Switzerland
By Reeti Nagayach Period 6 4/28/15
Switzerland Flag
Switzerland Political Map
Switzerland Physical Map
Climate/Weather
Culture
Languages
- German
- French
- Italian
- Romansh
- The crystal globes represent the simplicity of light.
- The snowflakes represent the four distinct regions of Switzerland.
- The stars represent not only the light from heaven but also the guiding light and the joy of light.
- The white candles made of traditional wax represent the pure white season of light.
- Only real candles decorate the tree not electric ones.
- The star treetop represents the star of Bethlehem.
The Rhine Falls
To stand high above Europe's largest waterfall, feeling the roar and vibration of the water over one's entire body - this can be experienced at the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen.
Due to tectonic shifts in the Ice Age, the Rhine River was forced into a new riverbed over 15,000 years ago. The Rhine Falls came into being at the transition point where hard chalk turned into soft gravel. Over a breadth of 150 meters, several hundred cubic meters of water rush into the depths at the rate of 23 meters per second.
Chillon Castle
Chillon Castle is located on a rock on the banks of Lake Geneva. The water castle is the most visited historic building in Switzerland. More than 300,000 guests visit Chillon per year. They view the wall paintings from the 14th century, the subterranean vaults, parade halls and the bedroom (which has been preserved in its original form) dating to the time of Bernese rule. The entire complex consists of 25 buildings and three courtyards, protected by two circular walls.
Aletsch
Incredibly immense, incredibly beautiful: the Large Aletsch Glacier is the Alps' mightiest ice flow. And the most popular, for it is easily accessible and is ideally situated for extensive hikes, winter sports and special nature excursions.The Aletsch region is part of a Unesco World Heritage Site. And not just because the "Large Aletsch Glacier", which carries an incredible 27 billion tons of ice, is the largest glacier of the Alps. The entire region is a habitat for many rare animal and plant species, for instance in the Aletsch Forest.
Current Information
- Swiss Franc
- 1 Swiss Franc=1.07 US Dollar
- Formally a confederation but similar in structure to a federal republic
- Federal President: Simonetta Sommaruga
- Switzerland’s economic freedom score is 80.5, making its economy the 5th freest in the 2015 Index
- Economy relies heavily on banking, precision manufacturing, metals, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and electronics
- Exports: Pharmaceuticals, machines, engines, pumps, clocks, watches, gems, precious metals, coins, organic chemicals, medical & technical & electronic equipment, plastics, oil, iron & steel products
Cheese Fondue
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound imported Swiss cheese, shredded
- 1/2 pound Gruyere cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 garlic clove, peeled
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon cherry brandy, such as kirsch
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
- Pinch nutmeg
- Assorted dippers
Directions
In a small bowl, coat the cheeses with cornstarch and set aside. Rub the inside of the ceramic fondue pot with the garlic, then discard.
Over medium heat, add the wine and lemon juice and bring to a gentle simmer. Gradually stir the cheese into the simmering liquid. Melting the cheese gradually encourages a smooth fondue. Once smooth, stir in cherry brandy, mustard and nutmeg.
Arrange an assortment of bite-sized dipping foods on a lazy Susan around fondue pot. Serve with chunks of French and pumpernickel breads. Some other suggestions are Granny Smith apples and blanched vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and asparagus. Spear with fondue forks or wooden skewers, dip, swirl and enjoy!
Transportation & Lodging
Flight Information
- $632.00 from Swiss airlines
- From Chicago to Zurich
Hotel Information
- Wellenberg Swiss Quality Hotel
- $1,626.06 for 6 nights
In the heart of Zurich‘s historic center, Wellenberg Swiss Quality Hotel is just a 5-minute walk from the famous Bahnhofstrasse Shopping Street. It features free Wi-Fi, a fine restaurant, a bar and a 24-hour front desk. A rich buffet breakfast is available. All units are soundproof and include a private bathroom, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, a kettle, minibar and a safe.
Itinerary
Landesmuseum- The Swiss National Museum (SNM) covers several locations and collections. The building which houses this prestigious art museum was constructed in 1898 according to the design of Gustav Gull. The building was inspired by French Renaissance Chateaus, castle-looking country homes.
Lindenhof Hill- A moraine hill which means it was formed thousands of years ago by glacially formed accumulation of soil and rock. Today it is the only public park within the city walls and a quaint shaded square.
Fraumunster- The Fraumunster church dates back to the 9th century when the abbey for women was established by Louis the German specifically for his daughter Hildegard. Here women were given refuge and were protected.
Grossmunster- Legend has it that this church stands on the site of three ancient graves. The graves were believed to belong to three 3rd century saints who refused to renounce their faith even after being tortured with boiling oil and being made to drink molten lead. Finally having still not renounced their faith they were beheaded on the site where the nearby Wasserkirche stands. Then the invincible saints picked up their heads and climbed a hill, dug their own graves and jumped in.
Kunsthaus- The art held in this modern art museum spans from the Middle Ages to contemporary art and comes from across the globe but with an emphasis on Swiss artists. The collection covers paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, photography and video art.
Citations
Heritage.org. Heritage Foundation, n.d. Web. 3 May 2015. <http://www.heritage.org/index/country/switzerland>.
"Holiday Traditions." Museum of Science and Industry. Museum of Science and Industry, n.d. Web. 3 May 2015. <https://www.msichicago.org/scrapbook/scrapbook_exhibits/catw2004/traditions/countries/switzerland.html>.
Myswitzerland.com. Switzerland Tourism, n.d. Web. 3 May 2015. <http://www.myswitzerland.com/>.
"My Zurich in Three Days Top Attractions." visitacity. visitacity.com, n.d. Web. 3 May 2015. <http://www.visitacity.com/itineraries-user?id=cb0ad8f8-d535-40ef-9365-8064384a15c9&day=1>.