{"id":128388,"date":"2021-02-04T06:00:01","date_gmt":"2021-02-04T05:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/?p=128388"},"modified":"2026-09-25T12:18:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T10:18:12","slug":"fakta-om-schweiz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/","title":{"rendered":"Facts about Switzerland - 30 things you (might) not have known"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ta_ads_container\" class=\"takeover-container has-clientside-condition loading run-count-0\" data-ttl=\"86400\"><div class=\"takeover-bar\"><a class=\"blog-logo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/\" title=\"FREEDOMtravel - Sweden&#039;s largest travel magazine - \" rel=\"home\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/FREEDOMtravel-resemagasin.png\" alt=\"FREEDOMtravel - Sveriges mesta resemagasin\"><\/a><a class=\"home-link close-takeover\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/\">Go to FREEDOMtravel<\/a><\/div><div class=\"takeover-content\"><div class=\"label\">Advertisement<\/div><div id=\"freed-1039676922\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/se.adria-mobil.com\/husvagnar\/alpina\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"adria-freedom-computer-1920x900px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px-300x141.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px-1024x480.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px-768x360.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px-224x105.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px-600x281.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px-1536x720.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px-18x8.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px-433x203.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-dator-1920x900px-1200x563.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" width=\"1920\" height=\"900\"   \/><\/a><\/div><script>( window.advanced_ads_ready || jQuery( document ).ready ).call( null, function() {if( advads.get_cookie( \"advanced_ads_ad_impressions_317709_timeout\" ) ) {if( advads.get_cookie( \"advanced_ads_ad_impressions_317709\" ) ) {var advanced_ads_ad_impressions_317709 = parseInt( advads.get_cookie( \"advanced_ads_ad_impressions_317709\" ) ) + 1;} else { var advanced_ads_ad_impressions_317709 = 1; }} else {var advanced_ads_ad_impressions_317709 = 1;advads.set_cookie_sec(\"advanced_ads_ad_impressions_317709_timeout\", \"true\", 86400 );}advads.set_cookie_sec(\"advanced_ads_ad_impressions_317709\", advanced_ads_ad_impressions_317709, 86400 );});<\/script><\/div><\/div>\n<h3 id=\"h-skribent-peter-bergstrom\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Writer: Peter Bergstr\u00f6m<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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&#039;s first LSD trip took place on a bicycle and you are not allowed to keep a single guinea pig here.<\/p><div class=\"sharethis-buttons\"><div class=\"st-custom-button\" data-network=\"twitter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform-cdn.sharethis.com\/img\/twitter.svg\"><span class=\"label\">Tweet<\/span><\/div><div class=\"st-custom-button\" data-network=\"facebook\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform-cdn.sharethis.com\/img\/facebook.svg\"><span class=\"label\">Share<\/span><\/div><div class=\"st-custom-button\" data-network=\"linkedin\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform-cdn.sharethis.com\/img\/linkedin.svg\"><span class=\"label\">Share<\/span><\/div><div class=\"st-custom-button\" data-network=\"pinterest\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform-cdn.sharethis.com\/img\/pinterest.svg\"><span class=\"label\">Pin<\/span><\/div><div class=\"st-custom-button\" data-network=\"reddit\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform-cdn.sharethis.com\/img\/reddit.svg\"><span class=\"label\">Share<\/span><\/div><div class=\"st-custom-button\" data-network=\"digg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform-cdn.sharethis.com\/img\/digg.svg\"><span class=\"label\">Share<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Furthermore, Switzerland doesn&#039;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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p><div class=\"freed-grupp-i-blogginlagg freed-entity-placement\" id=\"freed-3079274907\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><div id=\"freed-slider-88752\" class=\"custom-slider freed-slider-624176458 freed-slider\"><ul><li><div id=\"freed-1777597728\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/se.adria-mobil.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"adria-freedom-top-banner-588x158px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-toppbanner-588x158px.gif\" alt=\"\"  width=\"588\" height=\"158\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><div id=\"freed-1730962326\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ullbadden.se\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026-1.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026-1-300x81.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026-1-224x60.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026-1-18x5.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026-1-433x116.jpg 433w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"158\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><script>( window.advanced_ads_ready || jQuery( document ).ready ).call( null, function() {var $freedslider624176458 = jQuery( \".freed-slider-624176458\" );$freedslider624176458.on( \"unslider.ready\", function() { jQuery( \"div.custom-slider ul li\" ).css( \"display\", \"block\" ); });$freedslider624176458.unslider({ delay:4000, autoplay:true, nav:false, arrows:false, infinite:true });$freedslider624176458.on(\"mouseover\", function() {$freedslider624176458.unslider(\"stop\");}).on(\"mouseout\", function() {$freedslider624176458.unslider(\"start\");});});<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Switzerland-Grand-Tour-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Switzerland Grand Tour\" class=\"wp-image-74008\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Switzerland-Grand-Tour-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Switzerland-Grand-Tour-600x337.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Switzerland-Grand-Tour-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Switzerland-Grand-Tour-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Switzerland-Grand-Tour.jpg 1199w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Peter from FREEDOMtravel.se on site in Switzerland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ad6f601739ce\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ad6f601739ce\" checked aria-label=\"toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#1_Schweiz_har_egentligen_ingen_officiell_huvudstad\" >1. Switzerland doesn&#039;t actually have an official capital.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#2_En_hundpromenad_gav_varlden_kardborrebandet\" >2. A dog walk gave the world Velcro<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#3_Schweiz_har_fyra_nationella_sprak\" >3. Switzerland has four national languages<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#4_Roda_korset_foddes_i_Geneve\" >4. The Red Cross was born in Geneva<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#5_Schweizare_gav_varlden_bade_mjolkchoklad_och_lenare_choklad\" >5. The Swiss gave the world both milk chocolate and smooth chocolate<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#6_Varldens_forsta_LSD-tripp_slutade_med_en_cykeltur_genom_Basel\" >6. The world&#039;s first LSD trip ended with a bike ride through Basel<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#7_Nescafe_utvecklades_i_Schweiz\" >7. Nescaf\u00e9 was developed in Switzerland<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#8_Ett_av_varldens_mest_kanda_typsnitt_ar_schweiziskt\" >8. One of the world&#039;s most famous fonts is Swiss<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#9_Europas_hogsta_jarnvagsstation_ligger_3_454_meter_over_havet\" >9. Europe&#039;s highest railway station is located at 3,454 meters above sea level<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#10_Varldens_brantaste_kugghjulsjarnvag_klattrar_med_48_procents_lutning\" >10. The world&#039;s steepest cogwheel railway climbs at a 48 percent gradient<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#11_Lavaux_bestar_av_tusentals_vinterrasser\" >11. Lavaux consists of thousands of wine terraces<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#12_Charlie_Chaplin_tillbringade_sina_sista_25_ar_i_Schweiz\" >12. Charlie Chaplin spent his last 25 years in Switzerland<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#13_Alien-monstret_skapades_av_schweizaren_HR_Giger\" >13. The