Page 55 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Switzerland

A YEAR IN

SWITZERLAND

APRIL
Festichoc (early Apr). Visitors tour artisan
MARCH workshops, ride on the chocolate train and DISCOVER A Brief History
sample all the chocolate they can stomach
△ Engadine Marathon (second Sun). Well over a in Versoix for free.
thousand cross-country skiers trudge across frozen △ Landsgemeinde (late Apr). Switzerland’s
lakes and woods to rustic S-chanf; open to all. unique open-air assembly takes place in
International Motor Show (mid-Mar). Geneva’s Appenzell, where some 3,000 citizens stand
10-day extravaganza launches futuristic designs, and vote on all public matters.
as well as the next year’s family cars. A BRIEF
Verbier Xtreme (end Mar–early Apr). Skiers and
HISTORY
snowboarders compete with pros on Verbier’s 1
challenging terrain.

Thanks to its strategic location, Switzerland has been highly sought for
AUGUST centuries. In 1291, the Swiss Confederation was created to stave off foreign
△ Swiss National Day (1 Aug). During the day, a rule. The alliance expanded until modern Switzerland was born in 1848.
parade snakes through Zurich, while bonfires and Although its international neutrality has kept it out of many major events,
fireworks illuminate every mountain top across this small country remains one of the continent’s powerhouses.
the country by night to celebrate the founding
of the Swiss Confederacy. 1 A 17th-century map
JULY International Film Festival (mid-Aug). Thousands The Crossroads of Europe showing Basel.
of spectators grab a seat in Locarno for outdoor As early as 500 BC, the lands that now comprise Switzerland
Paléo (late Jul). An eclectic range of rock, viewings on a huge screen, of premieres, as well as were settled by two tribes, the Celtic Helvetii and the Etruscan 2 The 1315 Battle
blues and funk is performed in circus tents old favourites. Rhaetians. By 58 BC, the region was incorporated into the of Morgarten against
around Nyon. Roman Empire and peace and prosperity reigned: agriculture the Habsburgs.
△ Swiss Open (end Jul). The world’s best Lucerne Festival (mid-Aug–mid-Sep). Internationally flourished, towns grew and new roads encouraged trade. From 3 A statue depicting
renowned summer programme of galas and
tennis players battle it out on impeccable clay concerts showcase the best of classical music. the 5th to the 13th centuries, different factions fought over the folk hero William Tell.
courts for the title of champion, in Gstaad’s territory until it was swallowed into the Holy Roman Empire in
ultra-chic surroundings. 4 Destruction of icons
the 800s; it continued to be a battleground for powerful feudal during the Reformation
families, notably the Habsburgs, Savoys and Zähringens. in 1524, Zürich.
Timeline of events
390 BC 217 BC 200 BC
Gallic armies Hannibal comes onwards
DECEMBER heading for Rome over the Alps The Roman rulers
cross the Grand
with his
introduce their reli­
L’Escalade (12 Dec). Celebrating the successful St Bernard Pass. elephants. gion, language and
defence of Geneva from an attack by the Duke underfloor heating.
NOVEMBER of Savoy in 1602, thousands march through the 742
city in period costumes.
△ Onion Fair (late Nov). At this uniquely Swiss △ Christmas Markets (throughout). Open-air 500s BC
event, people flock to Bern from across the markets appear across the country. While the A feudal system develops
country to ring in the onion harvest. A wild ones in Basel, Bern, Zürich and Montreux are The Helvetii and as Charlemagne draws
confetti-throwing battle signals the official among the biggest, Stein am Rhein and Rhaetian tribes begin the region into the
end of the festival. Fribourg’s are particularly charming. to settle in the Alps. Holy Roman Empire.
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