However, in other areas, choices that have been made in surrounding countries are adopted by the Swiss rather late: it was not until that the Swiss chose to entitle women to vote. The choice to be neutral and independent that had been made years earlier resulted in a large majority of the population that voted against joining in the UN United Nations in Switzerland did accept to actively join some special agencies and UN-programs.
One of the results was the establishment of the European UN headquarters in Geneva. Switzerland does not share the opinion of many other countries to have a single European currency. For the time being, the country holds on to its Swiss franc while surrounding countries are using the Euro.
Swiss neutrality remains subject of discussion. By that, many trading barriers between the involved countries were cleared. In March , the Swiss people again got the chance to express their opinion on participating in the UN United Nations. President Villiger emphasized that Switzerland joins the UN as a neutral country, always in accordance with the wishes of the Swiss people but in the interest of global solidarity as well.
It allowed Switzerland to simplify border checks as surrounding countries were Schengen members already, and checks on the external borders of Schengen are very strict. Active participation to Schengen started on 12 December, Switzerland is not a member of the European Union or the Eurozone countries using the uro as their currency. Meanwhile, other important decisions have been made too. Switzerland is a major transit country for both passengers and freight between northern and southern Europe.
The Swiss people voted for expanding rail traffic rather than road traffic, although maintaining existing roads is a priority too. As a result, sensitive alpine regions remain attractive to locals and tourists, CO 2 emission is limited, traveling times are reduced and transport capacity is growing.
On the Zurich to Italy route, the Gotthard base tunnel was opened in December Planning your trip is much easier with a free MySwissAlps account. Learn all about Switzerland and get in touch with us quickly if you have questions. Learn more. Book 11 months in advance. Free cancellation. Swiss Alps experts since Coronavirus Plan your trip About Switzerland.
Traveling to Switzerland Traveling in Switzerland Rail passes. MySwissAlps features commercial and non-commercial links. The history of Switzerland. Must knows about the history of Switzerland Switzerland was founded on August 1, August 1 is still the national holiday. Switzerland declared itself a neutral state in The Swiss federal Bundeshaus legislative building in Bern, Switzerland.
About 22 percent in western Switzerland speak French, while Italian represents about eight percent mostly in the southern canton of Ticino. Only a small minority less than one percent of the Swiss speak Romansch. A standing Helvetia figure is featured on the Swiss two-franc coin resting her hand on the Swiss coat of arms. Helvetia is also the symbolic Swiss female figure similar to the US Lady Liberty that dates from the late s, and is also depicted on some Swiss coins.
That name is derived from the Celtic Helvetii people who first entered the area around B. Helvetia was also the Roman name for the region that is now western Switzerland.
Switzerland Today Modern Switzerland has maintained its independent, isolationist, neutral attitude by refusing to join the European Union or to use the euro currency. The Swiss franc CHF has been in use since Switzerland did not become a full member of the United Nations until The Burgundian Wars — marked the most important period in Swiss history.
After , the Reformation triggered permanent religious conflicts in Switzerland, which culminated in the two Wars of Kappel and as well as the two Wars of Villmergen and In between these two conflicts, a fifth war was waged. During these terrible conflicts, Switzerland turned away from the outside world. It focussed on solving its domestic conflicts but still remained an integral part of the western European economy.
The next stage of Swiss history is characterised by the introduction of a kind of external governance in Switzerland. The fate of the country was first determined by Napoleon and later by the European powers during the Congress of Vienna. This period is considered one of the most unpopular chapters in Swiss national history.
The Swiss do not like to admit that all necessary political and social reforms were only introduced after French revolutionary troops invaded in This content was published on Mar 20, Mar 20, The neutrality so strongly associated with modern Switzerland originated in a congress years ago, when the Great Powers met in Vienna.
The Congress of Vienna was followed by a second permanent and slow civil war that lasted for about 20 years. This war put an end to a series of local political conflicts between the Protestant liberals and Catholic democrats. The Protestants thought that the people should be enlightened and educated in the rational spirit of Protestant ethics and that the creation of a unified state was of utmost importance.
This content was published on Nov 28, Nov 28, Many people are surprised when they hear that little Bern is the Swiss capital. Wouldn't industrial Zurich or international Geneva be more logical?
Catholics believed that people should live as they wanted and should have the freedom to believe in their Catholic religion. Claude Nicollier born 2-Sep takes off on board of the space shuttle Atlantis ST and becomes the first Swiss in space. The "Vereinigte Bundesversammlung" combined federal assembly elected Ruth Dreifuss as the second woman as member of the "Bunderat" executive authority. Claude Nicollier's second journey on board of a space shuttle. The "Vereinigte Bundesversammlung" combined federal assembly elected Ruth Metzler as the third woman as member of the "Bunderat" executive authority.
Swiss Scientist Bertrand Piccard son of Jacques Piccard mentioned above and British co-pilot Brian Jones have become the first balloonists to circumnavigate the globe with a non-stop, non-refuelled flight. Swiss people accept a new "Bundesverfassung" Federal Constitution on a vote. The Swiss people accept the bilateral contracts with the European Union, see www.
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