Switzerland is a small country even by European standard. You can travel by train or car from one end of the country to the other within a day, because it has excellent roads, tunnels and railways. The country has three official languages – French, German and Italian. Most Swiss also speak English as well. Yet no country has ever invaded Switzerland. Every able bodied man and many women are in the army. Many of them actually keep their weapons at home. Fighter jets are hidden in barns, tunnels and caves. More surprisingly, historical Switzerland has provided mercenaries for other European countries. Today you can still the Swiss mercenary guards at the Vatican, with their medieval costumes. Central Switzerland is situated on the Alps, which was created about 65 million years ago as Italy collided with Europe. Ever since it becomes a major barrier between northern Europe and Italy. The Gotthard Pass is the major link to cross Central Switzerland. Today the pass is replaced by a 17 km tunnel, St Gotthard Tunnel, cutting out nearly 50 hair-pin bends on the pass. It is a major artery for Europe traffic.

1. First created 3 Jun 2014. Version 1.1 - 4 Jun 2014. Jerry Tse. London.
Central Switzerland
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The Roof of Europe
View at the Gemsstock summit

3. Azalea.

6. The facade of Jesuitenkirche church (1677). Lucerne.

7. Interior of Jesuitenkirche church (1677). Lucerne.

8. Kapellbrucke (Chapel Bridge) and the Water Tower, once a defence fortification are symbols of the city. Lucerne.

9. Kapellbrucke (Chapel Bridge) and the Water Tower at night. Lucerne.

10. Painted façade of Hotel Des Balances. Lucerne.
Painted façade of Hotel Des Balances. Lucerne.

11. Painted façade. Lucerne.

12. Painted façade on shop about the Biblical story of the “Marriage at Canaan”. Lucerne.

13. Lake front of Lake Lucerne with its ferries.

14. Spring on the hill slope.

15. The misty summit of Rigi.

16. Spring blossoms.

17. Shades of trees by the shore of Lake Zurich.

18. By Lake Zurich.

19. Lake Lucerne nr Kussnacht.

20. Dawn at Lake Lucerne, Hisgiswil.

21. Dawn at Lake Lucerne, Hisgiswil.

22. A café at Alpnachstad.

23. By Lake Alpachersee.

24. World’s steepest railway, Cogwheel train tunnel to Pilatus.

25. Cable car at Pilatus.

27. A Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), a goat-antelope, native to mountains of Europe, from Carpathian Mountains to the Pyrenees. Pilatus.

28. Lake Lucerne, view on the summit of Pilatus.

30. Shade of trees nr Engelberg.

31. Cloudy cliff. Titlis, Engelberg.

32. The Ice cave. Titlis, Engelberg.

33. Shops in Engelberg.

34. Dusk at Lake Lucerne, Hisgiswil.

35. Glacier valley and ice field along the Glacier Express. Nr Oberalppass.

36. Along the Glacier Express. Nr Oberalppass.

37. Along the Glacier Express.

38. Skiers. Gemsstock, Andermatt.

39. View at the Gemsstock summit

40. View at the Gemsstock summit

41. Lake Brienzersee, Interlaken.

42. Lake Brienzersee, Interlaken.

43. The Asreschlucht Gorge nr Meiringen.

44. The golden flow of the Asreschlucht Gorge nr Meiringen.

45. A waterfall at the Asreschlucht Gorge nr Meiringen.

46. The ridge of the Wetterhorn. Grindelwald. Interlaken.

47. House in Grindelwald. Interlaken.

48. Lake Lucerne on a rainy day.

49. Morning mist on Lake Lucerne. Hisgiswil.

50. All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective
owners. Available free for non-commercial and personal
use.
Music – Hymn to Hope by Secret Garden
Sunset on Lake Lucerne. Hisgiswil.
The End