Page 201 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Great Places to Stay in Europe

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SWIT Z ERLAN D 2 01

of the most dramatic and chocolate was invented here, Switzerland, dial the full area
famous mountain scenery and in 1879 the first chocolate code. To call Switzerland
in the country: here, for bar was made. from the UK, first dial the
example, is the village of Most of the wine produced international code, 00 41
Zermatta, dominated by the in the country is white, and is (from the US, 011 41), as
famous pyramid-shaped peak best drunk when young. usual omitting the first zero of
of the Matterhorn. It is also There are more than 300 the country area code.
a very productive wine- small wine-growing areas
growing region. spread over the country. In Public holidays 1 January;
Magical Ticino, with its the French-speaking part, try Good Friday; Easter Monday;
sunshine, lakes, mountains Fendant or Johannisberg. In Ascension Day; Whit Monday;
and flowers, has a number of the German-speaking there 1 August; 25 and 26
beguiling lakeside inns. are some good dry reds. The December.
beer is good, too. Helles is
HIGHLIGHTS light, Dunkles dark. USEFUL WORDSWW
Kirsch is the national ‘hard’
HEHOTELS pictured on drink, made from cherry RENCH, German and Italian
Tthese introductory pages stones, with a variety of Fare spoken. See pages
are by no means the only flavourings. In the Italian- 217, 147 and 333.
highlights. Other favourites speaking south of the country
include the welcoming chalet you will find Grappa. SWITZERLAND
PRICE BANDS
hotel of Aux Milles Etoiles P P
(page 209), which is good for OTHER PRACTICALPP
skiing and wonderfully INFORMATION WISS HOTELS are officially
peaceful; and the Chesa Salis Sclassified by stars, one to
at Bever (page 205), a REAKFAST is usually a help- five. Our price bands are
charming village hotel with Byourself buffet and much simpler and, as
a warm welcome and first- consists of breads, cold elsewhere in the guide, refer
rate food. meats, cereals, fruit and to the cost of a standard
cheeses. In most hotels the double room in high season.
FOOD AND DRINK ‘double bed’ is in fact two Prices are normally quoted
single beds pushed together inclusive of breakfast and tax.
HEESE AND chocolate with two single duvets. However, in some places, a
Care synonymous with In the German-speaking guest tax may be charged. In
Switzerland, but each region regions, the stube, or bar, is this event, a discount card is
has its own particular the focal point of many of the sometimes offered, giving
specialities. There are more hotels and inns; in the Italian- reduced price entry to certain
than a hundred different speaking area, grottos are the local attractions.
varieties of cheese made in equivalent.
individual dairies, and the [ Below 100 SF
national dish is fondue. Lake Language English is spoken [[ 100–200 SF
fish are often on the menu; by most of the population as [[[ 200–300SF
so also is Rösti, a delicious a second language. [[[[ Over 300SF
fried potato cake, and
raclette, shavings of melted Currency The Swiss
cheese. If you are feeling franc, written ‘F’ or
particularly hungry, ‘SF’.
try the Berneplatte, the classic
dish of Bern which consists Shops Normal shop
typically of a huge pile of hours are from
sauerkraut (pickled cabbage) 8am–12pm and
topped with sausages, ham 1:30–6:30pm.
and other ingredients. In the Saturday closing is at
south, risotto and polenta are 11am except in the
very popular. All over the large cities.
country you will find
delicious patisseries. The Tipping A 15 per
commonest delicacy is the cent service charge is
cream-filled gugelhopf. added to all hotel
The first chocolate factory and restaurant bills.
in Switzerland opened in You only need leave
1819. Swiss chocolate is more if you feel that
considered to be the best in the service has been
the world and, perhaps not unusually good.
surprisingly, the Swiss eat
and drink more chocolate Telephoning If you
per capita than any other wish to make a
nation. In 1875, milk phone call from Guarda Val, page 208, sits above Lenzerheide