Alien monster was created by Swiss HR Giger<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#14_Schweiz_har_en_av_varldens_tva_kvadratiska_nationsflaggor\" >14. Switzerland has one of the world&#039;s two square national flags<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#15_Schweiziska_kvinnor_fick_federal_rostratt_forst_1971\" >15. Swiss women only gained federal voting rights in 1971<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#16_I_tva_kantoner_rostar_man_fortfarande_med_handupprackning_pa_torget\" >16. In two cantons, people still vote by show of hands in the square<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#17_Schweiz_hade_ett_kort_inbordeskrig_1847\" >17. Switzerland had a brief civil war in 1847<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#18_Schweiz_ar_fortfarande_en_konfederation_till_namnet_%E2%80%93_men_inte_i_praktiken\" >18. Switzerland is still a confederation in name \u2013 but not in practice<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#19_Schweiz_neutralitet_betyder_inte_att_landet_star_utanfor_varlden\" >19. Switzerland&#039;s neutrality does not mean that the country stands outside the world<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#20_I_Schweiz_ska_det_finnas_en_skyddsrumsplats_for_varje_invanare\" >20. In Switzerland, there should be a shelter space for every resident<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#21_Gotthardbasistunneln_ar_571_kilometer_lang\" >21. The Gotthard Base Tunnel is 57.1 kilometers long<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#22_I_Bern_ar_det_tradition_att_lata_sig_flyta_med_Aare\" >22. In Bern, it is a tradition to float on the Aare<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#23_Raclette_betyder_att_skrapa\" >23. Raclette means to scrape<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#24_Korna_firas_nar_de_kommer_hem_fran_Alperna\" >24. The cows are celebrated when they return from the Alps<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#25_Skeleton_foddes_i_St_Moritz\" >25. Skeleton was born in St. Moritz<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#26_Pavens_fargglada_livvakter_ar_schweizare\" >26. The Pope&#039;s colorful bodyguards are Swiss<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#27_Ett_smyckesforbud_hjalpte_den_schweiziska_klockindustrin_pa_traven\" >27. A jewelry ban helped the Swiss watch industry thrive<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#28_Zytglogges_urverk_har_tickat_sedan_1500-talet\" >28. The Zytglogge clockwork has been ticking since the 16th century<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#29_Kapellbrucke_reste_sig_igen_efter_den_stora_branden\" >29. Kapellbr\u00fccke rose again after the great fire<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-30\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#30_I_Schweiz_far_du_inte_halla_ett_marsvin_ensamt\" >30. In Switzerland you are not allowed to keep a guinea pig alone<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-31\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#Snabba_fakta_om_Schweiz\" >Fast facts about Switzerland<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-32\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#Fler_fakta-reportage\" >More factual reports<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-33\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#Peter_Bergstrom\" >Peter Bergstr\u00f6m<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-34\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/#Prenumerera_pa_vart_nyhetsbrev\" >Subscribe to our newsletter<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Schweiz_har_egentligen_ingen_officiell_huvudstad\"><\/span>1. Switzerland doesn&#039;t actually have an official capital.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What is the capital of Switzerland? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2018\/08\/schweiz-huvudstad-bern-floden-aare\/\">Bern<\/a>, 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 <strong>Federal city<\/strong>, the federal city, and is the de facto capital of Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 \u2013 but legally, the matter is a little more complicated.<\/p><div class=\"freed-grupp-i-blogginlagg-2 freed-entity-placement\" id=\"freed-1596612861\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><div id=\"freed-slider-88753\" class=\"custom-slider freed-slider-3821501378 freed-slider\"><ul><li><div id=\"freed-1348233014\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.elmia.se\/husvagn\/for-besokare\/biljetter\/?utm_source=freedomtravel&#038;utm_medium=banner&#038;utm_campaign=elmiahusvagn_kop_biljett_mars-sep\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158-300x81.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158-224x60.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158-18x5.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158-433x116.jpg 433w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"158\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><div id=\"freed-1041751370\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/husbilslandet.com\/i-lager?amount=-1&#038;vehicle_type=camper&#038;price=219000%2C8874149&#038;y=2005%2C2027&#038;weight=1000%2C18000&#038;rea=true\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Demo sale (588 x 158 px)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Demoutforsaljning-588-x-158-px-.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Demoutforsaljning-588-x-158-px-.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Demoutforsaljning-588-x-158-px--300x81.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Demoutforsaljning-588-x-158-px--224x60.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Demoutforsaljning-588-x-158-px--18x5.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Demoutforsaljning-588-x-158-px--433x116.jpg 433w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"158\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><script>( window.advanced_ads_ready || jQuery( document ).ready ).call( null, function() {var $freedslider3821501378 = jQuery( \".freed-slider-3821501378\" );$freedslider3821501378.on( \"unslider.ready\", function() { jQuery( \"div.custom-slider ul li\" ).css( \"display\", \"block\" ); });$freedslider3821501378.unslider({ delay:4000, autoplay:true, nav:false, arrows:false, infinite:true });$freedslider3821501378.on(\"mouseover\", function() {$freedslider3821501378.unslider(\"stop\");}).on(\"mouseout\", function() {$freedslider3821501378.unslider(\"start\");});});<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"578\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-flod-1024x578.jpg\" alt=\"Semestra i Europa - Bern flod\" class=\"wp-image-72822\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-flod-1024x578.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-flod-600x339.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-flod-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-flod-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-flod.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bern in Switzerland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_En_hundpromenad_gav_varlden_kardborrebandet\"><\/span>2. A dog walk gave the world Velcro<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One day in the 1940s, the Swiss engineer <strong>Georges de Mestral<\/strong> out with his dog and discovered that burrs had stuck to both his clothes and the dog&#039;s fur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p><div class=\"freed-grupp-stora-banner freed-entity-placement\" id=\"freed-4206004993\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><div id=\"freed-847241630\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/firstcamp.se\/bra-att-veta\/incheckning-efter-stangning?utm_source=display&#038;utm_medium=Freedom-Travel&#038;utm_campaign=Freedom-Travel-sommar-2026\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final-300x143.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final-224x107.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final-18x9.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final-433x206.jpg 433w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"280\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After several years of development, what we know today as <strong>Velcro<\/strong>, or Velcro. An annoying plant on the dog walk had become an invention used all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/holgersfotografie-childrens-shoes-449691_1280-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-315411\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/holgersfotografie-childrens-shoes-449691_1280-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/holgersfotografie-childrens-shoes-449691_1280-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/holgersfotografie-childrens-shoes-449691_1280-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/holgersfotografie-childrens-shoes-449691_1280-224x168.