From the Middle Ages until the middle of the 19th century, Switzerland experienced church schism, which was accompanied by wars, religious disagreements both between the cantons and within them, the cantons, depending on religious predilections, arranged alliances among themselves, this whole mess ended up with 49% of Protestants and 49% of Catholics in the country, and modern Swiss have very cooled towards religious cult, empty churches given over to shops, libraries or private housing.
Protestants and Catholics now do not have a clear national coloring, they can equally be German, Italian or French-speaking citizens, however, Protestant Germans are mainly located in Bern, Zurich, Basel-Land, Basel-Stadt, Glarus, Thurgau, Schaffhauen and Appenzell-Aussenrhoden. French Protestants are in Geneva and nearby cantons. The center of Swiss Catholicism is located in the geographical center of the country, namely in Solothurn, Appenzell-Innerrhoden, Uri, Schwyz, Zug, Niederwalden, Unterwalden and Lucerne, as well as in the Italian Ticino and in the French Valais and Friborg, the cantons of St. Gallen and Aargau have the same number of Catholics and Protestants. The largest Jewish communities are located in Geneva, Basel and Zurich. Today, the Muslim community in Switzerland is growing strongly, which already reaches 400,000 people, the bulk of which are immigrants from Turkey. Interestingly, since 2009, the construction of mosques has been banned in Switzerland, of course, this was done to prevent the repetition of medieval religious wars while Protestants and Catholics coexist peacefully, and the local population, fed up with religion, begins to ignore it.
In Switzerland today there is a religious tax, those residents who did not explicitly indicate their status as an atheist automatically become payers of a religious tax, which is automatically deducted from their salaries in support of the local church, most recently religion in Switzerland was part of the state system, the clergy performed the functions of registering marriage, birth and death, for which they received a salary. The Swiss still perceive religion as part of the state system, but the perception of the role of the church in the life of every person is completely different than in the old days, which led to this high level education and modern conditions life. Once the most religious country in Europe, on the flag of which a cross flaunts, has become one of the most atheistic states. Churches, temples and monasteries in Switzerland today rather serve as architecture, historical and cultural attractions with art galleries and museums of religious art, and we, foreign tourists, do not need more.
In addition, religious views in developed countries are also strongly influenced by gender, men are twice less than women are concerned about religion, there are twice as many atheists among them, twice as many women than men believe in religion. afterlife, given that women in Switzerland are passive in the areas of public life, then we can draw conclusions why Switzerland is a country of atheism.
By state structure- federal Republic. The main bodies of the Swiss Confederation are the Federal Council, the Federal Assembly and the Federal Court. The executive body is the federal council of seven members elected by parliament for a term of four years. The Federal Court of Switzerland is located in Lausanne, the rest of the main government bodies are in Bern.
Switzerland adheres to the traditional policy of neutrality and therefore does not join the UN. However, it takes part in the work of all specialized organizations of the UN; Geneva is home to the headquarters of the World Trade Organization, the International Labor Organization, the World Health Organization, International Union telecommunications, the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Other organizations based in Switzerland: World Council of Churches and International Red Cross.
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Orthodoxy in Switzerland
The history of Russian Orthodoxy in Switzerland began on December 24, when a house church was opened at the Russian mission in
More than 16 million tourists visit Switzerland every year. For most of them, Switzerland is initially associated with watches, chocolate, Swiss cheese and ski resorts. However, tourists very quickly realize that this country has unique medieval architectural buildings, amazingly beautiful nature, a large number of attractions, the annual Geneva International Motor Show, and excellent thermal spas.
Geography of Switzerland
The Swiss Confederation is located in the center of Europe, it has no access to the sea. Switzerland borders France to the west, Italy to the south, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. The total area of this country is 30,528 sq. km., and the total length of the border is 1,850 km.
Switzerland is divided into three main geographic region- The Alps (occupy 60% of the country), the Swiss Plateau (30% of the country) and the Jura Mountains in the north of the country (about 10% of the territory). The country's highest peak is Dufour Peak in the Alps (4,634 m).
