Facts about Switzerland - 30 things you (might) not have known

Writer: Peter Bergström

Switzerland is often associated with high alpine peaks, punctual trains, exclusive watches, chocolate and cheese. But the country also offers a lot of more unexpected stories. Velcro and instant coffee were developed here, the world's first LSD trip took place on a bicycle and you are not allowed to keep a single guinea pig here.

Furthermore, Switzerland doesn't really have an official capital, women were given the right to vote surprisingly late, and in two cantons, residents still vote by raising their hands in the square.

We have traveled around the country on several occasions, both in our campervan and by train. Here we offer 30 interesting, fun and sometimes unexpected facts about Switzerland.

1. Switzerland doesn't actually have an official capital.

What is the capital of Switzerland? Bern, of course! Or? Bern serves as the capital of Switzerland and is home to both the parliament and the government. But the country actually has no capital that is formally established by law. Bern is instead called Federal city, the federal city, and is the de facto capital of Switzerland.

When the modern federal state was formed in 1848, Bern was chosen as the seat of the federal authorities. So calling the city the capital of Switzerland works perfectly well in everyday speech – but legally, the matter is a little more complicated.

2. A dog walk gave the world Velcro

One day in the 1940s, the Swiss engineer Georges de Mestral out with his dog and discovered that burrs had stuck to both his clothes and the dog's fur.

Instead of just being annoyed by them, he began examining the Velcro under a microscope. He saw how their tiny hooks hooked into loops in fabric and fur, and got the idea to create a fastening system based on the same principle.

After several years of development, what we know today as Velcro, or Velcro. An annoying plant on the dog walk had become an invention used all over the world.

3. Switzerland has four national languages

German, French, Italian and Romansh are Switzerland's four national languages. Which language dominates depends largely on where in the country you are. German is the most spoken, but in everyday life many German-speaking Swiss speak various forms of Swiss German, a collective name for Alemannic dialects that can differ significantly from standard German.

French dominates in the west, Italian especially in Ticino and parts of Graubünden, while Romansh is spoken by a small minority mainly in Graubünden.

At the federal level, German, French and Italian are fully official languages. Romansh is also used officially when the state communicates with Romansh speakers.

4. The Red Cross was born in Geneva

The idea for the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, was born after the Swiss Henry Dunant witnessed the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino in northern Italy in 1859. Thousands of wounded soldiers were left without adequate care, and Dunant organized the local population to help them regardless of which side they had fought on.

His experiences eventually led to the formation of the organization that became the ICRC in Geneva in 1863 and contributed to the first Geneva Convention the following year.

The symbol also has a clear connection to Switzerland. A red cross on a white background was chosen as a reversal of the colors of the Swiss flag, as a tribute to Switzerland.

5. The Swiss gave the world both milk chocolate and smooth chocolate

Switzerland did not invent chocolate, but Swiss chocolatiers had a major impact on how the chocolate we eat today developed.

In 1875, he succeeded Daniel Peter produce milk chocolate by combining cocoa with condensed milk. A few years later, they developed Rodolphe Lindt a process called conchning, where the chocolate mass is processed for a long time. The result was significantly smoother and more finely divided chocolate than before.

There is a popular story that Lindt accidentally left his machine running over a weekend and thus discovered the process. The story is charming, but whether it really happened is not certain.

6. The world's first LSD trip ended with a bike ride through Basel

The Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann was working at the pharmaceutical company Sandoz in Basel when he first produced the substance LSD in 1938. Five years later, he returned to the substance and discovered its powerful psychedelic effects by chance. On April 19, 1943, he deliberately took a dose to see what would happen.

When the effects began to take hold, Hofmann made his way home from the laboratory by bicycle, as car traffic was limited during the war. The journey was special to say the least, and has gone down in history as the world's first intentional LSD trip.

April 19 has later become known as Bicycle Day among people interested in the history of psychedelic culture.

7. Nescafé was developed in Switzerland

Instant coffee may not sound like a typically Swiss invention, but Nescafe has its roots in Switzerland. In the 1930s, Brazil had a large coffee surplus and was looking for a way to store coffee for a longer period of time. Nestlé was commissioned to try and develop a solution.

