Flag of Switzerland

Switzerland (Confoederatio Helvetica - CH) is a small, landlocked country in Europe, bordered by France, Germany, Italy, Austria and Lichtenstein. The two main languages spoken in Switzerland are French and German, although you will also hear Italian and Romansh spoken as well.

Switzerland consists of 26 administration areas called Cantons.

The capital of Switzerland is Bern, although the largest city is Zurich.

Currency is the Swiss Franc written as CHF.

Swiss Holidays

1st August - Swiss National Day

Each of the 26 cantons sets its own public holidays.  The only federal holiday is Swiss National Day.

Cantons	Capital	Initial
Aargau	Aarau	AG
Appenzell Ausserrhoden	Herisau	AR
Appenzell Innerrhoden	Appenzell	AI
Basel-Landschaft	Liestal	BL
Basel-Stadt	Basel	BS
Bern	Bern	BE
Fribourg	Fribourg	FR
Geneva	Geneva	GE
Glarus	Glarus	GL
Graubunden	Chur	GR
Jura	Delemont	JU
Lucerne	Lucerne	LU
Neuchatel	Neuchatel	NE
Nidwalden	Stans	NW
Obwalden	Sarnen	OW
St Gallen	St Gallen	SG
Schaffhausen	Schaffhausen	SH
Schwyz	Schwyz	SZ
Solothurn	Solothurn	SO
Thurgau	Frauenfled	TG
Tincino	Bellinzona	TI
Uri	Altdorf	UR
Valais	Sion	VS
Vaud	Lausanne	VD
Zug	Zug	ZG
Zurich	Zurich	ZH

Cantons of Switzerland (from d-maps.com - see Links)

Photographs and text © Lisa Evans 2013 (except where stated)