of Zurich in 2006 showed that 80% of those surveyed consider literary German a foreign language.
Swiss Literary German is not very different from the German used in Germany and Austria. Basically, these differences relate to vocabulary, word formation, spelling, phonetics and, to a lesser extent, grammar. As for written German, in Switzerland, for example, the absence of the letter “ß” (esset, German Eszett), which is replaced by a double “s”, catches the eye. In Swiss schools, the rules for the use of this letter are not taught; "ß" is absent from Swiss computer keyboards. 99% of the texts are written in German-speaking Switzerland in this particular version of German: articles in newspapers and magazines, books, texts in official publications of government bodies, publications and correspondence of companies. At the same time, there are certain small differences within this version of German. For example, different people may well have different ideas about spelling. Thus, in 1971, the NZZ newspaper published a 155-page reference manual on Swiss German spelling with the Latin name "Vademecum" (i.e. reference book), which at first was intended only for "internal use". NZZ has established "its" spelling standards in this directory, which are strongly encouraged to be used when writing and editing articles in this newspaper. On the occasion of NZZ's 225th anniversary in 2005, the handbook went on sale.
The Swiss dialect is the collective name for a whole group of dialects of the Alemannic dialect, which are spoken by the inhabitants of German-speaking Switzerland. There is simply no single Swiss dialect for the whole country: residents speak differently than residents or. Virtually every German-speaking canton in Switzerland has its own dialect. Therefore, it would be correct to speak not of the Swiss dialect, but of the Bernese, Basel or Zurich dialect. If the standard Swiss form of greeting in Zurich is "Grüezi", then in Bern it will be "Grüessech". By the way, many foreigners sometimes take months to learn the correct pronunciation of this word.
But that's not all: in Switzerland, there may well be varieties of dialect within the same canton. In many ways, the Swiss dialect is close to the South German dialects. Therefore, the people of southern Germany understand their Swiss neighbors much better than the people of Hamburg, Kiel or Berlin. At the same time, the differences between different dialects can be very significant: for example, many Swiss from Zurich or Bern do not always understand the inhabitants of the canton of Valais.
Tangible differences
The differences between the dialect and literary German in Switzerland are so tangible that even a special term is used for this - Helvetism (German: Helvetismus). This means the words used by the Swiss who speak the dialect. However, these words are not typical for Germans or Austrians. The corresponding dictionaries contain hundreds and thousands, and sometimes several tens of thousands of Helvetisms. And the Swiss dialectological dictionary (German "Schweizerisches Idiotikon. Wörterbuch der schweizerdeutschen Sprache") consists of 17 volumes. A significant part of the Helvetianisms originates in the Alemannic dialect. There are also many borrowings from French, somewhat less from English. A few examples are shown in the table below. Already on the basis of this small table, one can see how big the differences exist between the Swiss dialect and the German literary language.
| Russian translation | Literary German | |
| Anke | butter | Butter |
| Cheminee | fireplace | Kamin |
| Chuchichaschtli | Kitchen Cabinet | Kuchenschrank |
| Coiffeur | hairdresser | Friseur |
| Egli | river perch | Flussbarsch |
| Gipfeli | croissant | Hornchen |
| Glace | ice cream | speiseeis |
| Goalie | goalkeeper | Torhuter |
| Gschwellti | jacket potatoes | Pellkartoffeln |
| Lavabo | wash basin | waschbecken |
| ladele | shop | einkaufen |
| lisme | to knit | stricken |
| parat | ready | bereit |
| Pneu | car tire | autoreifen |
| Poulet | chicken | Huhn |
| Randen | beet | rote Beete |
| Ruebli | carrot | karotte |
| tonen | sound | klingen |
| Verlag | mess | Durcheinander |
| Zmorge | breakfast | Fruhstuck |
The dialect in German-speaking Switzerland is spoken by all segments of the population. The Swiss dialect is not a sign of poor education or upbringing: it can be heard from the postman, the loader, the banker, the doctor and the director of a large firm. Also, when communicating verbally with the authorities, both citizens and officials communicate in a dialect.
In Swiss schools, teaching is conducted in literary German. However, many experts drew attention to the fact that the share of dialect in schools is increasing every year. The dialect is also very common on radio and television in Switzerland. On private television and radio channels, practically only the dialect is used. In literary German, only news, political programs and cultural programs are broadcast. Entertainment and music programs, many series, soap operas, sports programs, interviews and discussions are usually in the Swiss dialect.
Often, the Swiss even speak dialect with tourists: going on a tour of the building of the Swiss Parliamentary Assembly, you may encounter the fact that the tour will be conducted in the Bernese dialect. Although in the parliament itself German-speaking deputies read their speeches in literary German. The dialect is used primarily orally. Recently, however, it has been increasingly used in writing, especially among the younger generation: in email correspondence, in the form of SMS messages, in chats. The written form of the Swiss dialect can also be found in newspapers: primarily in private ads, and especially in dating ads.
