23 Little Known & Intriguing Facts About Switzerland!

You might think you know about Switzerland - it has cows, chocolate, cuckoo clocks, cheese, mountains and is neutral, right? What else is there to know?

Yes on all these counts - these are facts about Switzerland that in part make Switzerland what it is. However, when you visit the country and learn more about it, you will be fascinated to discover many other facts, laws and quirks that are truly uniquely Swiss!

If you are going to be visiting Switzerland sometime soon or if you just want some Swiss facts to entertain your friends with, then read on to learn 23 of the less well known but intriguing facts about Switzerland (and they become more intriguing as you go!).

23 Little Known & Intriguing Facts About Switzerland

Switzerland's Neutral History...

Switzerland is well known for being politically a neutral country... it has the oldest military neutrality policy in the world and has not been involved in any wars since this was established in the Treaty of Paris in 1815.

Due to the country's neutral status, Switzerland was late in becoming a member of the United Nations, finally joining in 2002 and was the first country to join the UN after a referendum.

Switzerland is not a member of the European Union or other significant European collaborations, although it does hold treaties with the European Single Market.

It is though, perhaps due to Switzerland's neutrality that a large number of international organisations have headquarters in the country, including the United Nations, the World Health Organisation and the World Trade Organisation while the Red Cross was founded in Geneva.

Switzerland's Currency

Due to Switzerland remaining outside of the European Union (see above), the currency of Switzerland is not the Euro but is the Swiss Franc, commonly depicted as CHF.

The Swiss Franc has been the monetary unit of Switzerland since 1850.

At today's exchange rates 1 CHF equates to approximately 0.75 GBP and is almost on a par with the US dollar, so 1 CHF = 0.99 USD!

The Languages Spoken

Switzerland has four national languages spoken around the country.

These are French, German, Italian and Rhaeto-Romantsch (with Latin roots). The region of Switzerland you are in will depend on the main language used.

Many Swiss are bilingual and as well as the official Swiss languages, around 60% of Swiss people are also proficient in English.

Switzerland Has No Head Of State

Switzerland has no monarchy, President, Prime Minister or other single head of state.

Instead, Switzerland has a 7 person Federal Council who work together to make decisions and get the job done!

The Council is headed by a Council President. This position rotates among the members annually but this person is not recognised as Switzerland's head of state.

What Is The Capital Of Switzerland?

If someone asked you which city was Switzerland's capital would you know the answer?

Many think it is Geneva, due to it having the UN and Red Cross headquarters based there, others might say Zurich (it is the largest city in Switzerland) or perhaps Bern.

So, which is it?

The true answer is none of the above...

Switzerland does not have an officially designated capital city because the Swiss Constitution did not designate one.

Bern, however, is the seat of the Swiss Federal Government and so is often referred to, or considered as the capital, when in fact it is the Federal City and de-facto capital but not an official capital city!

The Swiss Flag

Switzerland is just one of two countries in the world with a square national flag... the other being Vatican City.

Population - Swiss v. Internationals

Nearly one quarter of the just over 8.5 million population of Switzerland come from abroad. This is probably, at least in part, due to the large number of international organisations based in the country.

Military Service

Despite being neutral and not having been involved in any international conflict for nearly two hundred years, Switzerland does still have compulsory military service for men.

From the age of 18 years, men in Switzerland are expected to undertake military service.

Just in case you were still thinking that Switzerland is an entirely peaceful nation... these young men are expected to keep their military weapons (guns) and kit at their homes ready for action!

Gun Laws

... and while on the subject of guns....

In Switzerland gun laws are some of the softest in the Western world, with nearly 29% of citizens legally owning a gun (don't upset your neighbour!!).

Despite these soft gun laws, crime rates in Switzerland remain some of the lowest in the world and Switzerland is one of the safest countries to visit (see my post on the world's safest countries for more!).

Cannabis Use

Where in Europe do you go for your cannabis? Amsterdam right?

Well, think again - Switzerland has one of the highest rates of cannabis use in the world.

Cannabis in Switzerland does remain illegal but in 2013 the possession of low levels of marijuana was decriminalised, although if you are caught with it there can be an on the spot fine (of 100 CHF) but no criminal proceedings will be taken.

Speeding Fines

In Switzerland, if you are caught speeding to an excessive degree (so at more than 20-40 km/hr over the limit) then speeding fines are adjusted according to your income.

In 2010 a Swedish man made world news when he was caught driving at over 170 km/hr over the speed limit in his Mercedes (boy racer model) in Switzerland.

Taking his income into account alongside the level of speed he was driving at, a fine of over $1 million was imposed... (despite his attempt at the, 'my speedometer was not working' line!).

Prepared For Nuclear War!

In neutral and peaceful Switzerland, the nation is prepared to protect its people fully should nuclear war be declared.