Several rivers flow through Switzerland - Rhone, Limmat, Rhine, etc. But tourists are more interested in Swiss lakes - Zurich in the east, Geneva, Thun, Firwaldstet in the south, Neuchâtel and Biel in the north of the country.
Capital
Since 1848, the capital of Switzerland has been the city of Bern, which is now home to about 135 thousand people. Bern was formed in 1191 by order of Duke Berthold the Rich.
Official language
Switzerland speaks four languages. The most common of these is German(more than 67%). Next come French (more than 20%), Italian (6.5%) and Romansh (0.5%) languages.
Religion
More than 38% of the inhabitants of Switzerland belong to the Roman Catholic Church. Protestants (31% of the population) and Muslims (4.5%) also live in this country.
State structure of Switzerland
Switzerland, according to the 1999 Constitution, is a federal parliamentary republic. The head of state is the President, elected from 7 members of the Federal Council for 1 year. It is the Federal Council that has the executive power in the country.
Legislative power has for many centuries been vested in a bicameral parliament - the Federal Council, consisting of the Council of Cantons (46 representatives, two from each canton) and the National Council (200 deputies).
Administratively, the Swiss Confederation consists of 26 cantons.
Climate and weather
In general, the climate in Switzerland is temperate, continental, but it has regional differences. In the west of Switzerland strong influence on the climate Atlantic Ocean, in the Alps the climate is mountainous, alpine. South of the Alps, the climate is almost Mediterranean. The average annual temperature is +8.6C. In winter, there is a lot of snow in Switzerland, which guarantees a long ski season.
Average air temperature in Bern:
January - -1C
- February - 0C
- March - +5C
- April - +10C
- May - +14C
- June - +17C
- July - +18C
- August - +17C
- September - +13C
- October - +8C
- November - +4С
- December - 0C
Rivers and lakes
Switzerland has several large rivers - the Rhone, Limmat, Rhine, as well as the most beautiful lakes - Zurich in the east, Geneva, Thun, Firwaldstet in the south, Neuchâtel and Biel in the north of the country.
History of Switzerland
People on the territory of modern Switzerland lived 5 thousand years ago. In 58 B.C. Roman legions led by Gaius Julius Caesar defeated the troops of the Helvetian tribe living in Switzerland. In 15 B.C. the Roman emperor Tiberius conquers the tribes in the Swiss Alps, and from that time Switzerland becomes part of Ancient Rome.
In the early Middle Ages, Switzerland was under the rule of the Franks, and was divided into two parts - Middle Francia and East Francia. Only in 1000 AD. the Swiss territories were reunited under the Holy Roman Empire.
In 1291, the three Swiss cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden united to resist external enemies, and by 1513 this confederation included 13 cantons. The first half of the 16th century in Switzerland was marked by religious wars.
Only in 1648, according to Peace of Westphalia, European countries recognized the independence of Switzerland from the Holy Roman Empire.
In 1798, revolutionary French troops conquered Switzerland and gave it a new constitution.
In 1815, the independence of Switzerland was again recognized by other states. Switzerland has since become a neutral country.
In 1847, some Swiss Catholic cantons tried to create their own union by separating from the rest of Switzerland, but they did not succeed. Civil War in 1847 in Switzerland lasted less than a month, and about 100 people died in it.
In the 20th century, during two world wars, Switzerland remained a neutral country. However, during the Second World War in Switzerland, the mobilization of men into the army was announced, because. there was a strong threat of invasion German troops. An important role during the Second World War was played by the International Red Cross, whose main office was in Geneva.
The first Swiss cantons granted women the right to vote in elections in 1959. On federal level Swiss women gained the right to vote in 1971.
In 2002, Switzerland became full member UN.
Culture of Switzerland
The culture of Switzerland was greatly influenced by neighboring countries - France, Germany, Austria and Italy. However, Swiss culture is now very distinct and unique.
Until now, the Swiss zealously preserve their ancient traditions, the “soul” of which is expressed in music, dances, songs, embroidery and woodcarving. Even small Swiss villages have several musical folklore ensembles or dance groups.
