Switzerland

Scenic train routes criss-cross Europe’s touristic pacesetter

Switzerland occupies a position on the rooftop of the continent of Europe, with the drainage of its mammoth Alpine glaciers becoming the source of such powerful rivers as the Rhine and the Rhône. The scenery is virtually unrivaled in the world, from Alpine peaks to mountain lakes, from the palm trees of Ticino to the “Ice Palace” of Jungfrau. The appellation “the crossroads of Europe” is fitting, as all train lines, road passes, and tunnels through the mountains lead here. From the time the Romans crossed the Alps, going through Helvetia (the old name for today’s Switzerland) on their way north, the major route connecting northern and southern Europe has been through Switzerland. The old roads and paths have developed into modern highways and railroads.

The travel industry as we know it started in Switzerland: The first modern tourists, the British, began to come here “on holiday” in the 19th century, and other Europeans and some North Americans followed suit, so that soon the small federal state became known as a nation of hotelkeepers. Swiss hospitality, based on years of experience, has gained a worldwide reputation, and the entire country is known for its cleanliness and efficiency

© 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.