Travel guide Switzerland

With as many as 250 banks represented, banking secrecy has been stale since 2015. In the name of transparency, the European Union and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development have decided that Swiss banks must disclose the names of their clients to avoid being accused of complicity in tax evasion.

The oldest brand is that of François-Louis Cailler, who opened his store in Corsier-sur-Vevey in 1819. Philippe Suchard opened one in Serrières, Charles-Amédée Kohler in Lausanne. Milk chocolate appeared in Vevey in 1875, thanks to Daniel Peter. The reputation of chocolate is well established, and continues to be enhanced by innovation.

An indispensable tool of the Swiss army since 1961 (Victorinox® brand), the famous little red knife with a white cross has become an emblem of Switzerland. Constantly improved, it does more than just cut: it can also be used as a magnifying glass, toothpick, cigar cutter, ballpoint pen, lamp or barometer.

Based in Geneva, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), an impartial, neutral and independent organization, was founded in 1863 by Henri Dunant, who witnessed many injuries during the Battle of Solferino. The ICRC provides humanitarian assistance to people affected by armed conflict or in emergency situations.

The environment is a key issue for the Swiss economy. The country has made great strides in the field of ecology by implementing concrete actions. The Swiss are often held up as an example to follow when it comes to recycling, thanks to their management of waste collection, sorting and recovery systems.

With four official languages, Switzerland is a multilingual country par excellence. German is the official language in nineteen of the twenty-six cantons. Four cantons - Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel and Jura - are exclusively French-speaking. As you drive through the country, you'll hear Swiss people speaking German, French, Italian and Romansh.

The only time Switzerland attempted a military alliance, with the Milanese at the battle of Marignan in 1515 against the troops of François ^I, was a failure. Switzerland signed a peace treaty with France, giving rise to the status of neutrality, which was recognized under international law in 1815 with the Treaty of Vienna.

Although Geneva is the second-largest UN headquarters after New York, it was only on September 10, 2002 that Switzerland became the ^190th full member of the United Nations. Switzerland has also contributed logistically and financially to various UN peacekeeping activities.

The Swiss network is dense, with 122 km of track per 1,000 ^km2. The European Union average is 46 km of track per 1,000 ^km2. Where there's steep terrain, there's a funicular! It's almost self-evident: mechanics and mountains go hand in hand, so it was a Swiss by the name of Egben who perfected the principle of the funicular railway in 1879.

Many Swiss people living in large cities travel by bike. There are often genuine cycle paths. Mountain biking is also very popular, and most tourist offices offer detailed routes. Bicycles can be rented at all railway stations, or borrowed in some towns.

A former European hub for the geographical distribution of grape varieties in Roman times, Switzerland occupies a key position in contemporary wine history. Today, Switzerland produces a number of internationally renowned wines. The terraced vineyards of Lavaux are a Unesco World Heritage Site.

"Voting" rather than voting! In Switzerland, we vote all the time - it's called direct democracy. Women were only granted the right to vote in 1971. It took another twenty years for this measure to be applied in the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden. The majority of votes are cast digitally, and all subjects are discussed.