15 things you (probably) didn’t know about Switzerland
PLANNING a trip to Switzerland? These facts will earn you some bragging rights at your next barbecue with friends.
1. Switzerland is one of the only two countries to have a square flag – the Vatican is the other.
2. The British started a fashion for winter tourism in Switzerland in 1864.
3. The Matterhorn is the most photographed mountain in the world and is featured on the Toblerone packaging.
4. Switzerland has the most beautiful cows in the world, which are decorated in flower arrangements every September.
5. Swiss inventions include: The pencil, fondue, milk chocolate, optical and contact lenses, Swiss army knife, Nescafe, fonts such as Helvetica, Meridien and Universe and the computer mouse.
6. The Swiss consume about 94,000 tonnes of chocolate, or 12kg per person a year. Australians reportedly consume 4.9kg per capita.
7. Switzerland is home of the mountains – it has 51 peaks soaring over 4000 metres.
8. One can cross the country and never be further than 10 miles from a lake.
9. Switzerland has won more Nobel prizes than any other country.
10. Switzerland has the best integrated public transportation system in the world.
11. Switzerland has the highest per capita gold reserves in the world, followed by Lebanon and Germany.
12. The Swiss Alps account for about one half of the country.
13. Switzerland had the first hotel in Europe – the five-star hotel Drei Könnige (Three Kings) in Basel. It was established in 1026 and has been renovated since.
14. Switzerland is home to the highest railway station in Europe – The Jungfraujoch.
15. The Jungfrau is frequently used as a setting for shooting Bollywood movies.
More at myswitzerland.com