The Swiss chemist Max Morgenthaler worked on the problem and after several years of experimentation succeeded in developing a soluble coffee that retained more of the coffee's flavor and aroma. Nescafé was launched in 1938 and eventually became a product worldwide.

8. One of the world's most famous fonts is Swiss

You have most likely seen Helvetica thousands of times, even if you've never thought about it. The typeface was created in 1957 by Max Miedinger in collaboration with Eduard Hoffmann at Haas'sche Schriftgiesserei in Switzerland. It was first called Neue Haas Grotesque, but a few years later received the much more internationally accepted name Helvetica.

Named after Helvetia, the Latin name for Switzerland, Helvetica became one of the most widely used typefaces of the 20th century, used for everything from corporate logos and road signs to subway systems.

9. Europe's highest railway station is located at 3,454 meters above sea level

Switzerland and railways go hand in hand, and of course the Swiss were not content with building trains down in the valleys. At Jungfraujoch Europe's highest railway station is located at an altitude of 3,454 meters. The railway runs largely through tunnels inside the Eiger and Mönch mountains before passengers reach the high alpine world between Mönch and Jungfrau.

The Jungfraubahn was inaugurated all the way to Jungfraujoch in 1912. Today, you can board the train down among green alpine meadows and a few hours later be standing among glaciers and four-thousand-meter peaks.

10. The world's steepest cogwheel railway climbs at a 48 percent gradient

Another Swiss railway has an impressive record. Pilatus Cable Car, which runs from Alpnachstad up to Mount Pilatus, is the world's steepest cogwheel railway. On the steepest sections, the gradient reaches a whopping 48 percent.

The railway opened in 1889. To enable the trains to overcome the extreme gradient, a special gear system was developed, in which the gears work horizontally against the rails. The journey is only a few kilometers long, but the difference in height is all the more impressive.

11. Lavaux consists of thousands of wine terraces

Between Lausanne and Montreux, the vineyards slope steeply down towards Lake Geneva. The Lavaux area is one of Switzerland's most spectacular cultural landscapes and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2007.

Wine has been grown here for a very long time, and today's terraced landscape can be traced back at least to the Middle Ages. Generations of winegrowers have built retaining walls and terraces to be able to grow on the steep slopes.

In total, there are over 10,000 wine terraces and hundreds of kilometers of retaining walls. The combination of vines, small villages, the Alps and the blue Lake Geneva is also incredibly beautiful.

12. Charlie Chaplin spent his last 25 years in Switzerland

Charlie Chaplin was born in London and became one of the biggest stars in American film history. However, he spent the last 25 years of his life in Switzerland.

Following political controversy in the United States, Chaplin was denied re-entry into the United States in 1952 while in Europe. The family subsequently settled in Manoir de Ban in Corsier-sur-Vevey above Lake Geneva. Here Chaplin lived with his wife Oona and their family until his death in 1977.

Today, the home is part of Chaplin's World, a museum where you can visit the family's house and environments inspired by Chaplin's films. We have visited the museum ourselves and found it to be a really exciting stop in Switzerland.

13. The Alien monster was created by Swiss HR Giger

The dark and terrifying creature in the film Alien is of Swiss origin. The artist H.R. Giger was born in Chur in 1940 and became known for his surreal images where people, machines and organic forms merge. His art caught the interest of filmmaker Ridley Scott before working on Alien.

Giger created the visual design for the film's alien creature and environments, a work that won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects in 1980.

In the medieval city Gruyeres exists today H.R. Giger Museum, where you can get acquainted with his considerably darker world after looking at picturesque houses and eating cheese.

14. Switzerland has one of the world's two square national flags

The vast majority of countries have rectangular flags. Switzerland has chosen a different shape. The Swiss national flag is square, with a white cross on a red background. Only Switzerland and the Vatican City have square national flags.

The white cross has been used as a Swiss symbol for centuries, while the current design of the flag was established in the 19th century.

15. Swiss women only gained federal voting rights in 1971

Switzerland is often associated with direct democracy, but for much of the 20th century, that democracy was only for men. It was not until February 7, 1971, that a majority of male voters voted in favor of women's suffrage at the federal level.