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/holgersfotografie-childrens-shoes-449691_1280-16x12.jpg 16w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/holgersfotografie-childrens-shoes-449691_1280-433x325.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/holgersfotografie-childrens-shoes-449691_1280-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/holgersfotografie-childrens-shoes-449691_1280-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/holgersfotografie-childrens-shoes-449691_1280.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Swiss man gave the world Velcro. Photo: HolgersFotografie \/ Pixabay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Schweiz_har_fyra_nationella_sprak\"><\/span>3. Switzerland has four national languages<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">German, French, Italian and Romansh are Switzerland&#039;s four <strong>national languages<\/strong>. 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 <strong>Swiss German<\/strong>, a collective name for Alemannic dialects that can differ significantly from standard German.<\/p><div class=\"freed-grupp-stora-banners-i-blogginlagg-2 freed-entity-placement\" id=\"freed-1827910205\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><div id=\"freed-927703762\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/wifi.se\/produkt\/hybrid-traveller-portabel-5g-router-med-backup-batteri-i-over-6-timmar-usb\/\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"freedom\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/freedom.gif\" alt=\"\"  width=\"588\" height=\"288\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">French dominates in the west, Italian especially in Ticino and parts of Graub\u00fcnden, while Romansh is spoken by a small minority mainly in Graub\u00fcnden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the federal level, German, French and Italian are fully official languages. Romansh is also used officially when the state communicates with Romansh speakers.<\/p><div class=\"freed-placering-11 freed-entity-placement\" style=\"text-align: center;\" id=\"freed-1377493169\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><div id=\"freed-slider-88783\" class=\"custom-slider freed-slider-2535691149 freed-slider\"><ul><li><div id=\"freed-3184856803\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/husvagnsbranschen.se\/medlemmar\/\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"HRF new xl 2026-9\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-224x224.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-12x12.jpg 12w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-325x325.jpg 325w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-520x520.jpg 520w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"588\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><div id=\"freed-698933850\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/protect.checkpoint.com\/v2\/r02\/___https:\/www.kabe.se\/se\/nyheter\/kabe-roadshow-2026\/___.YzJlOmthYmU6YzpvOmVkZTIyYjJkNTMxZTZkZjM1YWVhOTViM2NkZTIxMzBlOjc6NDMyYTozYTBkNmIzNGEyZDExNmUyY2ZhYWU3MGNkNzExYmE4ZDUzNjRmYzI5NjgwOTNhNTk5MmZlZDQ2ZTVlNTA3NmVkOmg6VDpO\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"oaddtrip Kabe\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-224x224.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-12x12.jpg 12w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-325x325.jpg 325w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-520x520.jpg 520w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"588\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><script>( window.advanced_ads_ready || jQuery( document ).ready ).call( null, function() {var $freedslider2535691149 = jQuery( \".freed-slider-2535691149\" );$freedslider2535691149.on( \"unslider.ready\", function() { jQuery( \"div.custom-slider ul li\" ).css( \"display\", \"block\" ); });$freedslider2535691149.unslider({ delay:4000, autoplay:true, nav:false, arrows:false, infinite:true });$freedslider2535691149.on(\"mouseover\", function() {$freedslider2535691149.unslider(\"stop\");}).on(\"mouseout\", function() {$freedslider2535691149.unslider(\"start\");});});<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"Bern\" class=\"wp-image-72842\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Many different languages are spoken in Switzerland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Roda_korset_foddes_i_Geneve\"><\/span>4. The Red Cross was born in Geneva<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The idea for the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, was born after the Swiss <strong>Henry Dunant<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His experiences eventually led to the formation of the organization that became the ICRC in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2018\/08\/geneve-i-schweiz-city-of-peace-and-freedom\/\">Geneva<\/a> in 1863 and contributed to the first Geneva Convention the following year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The symbol also has a clear connection to Switzerland. A <strong>red cross on a white background<\/strong> was chosen as a reversal of the colors of the Swiss flag, as a tribute to Switzerland.<\/p><div class=\"freed-stor-banner-plats-14 freed-entity-placement\" id=\"freed-2317246023\"><div id=\"freed-slider-88782\" class=\"custom-slider freed-slider-124206561 freed-slider\"><ul><li><div id=\"freed-1841328311\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/husbilslandet.com\/i-lager?amount=-1&#038;vehicle_type=camper&#038;price=219000%2C8874149&#038;y=2005%2C2027&#038;weight=1000%2C18000&#038;rea=true\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Demo sale 588x588px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-224x224.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-12x12.jpg 12w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-325x325.jpg 325w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-520x520.jpg 520w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"588\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><div id=\"freed-1286544071\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/se.adria-mobil.com\/husvagnar\/alpina\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"adria-freedom-XL-588x588px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px-224x224.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px-12x12.jpg 12w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px-325x325.jpg 325w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px-520x520.jpg 520w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/adria-freedom-XL-588x588px-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"588\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><script>( window.advanced_ads_ready || jQuery( document ).ready ).call( null, function() {var $freedslider124206561 = jQuery( \".freed-slider-124206561\" );$freedslider124206561.on( \"unslider.ready\", function() { jQuery( \"div.custom-slider ul li\" ).css( \"display\", \"block\" ); });$freedslider124206561.unslider({ delay:5000, autoplay:true, nav:false, arrows:false, infinite:true });$freedslider124206561.on(\"mouseover\", function() {$freedslider124206561.unslider(\"stop\");}).on(\"mouseout\", function() {$freedslider124206561.unslider(\"start\");});});<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/R\u00f6da-korset-museum-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-72684\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/R\u00f6da-korset-museum-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/R\u00f6da-korset-museum-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/R\u00f6da-korset-museum-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/R\u00f6da-korset-museum-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/R\u00f6da-korset-museum.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Red Cross founder Henry Dunant, at the Red Cross Museum in Geneva.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Schweizare_gav_varlden_bade_mjolkchoklad_och_lenare_choklad\"><\/span>5. The Swiss gave the world both milk chocolate and smooth chocolate<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Switzerland did not invent chocolate, but Swiss chocolatiers had a major impact on how the chocolate we eat today developed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1875, he succeeded <strong>Daniel Peter<\/strong> produce milk chocolate by combining cocoa with condensed milk. A few years later, they developed <strong>Rodolphe Lindt<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/chokladpraliner-1024x575.