Page 200 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Great Places to Stay in Europe

GPS_200-201_Switz_Intro.qxd 7/9/01 3:27 PM Page 2001 1 31110:02 AM Page 2003:27 PM Page 2003:27 PM Page 2001 1 1 31 31 3
GPS_200-201_Switz_Intro.qxd 7/9/01
GPS_200-201_Switz_Intro.qxd 7/9/01 0 (TEXT BLACK plate)

20 0 SWIT Z ERLAN D

SWITZERLAND
HE MOUNTAINOUS GEOGRAPHY Switzerland has always been
of Switzerland divides a highly popular European
T this small country tourist destination, and,
into a number of self- not surprisingly, its
contained localities. In hoteliers are famous for
the past, communication, their excellent and
even between neighbou- enthusiastic house-keeping.
ring valleys, was minimal. Local It is all too easy to think of
differences are reinforced by the fact Switzerland as mountains, lush valleys
that four languages are spoken: French, and chalet hotels. But it has some
German, Italian and Romansch, a smart town hotels, too, and some
Latinised form of Swiss German. beautiful lakeside ones.

The Walserhof, page 207, fine food in the seemingly ever-fashionable ski resort of Klosters
SWITZERLAND REGIONRR Northern Switzerland there is no shortage of
BY REGIONRR Separated from Germany and enchanting places to stay on
Austria by the Rhine and Lake beautiful Lake Constance.
E DIVIDE Switzerland Constance, this region
Winto five regions: encompasses Basel and the Central Switzerland
Western, Northern, Central, surrounding cantons. The This is William Tell country.
Eastern and Southern. (In main language is German, It takes in Lucerne, which is
fact, the country is sub- but there are French perhaps the country’s most
divided into 26 cantons.) influences. Basel itself has its visited city. It has beautiful
share of good hotels and scenery and a wide choice of
Western Switzerland inns and hotels.
This comprises Suisse
Romande and Bern. Suisse Eastern Switzerland
Romande is the French- The least densely populated
speaking area of the country area of the country, Eastern
and, in Geneva, which is Switzerland boasts some
culturally more French than 360 sq km (140 sq miles) of
the rest of the country, there glacier, and the fashionable
are some very sophisticated ski resorts of Klosters and
hotels. But you can also find St Moritz. Apart from many
charming rural retreats and charming winter sports hotels,
country house hotels nearby. there are some lovely country
Perhaps the best-known inns, too.
Alpine holiday region, the
Bernese Alps, offers Southern Switzerland
everyone’s idea of mountain This includes Valais and
scenery and chic resorts. Villa Principe Leopoldo, page 208 Ticino. Valais contains some