But the story didn't end there. In the canton Appenzell Innerrhoden women were still denied the right to vote in cantonal matters. As late as 1990, the men of the cantonal Landsgemeinde voted against introducing it.

The Swiss Supreme Court then intervened and ruled that women had the right to vote. In 1991, women were able to participate in the Appenzell Innerrhodens Landsgemeinde for the first time.

16. In two cantons, people still vote by show of hands in the square

Switzerland is known for its referendums, but in the cantons Glarus and Appenzell Innerrhoden an even older form of direct democracy remains. At the annual Regional council Citizens eligible to vote gather under the open sky and make decisions by raising their hands. The results are judged from the podium.

In Appenzell Innerrhoden, there is also a fantastic old detail that remains: a citizen can traditionally use a ceremonial sword as proof of their right to vote. This does not mean that Swiss people need to come armed to vote. A regular voting card also works just fine.

17. Switzerland had a brief civil war in 1847

Switzerland has long been associated with peace and neutrality, but in 1847 a Swiss civil war was actually fought. Seven Catholic and conservative cantons had formed a separate alliance, Special group, in opposition to the more liberal cantons. The conflict escalated into war in November 1847.

The war was short – the fighting lasted only a few weeks – and the death toll was relatively low compared to many other European conflicts in the 19th century. The following year, the 1848 Constitution was adopted, laying the foundation for the modern Swiss federal state.

18. Switzerland is still a confederation in name – but not in practice

In English, the country's official name is Swiss Confederation, and in Latin Helvetica Confederation. That's where the country code comes from CH comes. But despite the name, today's Switzerland is not a confederation of independent states.

Since 1848, the country has been a federal state, with power divided between the federal level, the 26 cantons and the municipalities. The cantons still have extensive autonomy, but they are parts of a common state. The historical name has simply stuck.

19. Switzerland's neutrality does not mean that the country stands outside the world

Switzerland's permanent neutrality was internationally recognized in 1815 and has become an important part of the country's identity. Neutrality means, among other things, that Switzerland does not participate in wars between other states and does not join military alliances. However, this does not mean that the country isolates itself from the outside world.

For example, Switzerland has been a member of the UN since 2002 and participates in extensive international cooperation. The country also has its own defense force. Neutrality is therefore usually described as armed neutrality: Switzerland should not participate in other people's wars, but should be able to defend its own territory.

20. In Switzerland, there should be a shelter space for every resident

The Swiss Civil Defence takes shelters very seriously. The basic principle is that every resident should have access to a shelter location near their home. Around the country, there are around 370,000 private and public shelters with space for millions of people.

The system was developed mainly during the Cold War and has made Switzerland unusually well-equipped with shelters compared to most other countries. Coverage is not exactly 100% in every individual municipality, but at the national level there are in principle enough places for the entire population.

21. The Gotthard Base Tunnel is 57.1 kilometers long

The Swiss are good at building railways over mountains – and right through them. The Gotthard Base Tunnel, opened in 2016 and is 57.1 kilometers long. It runs deep under the Alps and is the world's longest railway tunnel.

The project took around 17 years to build and involved the excavation and blasting away of millions of tons of rock. The tunnel is also unusually flat for being under the Alps, allowing heavy freight trains to pass through the mountain range with significantly less gradient than on older railway lines.

22. In Bern, it is a tradition to float on the Aare

In the summer, something quite special happens in Switzerland's capital – or federal city, to be precise. Residents jump into the turquoise-green river Aare and let the strong current carry them through Bern. At a suitable place they then get out of the water again.

It is not an organized tourist attraction but a real local summer tradition. However, you do need to be a good swimmer, as the current is strong and swimming can be dangerous for the uninitiated. We have swum in the Aare ourselves, and it was a special experience to say the least, jumping into the river and simply letting the current do the work.

23. Raclette means to scrape

Raclette is both the name of a Swiss cheese and the dish in which the cheese is melted and served hot. The name comes from the French verb scrapers, which roughly means ”scrape.” Traditionally, half a cheese is heated in front of a fire or other heat source and the melted layer is scraped directly onto the plate.

