Facts about Switzerland
Switzerland connects Alpine valleys with busy lakeside cities, across 26 cantons and four national languages. Explore the maps, discover the history and everyday life behind the places, then practise German, French or Italian.
- Capital
- Bern
- Population, end of 2025
- About 9.1 million
- Federal city
- Bern
- Currency
- Swiss franc (CHF)
- National languages
- German, French, Italian, Romansh
- Cantons
- 26
- Highest point
- Dufourspitze, 4,634 m
Switzerland · 0 of 20 rounds passed
Two timed rounds per topic, 20 seconds a question
The Central Plateau links Geneva and Lausanne with Bern, Zurich and St Gallen. Basel sits on the Rhine at the meeting of Switzerland, France and Germany. South of the Alps, Bellinzona and Lugano belong to Italian-speaking Ticino. Graubünden combines high valleys with German, Romansh and Italian communities.
Start with all 26 cantons, then place twenty selected cities and towns and explore eight lakes and rivers. Ten illustrated reading topics each have two quiz rounds. The language lessons teach Standard German, French and Italian, with Swiss regional differences explained in the reading.
Geography of Switzerland
Alpine valleys and busy plateau cities connect a landlocked country with five neighbours.
- Is Bern Switzerland’s capital?
- Bern serves as the seat of the federal government and is called the federal city. Zurich is the largest city.
- How many cantons does Switzerland have?
- 26. Cantons are political units, distinct from the three broad geographic regions of the Alps, Jura and Central Plateau.
- Is the Matterhorn the highest Swiss mountain?
- No. The Dufourspitze is higher at 4,634 metres, compared with the Matterhorn’s 4,478 metres.
History of Switzerland
A medieval alliance grew into a federation, with the modern state established in 1848.
- What happened in 1291?
- An alliance charter linked Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden. Its anniversary became the symbolic founding date, rather than the date the modern federal state appeared.
- When did Switzerland become a federal state?
- In 1848, following the short Sonderbund civil war of 1847.
- When did Swiss women gain the vote?
- Federal voting rights arrived in 1971. Cantonal voting rights followed separate timelines.
Languages of Switzerland
Four national languages reflect regional communities, with Swiss German dialects prominent in daily conversation.
- Does Switzerland have four official languages?
- It has four national languages. German, French and Italian are fully official at federal level, while Romansh is official for communication with its speakers.
- Are Swiss German and Standard German identical?
- No. Swiss German covers spoken dialects, while Swiss Standard German is widely used in writing and formal contexts.
- Where is Romansh spoken?
- Mainly in parts of Graubünden. It is a Romance language, distinct from German.
Culture of Switzerland
Regional festivals and Alpine traditions sit alongside international music, art and film.
- What is Schwingen?
- A traditional form of Swiss wrestling, usually held on a sawdust ring.
- Is William Tell a proven historical figure?
- He is a legendary figure in Swiss founding stories. The stories are not proof that the events occurred.
- Why are La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle UNESCO sites?
- Their urban layouts show how watchmaking shaped the organisation of these industrial towns.
Switzerland’s economy
Pharmaceuticals and precision industry support an economy with a large services sector.
- Does Switzerland use the euro?
- Its currency is the Swiss franc, CHF. Acceptance of euros by individual businesses does not make the euro its currency.
- Where is CERN?
- Near Geneva, with facilities extending across the border into France.
- What does Switzerland export?
- Important exports include pharmaceuticals and chemicals, watches and precision machinery.
Government in Switzerland
Cantonal autonomy and direct democracy shape a federal system with a collective executive.
- Who leads Switzerland’s government?
- The seven-member Federal Council governs collectively. Its presidency rotates each year and does not create a separate powerful president.
- How does a referendum differ from an initiative?
- An optional referendum challenges eligible legislation. A federal popular initiative proposes a constitutional change.
- Is Switzerland in the EU or Schengen?
- It is outside the EU but participates in the Schengen Area. It is also outside the EEA.
Nature and wildlife in Switzerland
Alpine habitats hold ibex and marmots, while glaciers shape valleys and water supplies.
- Where is the Swiss National Park?
- In Graubünden, in eastern Switzerland. It was founded in 1914.
- Can visitors leave the park’s marked trails?
- No. The park’s protection rules require visitors to stay on designated trails.
- Which mountain animal was reintroduced?
- The Alpine ibex, after it had been hunted out of Switzerland.
Food in Switzerland
Regional dairy dishes and potato cooking share the table with chocolate and muesli.
- How are fondue and raclette different?
- Cheese fondue is a pot for dipping bread. Raclette is melted cheese served over potatoes with accompaniments.
- What is rösti made from?
- Potatoes, grated and fried into a cake. Recipes and additions vary.
- Who developed Birchermüesli?
- The Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner, around 1900.
Landmarks in Switzerland
Mountain railways and historic towns connect well-known sights with their surroundings.
- Where is the Matterhorn?
- On the border between Switzerland and Italy, above the Swiss town of Zermatt in Valais.
- Is Jungfraujoch Europe’s highest mountain?
- No. Its railway station is Europe’s highest, at 3,454 metres. The name Top of Europe is a tourism title.
- What is the Palais des Nations?
- The home of the United Nations Office at Geneva. The UN’s main headquarters are in New York.
People and everyday life in Switzerland
A multilingual population lives mainly in urban centres, with strong regional identities.
- How many people live in Switzerland?
- About 9.1 million permanent residents at the end of 2025. The date and population definition matter.
- Are foreign-born residents the same as foreign citizens?
- No. Birthplace and citizenship are different measures, and they should not be used interchangeably.
- Where did Einstein work in 1905?
- In Bern, at the patent office, when he published his special theory of relativity.