Information about Swiss culture

The culture of Switzerland is characterised by the diversity of its geography, its languages and its religious affiliation. This is reflected in the variety of its literature, art, architecture, music, and customs.

The culture of the mountains of Switzerland is not the same as that in the plateau, there are significant differences between the language areas, and between the mainly Roman Catholic and the mainly Protestant regions.

The Swiss sometimes wonder what keeps Switzerland together.

The four national languages

Information about the distribution of languages, linguistic minorities, dialects, communication problems, the translation culture and how different cultures live together.

What is Swissness?

Is there such a thing as Swissness? Is there a Swiss mentality? And how did Switzerland get its flag and its anthem?

The Swiss abroad

The Swiss have always emigrated to other countries, to sell their skills, escape persecution, or improve their lives.

Religion

The religious landscape is dominated by Protestantism and Catholicism. But other religions are playing an ever more important role.

Art and culture

Switzerland is particularly well known for its architecture, but it naturally also produces art, literature, films and music. There is a wide range of museums and historical monuments.

Seasonal customs

Alongside familiar festivals like Christmas, Carnival, Easter, harvest festivals and National Day, there are more exotic ones such as Tschäggättä, the Silversterkläuse and Sechseläuten and the Escalade.