Articles: Culture

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  Place du Bourg-de-Four

  One of the best spots in Geneva

  Where do you find an 80-year-old couple sharing their afternoon café, a corporate businessman connected to the internet via Wi-Fi, a mother taking her daughter for an afternoon stroll, and a group gathering to study for class? The Place du Bourg-de-Four, the oldest square in Old Town Geneva.

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  The Swiss political system

  How the system works

  Switzerland is a semi-direct democratic federal republic. In this system the citizens hold the sovereignty of the state but the representatives in Parliament execute daily governance. This way citizens control the government and the issuing of laws through referendums and popular initiatives. 

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  The power of the people

  Semi-direct democracy in Switzerland

  When taking important decisions, the Swiss people always have the last word. This type of democracy is known as semi-direct democracy, which incorporates mechanisms from direct democracy and representative government.

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  The Swiss parliament

  Where political decisions are made

  The Swiss parliament is where most important political decisions in Switzerland are made, even if the last word on the country's laws often lies with the people.

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  The principle of federalism in Switzerland

  How federalism works in Switzerland

  The state of Switzerland is based on the principle of federalism. Federalism in this case means that the member cantons retain a large degree of autonomy.

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  How Switzerland's cabinet works

  Politics in Switzerland

  Switzerland could be the only country in the world where you can see the president traveling by train or taking an unaccompanied stroll through the streets of the capital.

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  Research into Swiss culture

  The factors that affect access to culture in Switzerland

  The Swiss are serious culture vultures but educational level and household income play a major role in access to culture, a survey shows.

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  Shakespeare in English in Switzerland

  English spoken theater in Switzerland

  Being an expat means getting to explore new societies, customs and culture. Many people living abroad claim to miss out on the so-called 'high culture', mostly due to the language barrier. Now there is a solution.

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  Your new life in Switzerland

  Getting started

  The daily papers, television and also the radio, plus numerous Internet pages will help you to become familiar with life in Switzerland.

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  Living in Switzerland

  About Switzerland

  Switzerland is highly competitive and owes its prosperity to the industrial sector with its top-level technology, the chemical-pharmaceutical industry as well as to the service sector, which is characterised by a highly developed banking and insurance sector.

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  How to avoid a great date from turning sour

  Who pays on a date

  Ever had a wonderful date that got spoiled at the last minute when the waiter arrived with the bill?

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  A beginner's guide to Switzerland

  …and the Swiss (plural)

  Switzerland is that small country that always pops out in a different colour in the middle of a map of the European Union. One finds a lot of tasty cheese, great chocolate, watches, trains that run on time and banks with lots of money!

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