Switzerland is a country as famous for its pocket knives as it is for
its chocolate. But to travellers, Swiss fame is largely focused on its Alpine
landscape, beautiful and majestic, many visitors prefer to take in the scenery
through activity rather than mere sightseeing: skiing, hiking, hang-gliding and
rafting are only a number of the outstanding opportunities the Alps afford the
active visitor.
Swiss culture and history affords interesting cities and monumental castles,
for those visitors able to tear themselves away from the mountains. Cities like
Zürich, Bern and Lucerne all feature medieval streets and housing, giving
travellers that pleasant sense of stepping back in time as so many great
European cities offer. Modernity has also struck, as the nation has elevated its
economic status to become one of the world's richest nations; but fortunately
developers have had the good sense to retain Switzerland's priceless historic
heritage.