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-72764\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/chokladpraliner-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/chokladpraliner-600x337.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/chokladpraliner-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/chokladpraliner-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/chokladpraliner.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Varldens_forsta_LSD-tripp_slutade_med_en_cykeltur_genom_Basel\"><\/span>6. The world&#039;s first LSD trip ended with a bike ride through Basel<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Swiss chemist <strong>Albert Hofmann<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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&#039;s first intentional LSD trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">April 19 has later become known as <strong>Bicycle Day<\/strong> among people interested in the history of psychedelic culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykling-alperna-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"Cykling alperna\" class=\"wp-image-53479\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykling-alperna-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykling-alperna-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykling-alperna-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykling-alperna-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykling-alperna-1200x676.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykling-alperna.jpg 1201w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Peter with a bike in Switzerland (but without LSD...)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Nescafe_utvecklades_i_Schweiz\"><\/span>7. Nescaf\u00e9 was developed in Switzerland<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instant coffee may not sound like a typically Swiss invention, but <strong>Nescafe<\/strong> 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. Nestl\u00e9 was commissioned to try and develop a solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Swiss chemist <strong>Max Morgenthaler<\/strong> worked on the problem and after several years of experimentation succeeded in developing a soluble coffee that retained more of the coffee&#039;s flavor and aroma. Nescaf\u00e9 was launched in 1938 and eventually became a product worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Peter-med-kaffe-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-121356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Peter-med-kaffe-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Peter-med-kaffe-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Peter-med-kaffe-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Peter-med-kaffe-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Peter-med-kaffe-433x244.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Peter-med-kaffe.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Ett_av_varldens_mest_kanda_typsnitt_ar_schweiziskt\"><\/span>8. One of the world&#039;s most famous fonts is Swiss<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You have most likely seen <strong>Helvetica<\/strong> thousands of times, even if you&#039;ve never thought about it. The typeface was created in 1957 by Max Miedinger in collaboration with Eduard Hoffmann at Haas&#039;sche Schriftgiesserei in Switzerland. It was first called <em>Neue Haas Grotesque<\/em>, but a few years later received the much more internationally accepted name Helvetica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-brettjordan-5138715-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-315436\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-brettjordan-5138715-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-brettjordan-5138715-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-brettjordan-5138715-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-brettjordan-5138715-224x168.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-brettjordan-5138715-16x12.jpg 16w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-brettjordan-5138715-433x325.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-brettjordan-5138715-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-brettjordan-5138715-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-brettjordan-5138715.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: Brett Jordan \/ Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Europas_hogsta_jarnvagsstation_ligger_3_454_meter_over_havet\"><\/span>9. Europe&#039;s highest railway station is located at 3,454 meters above sea level<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Switzerland and railways go hand in hand, and of course the Swiss were not content with building trains down in the valleys. At <strong>Jungfraujoch<\/strong> Europe&#039;s highest railway station is located at an altitude of 3,454 meters. The railway runs largely through tunnels inside the Eiger and M\u00f6nch mountains before passengers reach the high alpine world between M\u00f6nch and Jungfrau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"814\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/hpgruesen-switzerland-2110927_1280-1024x814.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-315446\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/hpgruesen-switzerland-2110927_1280-1024x814.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/hpgruesen-switzerland-2110927_1280-300x238.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/hpgruesen-switzerland-2110927_1280-768x610.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/hpgruesen-switzerland-2110927_1280-224x178.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/hpgruesen-switzerland-2110927_1280-15x12.jpg 15w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/hpgruesen-switzerland-2110927_1280-409x325.jpg 409w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/hpgruesen-switzerland-2110927_1280-1200x953.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/hpgruesen-switzerland-2110927_1280-600x477.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/hpgruesen-switzerland-2110927_1280.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: hpgruesen \/ Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Varldens_brantaste_kugghjulsjarnvag_klattrar_med_48_procents_lutning\"><\/span>10. The world&#039;s steepest cogwheel railway climbs at a 48 percent gradient<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another Swiss railway has an impressive record. <strong>Pilatus Cable Car<\/strong>, which runs from Alpnachstad up to Mount Pilatus, is the world&#039;s steepest cogwheel railway. On the steepest sections, the gradient reaches a whopping 48 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Brant-tag-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"Fakta om Schweiz \" class=\"wp-image-129235\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Brant-tag-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Brant-tag-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Brant-tag-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Brant-tag-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Brant-tag-433x244.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Brant-tag.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pilatus Railway in Switzerland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"11_Lavaux_bestar_av_tusentals_vinterrasser\"><\/span>11. Lavaux consists of thousands of wine terraces<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Between Lausanne and Montreux, the vineyards slope steeply down towards Lake Geneva. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2018\/08\/vinregionen-lavaux-i-schweiz-chaplins-world\/\">The Lavaux area<\/a><\/strong> is one of Switzerland&#039;s most spectacular cultural landscapes and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2007.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wine has been grown here for a very long time, and today&#039;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Genevesjon-Schweiz-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Fakta om Schweiz \" class=\"wp-image-129234\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Genevesjon-Schweiz-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Genevesjon-Schweiz-600x337.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Genevesjon-Schweiz-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Genevesjon-Schweiz-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Genevesjon-Schweiz-433x243.