In the mountainous regions of Switzerland, yodel, a type of folk singing, is popular (as in Austria). Every three years Interlaken hosts the International Yodeling Festival. A typical Swiss folk instrument is the accordion.
- Art Basel
- Geneva Auto Show
- Montreux Jazz Festival
- Omega European Masters
- White Turf Events
- Lucerne Festival
- Locarno International Film Festival
- Ascona Music Festival
Kitchen
Swiss cuisine is characterized by precision and accuracy in the preparation of dishes. Swiss cuisine uses a lot of vegetables and herbs. In general, Swiss cuisine is formed on the basis of numerous regional traditions. However, in every canton of Switzerland, cheese is often used in cooking. In general, dairy products are very popular among the Swiss.
About 450 types of cheese are produced in Switzerland. Each Swiss eats an average of 2.1 kilograms of cheese annually.
The national Swiss dishes are “rösti” (“roshti”), which is grated potatoes fried in a pan (i.e. a kind of potato pancakes, they are served with herring, scrambled eggs or cheese), and “fondues” (“fondue” ), prepared from cheese and meat.
The Swiss are very fond of chocolate. Each Swiss eats more than 11.6 kilograms of chocolate every year. Now Swiss chocolate is famous all over the world.
Landmarks of Switzerland
Switzerland has not been at war with anyone for a long time, and given that the Swiss are very thrifty and economical, it becomes clear why a large number of various historical and architectural monuments have been preserved there. The top ten attractions in Switzerland, in our opinion, include the following:
- Chillon Castle on the shores of Lake Geneva. The famous Chillon Castle was built in 1160 and belonged to the Dukes of Savoy for a long time. The famous English poet George Byron, after a trip to Chillon Castle in 1816, wrote his famous poem "The Prisoner of Chillon".
- Swiss national park. The Swiss National Park was formed in 1914. It covers an area of 169 sq. km. In this reserve, deer, chamois and mountain goats are found in large numbers.
- Jet d "Eau fountain in Geneva. The Jet d" Eau fountain was built in 1881. It hits from Lake Geneva to a height of 140 meters. Now the Jet d "Eau fountain is considered one of the symbols of Geneva.
- Medieval villages in the canton of Grisons. There are many old villages in the canton of Graubünden with houses dating back to the 13th century.
- Monument to the Duke of Brunswick. A monument to the Duke of Brunswick was built in Geneva in 1879. Not far from this monument is the Jet d "Eau fountain.
- Cathedral of St. Peter in Geneva. The construction of the Gothic St. Peter's Cathedral in Geneva lasted from 1160 to 1310. It is in this cathedral that the chair of the famous reformer of the Catholic Church, Han Calvin, is located.
- Museum of ceramics and glass "Ariana". The Ariana Museum is located near the Palais des Nations, in the Ariana Park in Geneva. The museum presents works of art from ceramics, porcelain and glass from around the world.
- Bastion Park in Geneva. Parc de Bastion is the oldest botanical park in Switzerland (it was founded in 1817). The magnificent building of the University of Geneva is located in this park.
- Russian Orthodox Church in Geneva. This church was built in 1866. Now she is one of the decorations of Geneva.
- Rhine Falls. In the canton of Schaffhausen, on the border with Germany, there is the famous Rhine Falls (i.e. this is a waterfall on the Rhine River).
Cities and resorts
The largest Swiss cities are Geneva, Basel, Zurich, Lausanne, and, of course, Bern.
Switzerland is, apparently, the classic country of ski resorts. The skiing season in Switzerland starts in November and lasts until April inclusive. The most popular Swiss ski resorts are Zermatt, Saas-Fee, St. Moritz, Interlaken, Verbier, Crans-Montana, Leukerbad, Villars/Grillon.
For many tourists, Switzerland is associated with ski resorts. However, in this country there are a lot of balneological resorts on thermal waters. The most popular Swiss balneological resorts are Leukerbad, Bad Ragaz, Yverdon-les-Bains, Baden, Ovronna, etc.
Souvenirs/Shopping
The name comes from the name of the canton of Schwyz, derived from the ancient German "burn".
