Ten Things Switzerland is Most Famous For

Offering a high standard of living, picturesque surroundings and a reputation for quality, if you are organising removals from the UK to Switzerland you can look forward to a bright future ahead. Switzerland is regarded as one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, but there is much more to it than meets the eye.  In this article, removals to Switzerland specialists Hamiltons looks at top ten things the country is most famous for.

Alphorn – This bizarre looking wind instrument is a national symbol of Switzerland and was originally used by shepherds as far back as the 16th century (and possibly earlier). The wooden instrument is around 3.5 metres in length, and has a conical shape at the end. There are nearly 2,000 alphorn blowers worldwide.

Chocolate – The Swiss are famous for producing high quality chocolate, with techniques perfected over centuries. It tastes so good, it’s no wonder that the Swiss are the biggest consumers of chocolate worldwide, per head of population. Among the internationally-known brands are Lindt, Nestlé, Suchard, and Toblerone.

Fondue – A Swiss speciality, this is a dish of melted cheese that you dip bread into with a long fork. As it is eaten communally, the pot is placed centrally on the table so everyone gets to dip in. The Swiss Cheese Union promoted it as a national dish back in the 1930s and it has been popular ever since.

Heidi – Written by Johanna Spyri and published in the late 19th century, the Heidi books tell the stories of an orphaned girl growing up in the Alps. An international sensation, 50 million copies of the books have been sold worldwide and there have been several Heidi films, TV shows and theatre adaptations.

Lakes – Although Switzerland is a landlocked country, it has dozens of scenic lakes, some of which are shared with neighbouring countries France, Italy, Germany or Austria. Among the most well known are Lake Geneva, the largest lake, and Lake Como, which is famous for its beauty. Celebrities and royalty have lived by Swiss lakes over the years – among them the King of Thailand and pop star Phil Collins.

Lifestyle – Move to Switzerland and you can expect a good standard of living, as the country has the highest wealth per capita in the world. Although Geneva and Zurich have been named the world’s most expensive cities to live in, they are also among the cities offering the highest quality of life in the world.

Mountains – The majority of the landscape in Switzerland is occupied by the Swiss Alps and the Jura Mountains, presenting a dramatic and stunning landscape. If you enjoy being active, the mountains present plenty of sporting opportunities such as skiing, snowboarding, hiking and mountain biking.  For those who like to take long walks, the hiking routes are easy to spot as they are marked with yellow signs revealing how long it takes to complete the route.

Neutrality – Switzerland has a history of armed neutrality and is often involved in peace keeping processes around the world. It is also home of the Red Cross, which was founded in Geneva in 1863 and helps to provide international aid to people affected by war, natural disasters or disease.

Swiss Army Knives – This is a handy multi-functional tool that you should never be without! Choose from a range of sizes, from knives with a just a single sharp blade and a few extra tools (such as scissors or nail files), up to ‘The Giant’ which is the biggest version and has 87 tools performing more than 140 functions.

Watches – Whether it is watches, jewellery, clocks, pipes or gadgets, the Swiss are famous for producing items of quality, precision and aesthetic appeal. In the 1840s, Switzerland accounted for more than half the world’s watch production, and by 2005 Switzerland’s watch exports topped the CHF 12 billion mark. TAG Heuer, Rolex, Chopard and Patek Philippe are among the famous names in watches.

For high quality competitively priced removals from the UK to Switzerland contact Hamiltons Removals today.

Traditional Swiss Music and Dancing

Julie Andrews got it right – the hills of Switzerland really are alive with the sound of music. This picturesque country has a wealth of musical traditions, from yodelling to blowing the Alphorn. After completing their household moves to Switzerland, many expats are keen to get to know the culture of their new home country, and experiencing the range of traditional music and dance is all part of this.

Hamiltons Removals organises shipping to Switzerland from the UK on a weekly basis, for both households and businesses. Here is our look at some of the country's music for you to discover following your removals to Europe.

Hamiltons Removals – Click here to see how Hamiltons can arrange your home removals.

Yodelling: The calls of cowherds to one another across the Swiss mountains gradually developed into yodelling, a singing style with many changes in pitch which is known worldwide. This type of music stems from ancient times, but was only really developed in the 19th century, with Alpine choirs being set up to perform yodel songs.