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Genevesjon-Schweiz.jpg 1201w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lavaux in Switzerland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"12_Charlie_Chaplin_tillbringade_sina_sista_25_ar_i_Schweiz\"><\/span>12. Charlie Chaplin spent his last 25 years in Switzerland<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <strong>Manoir de Ban<\/strong> in Corsier-sur-Vevey above Lake Geneva. Here Chaplin lived with his wife Oona and their family until his death in 1977.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, the home is part of <strong>Chaplin&#039;s World<\/strong>, a museum where you can visit the family&#039;s house and environments inspired by Chaplin&#039;s films. We have visited the museum ourselves and found it to be a really exciting stop in Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Chaplins-World-Schweiz-1-1024x550.jpg\" alt=\"Fakta om Schweiz \" class=\"wp-image-129238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Chaplins-World-Schweiz-1-1024x550.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Chaplins-World-Schweiz-1-600x323.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Chaplins-World-Schweiz-1-300x161.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Chaplins-World-Schweiz-1-768x413.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Chaplins-World-Schweiz-1-433x233.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Chaplins-World-Schweiz-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Chaplin&#039;s World in Switzerland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"13_Alien-monstret_skapades_av_schweizaren_HR_Giger\"><\/span>13. The Alien monster was created by Swiss HR Giger<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The dark and terrifying creature in the film <em>Alien<\/em> is of Swiss origin. The artist <strong>H.R. Giger<\/strong> 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 <em>Alien<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Giger created the visual design for the film&#039;s alien creature and environments, a work that won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects in 1980.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the medieval city <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2018\/08\/choklad-ost-i-schweiz-broc-gruyere\/\">Gruyeres<\/a> exists today <strong>H.R. Giger Museum<\/strong>, where you can get acquainted with his considerably darker world after looking at picturesque houses and eating cheese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Alien-1-1024x575.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-128396\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Alien-1-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Alien-1-600x337.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Alien-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Alien-1-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Alien-1-433x243.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Alien-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Alien at the HR Giger Museum in Gruy\u00e8res.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"14_Schweiz_har_en_av_varldens_tva_kvadratiska_nationsflaggor\"><\/span>14. Switzerland has one of the world&#039;s two square national flags<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The vast majority of countries have rectangular flags. Switzerland has chosen a different shape. The Swiss national flag is <strong>square<\/strong>, with a white cross on a red background. Only Switzerland and the Vatican City have square national flags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Geneve-Schweiz-1024x576-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"Fakta om Schweiz \" class=\"wp-image-128397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Geneve-Schweiz-1024x576-1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Geneve-Schweiz-1024x576-1-1-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Geneve-Schweiz-1024x576-1-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Geneve-Schweiz-1024x576-1-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Geneve-Schweiz-1024x576-1-1-433x244.jpg 433w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Swiss flag flies in Geneva.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"15_Schweiziska_kvinnor_fick_federal_rostratt_forst_1971\"><\/span>15. Swiss women only gained federal voting rights in 1971<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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&#039;s suffrage at the federal level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the story didn&#039;t end there. In the canton <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2018\/08\/appenzell-i-schweiz\/\">Appenzell Innerrhoden<\/a><\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Appenzell-hus-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"Appenzell hus\" class=\"wp-image-72940\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Appenzell-hus-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Appenzell-hus-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Appenzell-hus-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Appenzell-hus-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Appenzell-hus.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In Appenzell, women were only allowed to vote in 1991.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"16_I_tva_kantoner_rostar_man_fortfarande_med_handupprackning_pa_torget\"><\/span>16. In two cantons, people still vote by show of hands in the square<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Switzerland is known for its referendums, but in the cantons <strong>Glarus <\/strong>and <strong>Appenzell Innerrhoden<\/strong> an even older form of direct democracy remains. At the annual <strong>Regional council<\/strong> Citizens eligible to vote gather under the open sky and make decisions by raising their hands. The results are judged from the podium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"574\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Appenzell-torg-1024x574.jpg\" alt=\"Appenzell torg\" class=\"wp-image-72942\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Appenzell-torg-1024x574.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Appenzell-torg-600x336.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Appenzell-torg-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Appenzell-torg-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Appenzell-torg-1200x673.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Appenzell-torg.jpg 1202w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In the square in Appenzell, people still vote by show of hands.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"17_Schweiz_hade_ett_kort_inbordeskrig_1847\"><\/span>17. Switzerland had a brief civil war in 1847<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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, <strong>Special group<\/strong>, in opposition to the more liberal cantons. The conflict escalated into war in November 1847.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The war was short \u2013 the fighting lasted only a few weeks \u2013 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kyrkor-Geneve-1024x575.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-72688\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kyrkor-Geneve-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kyrkor-Geneve-600x337.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kyrkor-Geneve-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kyrkor-Geneve-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kyrkor-Geneve.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In the 19th century, a civil war was fought in Switzerland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"18_Schweiz_ar_fortfarande_en_konfederation_till_namnet_%E2%80%93_men_inte_i_praktiken\"><\/span>18. Switzerland is still a confederation in name \u2013 but not in practice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In English, the country&#039;s official name is <strong>Swiss Confederation<\/strong>, and in Latin <em>Helvetica Confederation<\/em>. That&#039;s where the country code comes from <strong>CH<\/strong> comes. But despite the name, today&#039;s Switzerland is not a confederation of independent states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-regeringsbyggnad-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Schweiz regering\" class=\"wp-image-72837\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-regeringsbyggnad-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-regeringsbyggnad-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-regeringsbyggnad-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-regeringsbyggnad-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-regeringsbyggnad-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-regeringsbyggnad.jpg 1201w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Switzerland&#039;s government building is located in Bern<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"19_Schweiz_neutralitet_betyder_inte_att_landet_star_utanfor_varlden\"><\/span>19. Switzerland&#039;s neutrality does not mean that the country stands outside the world<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Switzerland&#039;s permanent neutrality was internationally recognized in 1815 and has become an important part of the country&#039;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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&#039;s wars, but should be able to defend its own territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Geneva-Schweiz-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"Place des Nations\" class=\"wp-image-72686\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Geneva-Schweiz-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Geneva-Schweiz-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Geneva-Schweiz-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Geneva-Schweiz-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Geneva-Schweiz.