Switzerland is very ready for nuclear attack with over 7000 warning sirens and enough nuclear fall out shelters in the country to accommodate the entire population.... every building or somewhere very close by has a nuclear bunker!

(... should you be visiting Switzerland from abroad when nuclear war strikes, it might be worth fluttering eyelids at any kindly looking Swiss person to see if they will share their bunker with you!).

Landlocked But Ready To Demolish Borders In A Moment!

Switzerland might be a land-locked nation and as we know entirely neutral and peaceful... dare to threaten Switzerland though and they are very prepared to prevent any unwanted invasion!

Every bridge, rail link, tunnel and main road (so almost 3,000 links) into Switzerland is wired and ready to be destroyed at the press of a button should Switzerland come under foreign attack.

Make sure you are not crossing one of these at the time!

Is That A Country Home Or Military Bunker?

As well as nuclear bunkers, wired bridges, armed citizens and military service; neutral and peaceful Switzerland has fully stocked military bunkers which are entirely disguised as country cottages in many villages around the country.

This is a nation ready to defend!

A Nation Of Inventors

Switzerland truly is a nation of inventors (and not just of the cuckoo clock!)...

Swiss inventions include aluminium foil, Swiss army knives, muesli, velcro, LSD, absinthe, Nescafe instant coffee, the potato peeler and milk chocolate .... to name but a few!

Famous Swiss People

Despite being a nation of extremely wealthy individuals, very few of these have the fame to go with it.

Famous names from Switzerland are few and far between.

In recent times, it is the tennis player, Roger Federer, Switzerland has been most proud of, even voting him the greatest legend of Switzerland (high praise indeed!).

Not forgetting, the girls though - Martina Hingis, despite not having had the longevity of Federer is another great Swiss tennis player in recent years.

Tennis players aside - famous Swiss people.... well there is Heidi (does she count?)...

Oh, and Albert Einstein - Einstein's nationality is one that is debated. He was German born, lived in Switzerland (where he also met his wife) and took Swiss citizenship as a young man, before moving to the USA and taking American nationality (although he still kept his Swiss nationality too).

Einstein did though develop his Theory of Relativity while living in Bern in 1905, so I think the Swiss can take some claim to him!

Unhappy Marriages

In Switzerland almost half of marriages end in divorce, with an average Swiss marriage lasting just 15 years. Perhaps it is for this reason that in 2018 the number of marriages and civil partnerships dropped in comparison to previous years.

A Cheese Loving Nation

Yep, we know the Swiss like their cheese... but how much so?

In Switzerland 450 varieties of cheese are produced and the Swiss consume an average of 21.73 kilos of cheese a year each!

Despite being well known for their hard cheeses, such as Gruyere and Emmental, the Swiss actually prefer their cheese soft, with one third of cheese eaten in Switzerland being mozzarella, quark and cheese spreads.

Chocoholics!

In Switzerland, more chocolate is consumed per person each year than in any other country in the world... and quite frankly when they produce such fine chocolate who can blame them?

In 2018 statistics show that the Swiss themselves consumed around 10.3 kg of chocolate each... (although this is less than half their cheese consumption!).

Unique Sunday Laws

If you are going to be in Switzerland on a Sunday, ensure you know what you can and cannot get up to!

Laws in Switzerland are in place to stop people mowing their grass, washing their cars, hanging out laundry and recycling bottles on a Sunday.

Oh, and if you thought that in that case you would kill some time by doing the weekly shop, think again - the shops are also strictly closed on this weekly day of rest.

Tight Animal Welfare Rules Regarding Pets

For any of my pet-loving, house-sitting readers out there, you might be interested to know about some of the animal welfare laws in Switzerland that relate to pets.

Swiss animal welfare laws are some of the strictest in the world.

In Switzerland, any 'social' pet (which seems to be any creature other than a dog or cat) must be kept in pairs. It is illegal to keep a social pet as a single pet. The Swiss believe that it is animal abuse to keep a pet without a playmate.

If you do have a dog in Switzerland then there are special taxes for dog ownership that must be paid and dogs must also be registered with the local councils.

Happy & Safe!

Despite some funny Sunday laws, high divorce rates and compulsory military service, Switzerland consistently tops surveys as one of the happiest and safest countries in the world and one of the best to be born in with consistently high quality of living....

It can't be so bad after all - unless it's the cannabis keeping them happy!!

Longevity

The high quality of living and happiness of Switzerland's people, with their impressive cheese and chocolate eating habits, is also keeping them alive longer.

Life expectancy in Switzerland is the second highest in the world, with an average age of death being 83.3 years in 2018.

So there you have 23 less well known and intriguing facts about Switzerland.

Hopefully this has opened your eyes to a fascinating nation and if you do visit Switzerland in future, you will have greater insight into what makes the country tick (and be looking out for the nearest nuclear bunker!).

**To make my travels possible and affordable I do so through international house-sitting, using both Trusted Housesitters and Kiwi Housesitters**