Schweiz

Suisse

Svizzera

Svizra

Switzerland

Chocolate

Cheese

Watches and swiss army knifes

Watches and knifes

Bankes and swiss franks ;-)

Mountains

(and cows)

Skiing and Snowbarding

•Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft

Confédération suisse

Confederazione Svizzera

Confederaziun svizra

Confoederatio Helvetica → CH

•Population: ca. 7, 4 Millions

•Max: North-south: 220 km / Max: west-east: 348 km

•23 cantons + 3 half-cantons = 26

The 26 cantons

Language-map

french

german

italian

roman

french

roman

german

italian

Language distribution 1990

others

Röstigraben ;-)

Division between french and german culture in Switzerland is called „Roestigraben“…and sometimes has a political dimension as well…

progressiv conservativ

„Rösti“: Speciality of the german part

catholic

protestant

Religion in Switzerland

No dominant religion

Very short history1291 Uri, Schwyz,

Unterwalden

13th to 17th century: new territories → 13 cantons

1648 Peace of Westfahlen, Swiss confederation is declared independent country, (before part of roman-

german Empire)

1848 Swiss federal constitution, democracy (25 cantons)

1971 women vote-right

1978 Creation of the canton Jura

Federal palace - Bundeshaus

Inside the Bundeshaus

The swiss democracy system

Swiss people (over 18 years)

Federal constitution

Bundesrat /conseil federal (7 persons, 1 president/ year)

Federal court Parliament Nationalrat Ständerat

(200 members) (46 members;

(2/canton)

Administration

Feder laws BudgetDeclarations

Elect

Control

Propose, discuss, decide on laws

Swiss “Bundesrat” 2009

Federal council…our 7 ministers…

We love to make fun of our 7 dear”Presidents”... But in generally like them...

Switzerland and Europe..?

Some famous „swiss“ people ;-)

Gustav Carl Jung

Friedrich Duerrenmatt

HenriDunant

Jean Tinguely

Johanna SpiriJean-Jacques Rousseau

Roger FedererMartina Hinggis Stephane Lambiel

Neuchâtel

My favourite town ;-)

About 32’000 inhabitants

University with about 3’500 students

Intercultural city, like Subotica

Small, but beautiful ;-)

Festivals, traditions...

MontreuxUrnäsch, appenzeller Silvesterkläuse

Carneval in Basel

Amazing places around Neuchâtel…

Towns…

And swiss mountains…

Some impressions…

Creux du Van

Les gorges de l’Areuse

Lac des Tailleres

Bern

Our Capital

St.Gallen

Zuerich

Church windows by Marc Chagall

Luzern

Basel

Lausanne

Geneva

The Swiss Alps…