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Many international organizations are headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"20_I_Schweiz_ska_det_finnas_en_skyddsrumsplats_for_varje_invanare\"><\/span>20. In Switzerland, there should be a shelter space for every resident<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"21_Gotthardbasistunneln_ar_571_kilometer_lang\"><\/span>21. The Gotthard Base Tunnel is 57.1 kilometers long<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Swiss are good at building railways over mountains \u2013 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&#039;s longest railway tunnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/tama66-tunnel-5627098_1280-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-315441\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/tama66-tunnel-5627098_1280-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/tama66-tunnel-5627098_1280-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/tama66-tunnel-5627098_1280-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/tama66-tunnel-5627098_1280-224x149.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/tama66-tunnel-5627098_1280-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/tama66-tunnel-5627098_1280-433x288.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/tama66-tunnel-5627098_1280-1200x799.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/tama66-tunnel-5627098_1280-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/tama66-tunnel-5627098_1280.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Railway tunnel. Photo: Tama66 \/ Pixabay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"22_I_Bern_ar_det_tradition_att_lata_sig_flyta_med_Aare\"><\/span>22. In Bern, it is a tradition to float on the Aare<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the summer, something quite special happens in Switzerland&#039;s capital \u2013 or federal city, to be precise. Residents jump into the turquoise-green river <strong>Aare<\/strong> and let the strong current carry them through Bern. At a suitable place they then get out of the water again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-simma-i-floden-2-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-129922\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-simma-i-floden-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-simma-i-floden-2-600x337.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-simma-i-floden-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-simma-i-floden-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-simma-i-floden-2-433x243.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-simma-i-floden-2.jpg 1201w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Helena tries the river Aare in Bern<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"23_Raclette_betyder_att_skrapa\"><\/span>23. Raclette means to scrape<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <strong>scrapers<\/strong>, which roughly means \u201dscrape.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 \u2013 and eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Raclette-Schweiz-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Fakta om Schweiz \" class=\"wp-image-129318\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Raclette-Schweiz-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Raclette-Schweiz-1-600x337.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Raclette-Schweiz-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Raclette-Schweiz-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Raclette-Schweiz-1-433x244.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Raclette-Schweiz-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Raclette-Schweiz-1.jpg 1202w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Raclette in Nendaz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"24_Korna_firas_nar_de_kommer_hem_fran_Alperna\"><\/span>24. The cows are celebrated when they return from the Alps<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <strong>Alpine train<\/strong>, <em>Desalpe<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 \u2013 a parade of flower-adorned cows with enormous cowbells is about as Swiss as it sounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Koparad-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-129319\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Koparad-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Koparad-1-600x337.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Koparad-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Koparad-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Koparad-1-433x243.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Koparad-1.jpg 1201w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cows coming down from the mountains in Appenzell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"25_Skeleton_foddes_i_St_Moritz\"><\/span>25. Skeleton was born in St. Moritz<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The breakneck winter sport <strong>skeleton<\/strong>, 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 <strong>Cresta Run<\/strong> between St. Moritz and Celerina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"942\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-frentescuphotography-13699281-1024x942.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-315422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-frentescuphotography-13699281-1024x942.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-frentescuphotography-13699281-300x276.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-frentescuphotography-13699281-768x707.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-frentescuphotography-13699281-224x206.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-frentescuphotography-13699281-13x12.jpg 13w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-frentescuphotography-13699281-353x325.jpg 353w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-frentescuphotography-13699281-1200x1104.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-frentescuphotography-13699281-600x552.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-frentescuphotography-13699281.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The winter sport Skeleton. Photo: Adrian Frentescu \/ Pexels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"26_Pavens_fargglada_livvakter_ar_schweizare\"><\/span>26. The Pope&#039;s colorful bodyguards are Swiss<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On St. Peter&#039;s Square in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2017\/09\/vatikanstaten-varldens-minsta-land\/\">Vatican City<\/a> you can see guards in colorful uniforms that look like they stepped straight out of the Renaissance. It is <strong>Pontifical Swiss Guard<\/strong>, which was founded in 1506 and is still responsible for protecting the Pope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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&#039;s long-standing restrictions on Swiss military service for foreign powers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/finestrelle-patience-2053258_1280-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-305856\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/finestrelle-patience-2053258_1280-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/finestrelle-patience-2053258_1280-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/finestrelle-patience-2053258_1280-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/finestrelle-patience-2053258_1280-224x126.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/finestrelle-patience-2053258_1280-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/finestrelle-patience-2053258_1280-433x244.