The cheese is often served with boiled potatoes, gherkins and pickled onions. Today, of course, electric raclette grills are also used, but the idea is the same: melt the cheese, scrape it – and eat.

24. The cows are celebrated when they return from the Alps

During the summer, cattle are often driven up to high alpine pastures. When autumn comes, it is time to return down to the valleys. This Alpine train, Desalpe in French, can develop into a real folk festival. The cows are decorated with flowers and large bells and led through the villages, where people gather to welcome them back.

The tradition is linked to the old Alpine grazing culture, where animals use pastures at different altitudes during different parts of the year. And yes – a parade of flower-adorned cows with enormous cowbells is about as Swiss as it sounds.

25. Skeleton was born in St. Moritz

The breakneck winter sport skeleton, where the rider lies face down on a small sled, head first, has its roots in St Moritz, Switzerland. During the late 19th century, British winter visitors began to race sleds in the area. In 1884, the famous Cresta Run between St. Moritz and Celerina.

The new type of headlong tobogganing developed from there into the sport of skeleton. Incidentally, St. Moritz has played an important role in several winter sports and hosted the Winter Olympics in both 1928 and 1948.

26. The Pope's colorful bodyguards are Swiss

On St. Peter's Square in Vatican City you can see guards in colorful uniforms that look like they stepped straight out of the Renaissance. It is Pontifical Swiss Guard, which was founded in 1506 and is still responsible for protecting the Pope.

To become a guard, one must be a Swiss citizen, be Catholic, and have completed basic Swiss military training. There are also requirements for age, height, and education. The Swiss Guard is a special historical exception to Switzerland's long-standing restrictions on Swiss military service for foreign powers.

27. A jewelry ban helped the Swiss watch industry thrive

Swiss watches have become synonymous with precision and luxury, but the rise of the watch industry in Geneva has an intriguing religious background. In the 16th century, Geneva became a center of the Protestant Reformation. Jean Calvin and other reformers opposed excessive luxury and ornamentation, which made life more difficult for the city's goldsmiths and jewelers.

At the same time, skilled Protestant refugees, including watchmakers, came to Geneva from other parts of Europe. The goldsmiths' craftsmanship began to be used to make watches, which had a practical function and could therefore be accepted in a different way than pure jewelry.

Of course, that's not the whole explanation for Switzerland's watch industry, but the combination of religion, migration, and skilled craftsmen helped make Geneva a center for watchmaking.

28. The Zytglogge clockwork has been ticking since the 16th century

In the middle of Bern stands Zytglogge, a bell tower whose history dates back to the 13th century. The tower was originally part of the city's defenses and has served as a city gate and prison, among other things.

The current astronomical clockwork dates from 1530. The clock shows much more than just the time and has calendar functions, moon phase and zodiac signs. Just before the hour, a mechanical figure game with bears and other figures begins to move.

We have had the opportunity to go inside the Zytglogge and see the enormous mechanical clockwork from the inside. It is something completely different than just standing outside in the square and looking at the clock – inside you see gears, shafts and mechanics working together in a system that has its roots almost 500 years back in time.

29. Kapellbrücke rose again after the great fire

Chapel Bridge i Lucerne is one of Switzerland's most photographed landmarks. Originally built in the 14th century, the covered wooden bridge crosses the Reuss River diagonally. Under the roof are triangular paintings depicting scenes from Lucerne's and Switzerland's history.

On the night of August 18, 1993, the bridge caught fire. The fire destroyed large parts of the wooden structure and many of the historic paintings were lost.

The Chapel Bridge was quickly rebuilt and opened the following year. The traces of the fire have not been completely hidden – the empty spaces left by destroyed paintings are still a reminder of what happened.

30. In Switzerland you are not allowed to keep a guinea pig alone

And so we come to perhaps the most important question of all: What happens if you want to get one Guinea pigs in Switzerland? Then you might want to think again.

Swiss animal welfare regulations take into account that guinea pigs are social animals. They should not be kept alone but need the company of at least one other guinea pig. There are similar requirements for several other social animal species. So if you are moving to Switzerland and are thinking of buying a guinea pig, the basic rule is simple: Buy two.

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