Capital of Switzerland. Berne.
switzerland square. 41284 km2.
Population of Switzerland. 7300 thousand people
Administrative divisions of Switzerland. Switzerland is a federation of 23 cantons (3 of them are divided into half-cantons).
Form of government of Switzerland. Federal parliamentary republic. Each canton has its own constitution, parliament and government.
Head of State of Switzerland. The president is elected by parliament for a year from among the members of the government.
Switzerland's highest legislative body. Federal Assembly (bicameral parliament), consisting of the National Council and the Council of Cantons and elected for a term of 4 years.
Supreme executive body of Switzerland. Federal Council (government).
Major cities in Switzerland. Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne, Lucerne.
Official language of Switzerland. German, French, Italian, Romansh.
Fauna of Switzerland. Animal world represented by: chamois, marten, hare, marmot, fox, etc. For birds, the climate of the Alps provides a unique opportunity for fast seasonal ones, so there are a large number of them. There are many swans and ducks on the lakes and floodplains. A Swiss national park has been created along the border with Italy.
The cultural and linguistic map of Switzerland is a striking variety of interethnic relations. In a religious sense, the confederation is a roughly balanced system of Protestants and Catholics, although people of other faiths are also present in the country, in addition to them.
The religious situation in Switzerland
Since 1848 (when the constitution was adopted), the cantons of Switzerland have been legally divided into Catholic and Protestant societies. Survey conducted in 2005 public opinion revealed that:
- 49 percent of the population are religious;
- 39% rely on the "power of life";
- 9% of the inhabitants are atheistic;
- 3% agnostic.
However, the religious picture of Switzerland is constantly in motion, due to the continuous change of religious unions and churches.
Catholicism
Catholicism is practiced by about 48% of the believing Swiss population, which is about three and a half million followers. The Catholic Church in Switzerland is widely known and spread throughout the country. Catholicism is mainly practiced in the central part of the country and rural towns of the canton of Ticino, which suffered a significant number of immigrants from Southern Europe in the seventies of the twentieth century.
Protestantism
Protestantism in Switzerland is the second most adherent religion - it has about three million followers (46% of Swiss). Predominantly the Protestant religion is practiced in the large cantons - Geneva, Bern, Basel, Zurich.
Orthodoxy
Number of supporters Orthodox Church in Switzerland is today estimated at about one percent of the entire country. In fairness, it is worth noting that the number of Orthodox Christians has tripled over the past twenty years. Geographic location Christian communities are concentrated in cities located near Lake Geneva. They also receive Orthodox pilgrims from other countries, most of whom are Russians.
Islam
Only 150,000 people belong to Islam, brought to the country by foreign immigrants, and belong to the Swiss Muslim Union.
Buddhism and Hinduism
Buddhism and Hinduism accept the smallest number of Swiss in the confederation - 0.5% of all inhabitants of the country. Nowadays, the Swiss are increasingly eager to turn to these Eastern religions, which are gaining popularity in the country. There are also many unions that spread and preach this religion among the population. Muslims and Buddhists are concentrated mainly in Bern and Zurich.
Zoroastrianism
In addition, such a rare religion, Zoroastrianism, is popular among influential Swiss, politicians and businessmen. The most interesting thing is that its supporters are no more than 150,000 people all over the world.
teaching religion
All Swiss parents, when their child enters school, will certainly fill out a questionnaire, and there has recently appeared a column about belonging to a particular religion. Twenty percent of this column indicates that the family adheres to atheistic views. This paradoxical situation arises mainly because there are more and more diverse beliefs in society about the need to teach religion to children. However, in almost all cantons, schoolchildren study religious foundations and their role in society, culture and the world. And here an ambiguous situation arises: for children whose families believe in God, it is interesting in the classroom, and for those who live in atheistic families it is difficult to assimilate the material. After all, the children of atheists have to reflect on the actual state of affairs in the family and the contradictions that arise after religious studies.
So, the religious picture in Switzerland is not static, it is constantly changing in one direction or another, but Catholicism and Protestantism remain the main and dominant religions.