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/finestrelle-patience-2053258_1280-590x332.jpg 590w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/finestrelle-patience-2053258_1280-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/finestrelle-patience-2053258_1280-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/finestrelle-patience-2053258_1280.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pontifical Swiss Guard. Photo: Finestrelle \/ Pixabay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"27_Ett_smyckesforbud_hjalpte_den_schweiziska_klockindustrin_pa_traven\"><\/span>27. A jewelry ban helped the Swiss watch industry thrive<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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. <strong>Jean Calvin<\/strong> and other reformers opposed excessive luxury and ornamentation, which made life more difficult for the city&#039;s goldsmiths and jewelers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, skilled Protestant refugees, including watchmakers, came to Geneva from other parts of Europe. The goldsmiths&#039; 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of course, that&#039;s not the whole explanation for Switzerland&#039;s watch industry, but the combination of religion, migration, and skilled craftsmen helped make Geneva a center for watchmaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-ferarcosn-190819-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-315430\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-ferarcosn-190819-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-ferarcosn-190819-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-ferarcosn-190819-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-ferarcosn-190819-224x149.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-ferarcosn-190819-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-ferarcosn-190819-433x288.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-ferarcosn-190819-1200x798.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-ferarcosn-190819-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pexels-ferarcosn-190819.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: Fernando Arcos \/ Pexels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"28_Zytglogges_urverk_har_tickat_sedan_1500-talet\"><\/span>28. The Zytglogge clockwork has been ticking since the 16th century<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the middle of Bern stands <strong>Zytglogge<\/strong>, a bell tower whose history dates back to the 13th century. The tower was originally part of the city&#039;s defenses and has served as a city gate and prison, among other things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 \u2013 inside you see gears, shafts and mechanics working together in a system that has its roots almost 500 years back in time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-klocktorn-1-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"Fakta om Schweiz \" class=\"wp-image-129886\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-klocktorn-1-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-klocktorn-1-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-klocktorn-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-klocktorn-1-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-klocktorn-1-433x244.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Bern-klocktorn-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Zytglogge clock tower in Bern.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"29_Kapellbrucke_reste_sig_igen_efter_den_stora_branden\"><\/span>29. Kapellbr\u00fccke rose again after the great fire<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Chapel Bridge<\/strong> i <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2018\/08\/luzern-i-schweiz-tag-till-toppen-av-berget-pilatus\/\">Lucerne<\/a> is one of Switzerland&#039;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&#039;s and Switzerland&#039;s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Chapel Bridge was quickly rebuilt and opened the following year. The traces of the fire have not been completely hidden \u2013 the empty spaces left by destroyed paintings are still a reminder of what happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Lucerne-bro-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Luzern bro\" class=\"wp-image-72885\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Lucerne-bro-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Lucerne-bro-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Lucerne-bro-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Lucerne-bro-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Lucerne-bro-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Lucerne-bro.jpg 1201w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Chapel Bridge in Lucerne<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"30_I_Schweiz_far_du_inte_halla_ett_marsvin_ensamt\"><\/span>30. In Switzerland you are not allowed to keep a guinea pig alone<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And so we come to perhaps the most important question of all: What happens if you want to get <strong>one<\/strong> Guinea pigs in Switzerland? Then you might want to think again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/myagi-guinea-pig-5287749_1280-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-315362\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/myagi-guinea-pig-5287749_1280-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/myagi-guinea-pig-5287749_1280-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/myagi-guinea-pig-5287749_1280-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/myagi-guinea-pig-5287749_1280-224x149.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/myagi-guinea-pig-5287749_1280-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/myagi-guinea-pig-5287749_1280-433x289.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/myagi-guinea-pig-5287749_1280-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/myagi-guinea-pig-5287749_1280-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/myagi-guinea-pig-5287749_1280.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: Myagi \/ Pixabay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container faktaruta uagb-block-399b664b default uagb-is-root-container\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Snabba_fakta_om_Schweiz\"><\/span>Fast facts about Switzerland<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Highest mountain:<\/strong> Dufourspitze in the Monte Rosa massif, 4,634 m above sea level. The peak is located on the border with Italy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Longest river:<\/strong> The Rhine is the longest river that touches Switzerland, with approximately 375 km within or along the country. The Aare is the longest river that flows entirely within Switzerland, with approximately 288 km.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Second largest city:<\/strong> Geneva, after Zurich.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Biggest lake:<\/strong> Lake Geneva, about 580 km\u00b2, is the largest lake that is partly in Switzerland, but shared with France. Lake Neuch\u00e2tel, about 218 km\u00b2, is the largest that is entirely within Switzerland.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sea:<\/strong> Switzerland has no coastline. However, water flows from the country towards the North Sea, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea via the Rhine, Rh\u00f4ne and Inn\/Danube, among others. Switzerland is therefore sometimes called the water tower of Europe.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Main sports:<\/strong> Football, skiing and ice hockey are among the big ones. Football is the largest in terms of organized players and spectators, while skiing has a special status as the Swiss national sport.