Switzerland Information - Page 1 The Swiss Confederation is a
landlocked nation state in Central Europe. Countries bordering
Switzerland are France to the west, Germany to the north,
Austria and Liechtenstein to the east and Italy to the south.
Bern is the capital city and the seat of the Federal Government
and situated on the Swiss plains. Zurich, Basel and Geneva are
the main centres of business and industry. Luzern, Lugano and
Lausanne are other important centres of culture and tourism. The
country is split into 26 Cantons, or small states each of which
have their own constitution and elected regional assembly,
similar to the United States of America. Much of Switzerland is
mountainous, with the Alps covering about two thirds of the
southern part of the country. The highest peak in Switzerland is
Monte Rosa on the Italian border at 4,600m or 15,000 ft. Other
spectacular mountains include the Eiger, the Jungfrau and the
Matterhorn. The north-west border with France has the Jura
Mountains which slope up to t