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Neighbouring countries:<\/strong> France, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Italy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Climate:<\/strong> Temperate but very varied due to the differences in altitude and the Alps. The Atlantic Ocean influences large parts of the country, while southern Switzerland is considerably milder. The Alps also create many local microclimates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-overraskande-fakta-om-schweiz\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fler_fakta-reportage\"><\/span>More factual reports<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/01\/fakta-om-belgien\/\">Facts about Belgium<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2020\/01\/fakta-om-island\/\">Facts about Iceland<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2019\/10\/fakta-om-irland\/\">Facts about Ireland<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2020\/11\/fakta-om-frankrike\/\">Facts about France<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2020\/05\/fakta-om-tyskland\/\">Facts about Germany<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/roliga-fakta-om-lander\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Roliga-fakta-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-220149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Roliga-fakta-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Roliga-fakta-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Roliga-fakta-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Roliga-fakta-224x126.png 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Roliga-fakta-18x10.png 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Roliga-fakta-433x244.png 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Roliga-fakta-600x338.png 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Roliga-fakta.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Many fun facts that you (maybe) didn't know? Click on the image!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<div class=\"vcard\">\n<div class=\"has-image\">\n<figure class=\"profile-picture\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/influencers\/peter-bergstrom\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"328\" height=\"380\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/FREEDOMtravel-i-Budapest-1-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-small size-small wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/FREEDOMtravel-i-Budapest-1-1.jpg 328w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/FREEDOMtravel-i-Budapest-1-1-259x300.jpg 259w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/FREEDOMtravel-i-Budapest-1-1-193x224.jpg 193w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/FREEDOMtravel-i-Budapest-1-1-10x12.jpg 10w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/FREEDOMtravel-i-Budapest-1-1-281x325.jpg 281w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 328px) 100vw, 328px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"list-header\">Follow Peter here:<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"social\"><li class=\"youtube\"><a target=\"social\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/freedomtravelnews\" title=\"YouTube\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>YouTube<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"www\"><a target=\"social\" href=\"https:\/\/freedomxplore.com\/\" title=\"Web\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Web<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"influencer-country-flag\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Flag_of_Sweden-300x188.png\" alt=\"Sverige\" title=\"Sweden\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content\">\n<h2 class=\"name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Peter_Bergstrom\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/influencers\/peter-bergstrom\/\">Peter Bergstr\u00f6m<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"excerpt\">Peter is the CEO, writer and publisher of Sweden's most popular travel magazine, FREEDOMtravel.se and FREEDOMtravel.se\/husbilsresor. My wife and I travel for around eight months of the year, searching for new gems to experience and to inspire you, our readers, with exciting new destinations. We also run the travel agency FREEDOMxplore.com in collaboration with Your Brand Travel. The focus is on unique, hand-picked experiences.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><div id=\"freed-3560234505\" class=\"hide-label freed-after-content_2 freed-entity-placement method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><form method=\"post\" id=\"ft_newsletter_subscribe\" action=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/\" class=\"ft-newsletter\" data-ajax-url=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php\" data-trp-original-action=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2021\/02\/fakta-om-schweiz\/\">\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"stage\" value=\"subscribe\" \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prenumerera_pa_vart_nyhetsbrev\"><\/span>Subscribe to our newsletter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"form-field\" data-missing=\"This field is required.\" data-invalid=\"Please enter a valid email address.\">\n<label for=\"ft_newsletter_email\">Email address<\/label>\n<input id=\"ft_newsletter_email\" name=\"ft_newsletter_email\" type=\"email\" value=\"\" placeholder=\"Enter your email address\" aria-required=\"true\" \/>\n<\/p>\n<input class=\"signup button newsletter-meta-button\" type=\"submit\"  name=\"subscribe\" value=\"Subscribe\">\n<div style=\"position: absolute; left: -4200px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ft-newsletter-protect\"><input type=\"text\" name=\"98d0b92c63fae1c39c28d2024aa82be8e0ab74fe\" tabindex=\"-1\" value=\"\"><\/div>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"trp-form-language\" value=\"en\"\/><\/form><\/div><div id=\"freed-1016371083\" class=\"hide-label freed-after-content_3 freed-entity-placement method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 35px;\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" aria-label=\"FREEDOMtravel Exit\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel.png\" alt=\"FREEDOMtravel Avslut\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-300x100.png 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-1024x341.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-768x256.png 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-224x75.png 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-600x200.png 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-18x6.png 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-433x144.png 433w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" width=\"1200\" height=\"400\"   \/><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>G\u00e5 vidare till FREEDOMtravel Advertisement Annons Skribent: Peter Bergstr\u00f6m Schweiz f\u00f6rknippas ofta med h\u00f6ga alptoppar, punktliga t\u00e5g, exklusiva klockor, choklad och ost. Men landet bjuder ocks\u00e5 p\u00e5 en hel del mer ov\u00e4ntade historier. H\u00e4r har kardborreband och snabbkaffe utvecklats, h\u00e4r tog v\u00e4rldens f\u00f6rsta LSD-tripp fart p\u00e5 en cykel och h\u00e4r f\u00e5r man inte h\u00e5lla ett [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":151260,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[384],"tags":[88823],"class_list":["post-128388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-schweiz","tag-fakta-om","has-featured-image"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Schweiz-2.jpg",1200,675,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Schweiz-2-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Schweiz-2-300x169.jpg",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Schweiz-2-768x432.jpg",700,394,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Schweiz-2-1024x576.jpg",700,394,true],"influencer":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Schweiz-2.jpg",224,126,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Schweiz-2.jpg",1200,675,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Schweiz-2.jpg",1200,675,false],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Schweiz-2.jpg",18,10,false],"startpage_08":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Schweiz-2-433x244.jpg",433,244,true],"popular_product":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Schweiz-2-520x520.jpg",520,520,true],"startpage_camping_08":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Schweiz-2-433x675.jpg",433,675,true],"campervan_food":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Schweiz-2.jpg",590,332,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Schweiz-2.jpg",1200,675,false],"woocommerce_thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Schweiz-2-320x320.jpg",320,320,true],"woocommerce_single":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Schweiz-2-600x338.jpg",600,338,true],"woocommerce_gallery_thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Schweiz-2-100x100.jpg",100,100,true],"yarpp-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cykla-Schweiz-2.jpg",120,68,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Peter","author_link":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/author\/peter\/"},"uagb_comment_info":12,"uagb_excerpt":"G\u00e5 vidare till FREEDOMtravel Advertisement Annons Skribent: Peter Bergstr\u00f6m Schweiz f\u00f6rknippas ofta med h\u00f6ga alptoppar, punktliga t\u00e5g, exklusiva klockor, choklad och ost. 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