Some part-songs in this form have no words at all, while others do have lyrics, often celebrating the beauty of the mountains, as well as a yodelled refrain. At festivals and other special events, yodelling is sometimes accompanied by the ringing of Alpine bells, but more often by accordion music. Although some traditional yodelling clubs are seeing numbers dwindling, this form of singing is being taken up by a younger generation, with many children's choirs starting up. It is also becoming increasingly popular among women.

A major international yodelling festival is held every three years, attracting as many as 200,000 people, with a different Swiss town or city staging the event each time. The 2014 event was held in the ski resort of Davos, with the next event due to be held in 2017.

Traditional Folk Music and Dancing: The best known type of Swiss folk music is Ländlermusic, dance tunes played by small bands, using a range of traditional instruments. A small accordion known as the schwyzerörgeli is especially popular in German-speaking areas of Switzerland, along with clarinets and a double bass. Bands in Italian-speaking cantons often have a mandolin among their instruments, while those in the Appenzell region have a strong tradition of using stringed instruments.

The original Ländler dances are folk dances in ¾ time, dating back to the 1700s, but modern-day rural dance bands also perform other types of dance music, including polkas, mazurkas and foxtrots. One kind of traditional dance performed in central Switzerland is the Bödälä, which features rhythmic foot-stamping. Dancers often wear Swiss folk costumes, featuring ribbons, lace and full skirts for women and leather shorts for men, especially at festivals.

Alphorn: The wooden Alphorn is today known as the Swiss national instrument and has become a major tourist attraction, but at one time its use nearly died out. In the early 19th century, as dairy production moved away from the mountains and into the villages, herdsmen stopped using the horn to call the cows in from the meadows.

However, music lovers then stepped in to preserve the instrument and it has since become increasingly popular, played at yodelling festivals and other events celebrating traditional music. Each horn is around 9ft long and made from one wooden log, carefully carved out and bent at the end to resemble a cow's horn. Traditionally, the Alphorn is made from pine wood, but today other types of wood can also be used in its manufacture.

Brass Bands: Although this type of music is originally British, brass bands have become increasingly popular across Switzerland during the last half-century, with the official Swiss Army Brass Band leading the way. A Swiss brass band championship is held in Montreux each year, with more than 60 bands battling it out for a place in the European championships.

Other Styles of Music: Alongside Switzerland's flourishing traditional music and dance styles, the country also has a thriving modern music scene, with styles ranging from jazz to rock, pop and electronic music. The top musical events include the world-famous Montreux Jazz Festival, founded in 1967. Another major draw is the huge outdoor Paléo festival, held in between Geneva and Lausanne, which features all kinds of musical styles and attracts around 220,000 people every summer. Whatever type of music you like, you will be able to find it in Switzerland.

Every year, many people from the UK need to arrange household moves to Switzerland. If you are planning to relocate to the country, contact Hamiltons Removals for expert advice and a full package of services tailored to your requirements. We also organise regular moves for people relocating from Switzerland to the UK.

Hamilton Removals – Click here for more information about how Hamiltons can help you.

Top Railway Journeys in Switzerland

Switzerland is famed for its spectacular landscapes, and one way to discover these is by travelling on some of the country's celebrated train lines. After many years of organising removals to and from Switzerland, Hamiltons has a detailed knowledge of the whole region. Here we look at some of the most popular Swiss rail routes, which are not only a major draw for tourists, but also popular with residents.

Travelling by rail offers a unique close-up view of the Swiss mountains, lakes and scenery. Whether you are just embarking on removals to Switzerland or preparing to return home to the UK after spending time living and working here, travelling on these routes will give you memories to treasure. It's sometimes possible to dine on board, and on some trains drinks are even served in special tilted glasses to prevent them being spilt.

Hamiltons Removals to Switzerland – Follow the link for details of our top-quality service.

Glacier Express: It's said to be the “world's slowest express” – but that just means more time to take in the scenery. The journey between Zermatt and St Moritz is not just the most famous rail route in Switzerland, but also one of the best known in all of Europe. Riding the whole 160-mile route will take more than seven hours, but it is also possible to choose just certain sections of the route. If you set out from Zermatt, you'll begin with breathtaking view of the Matterhorn, and end in St Moritz, with an optional extra journey to another famous ski resort, Davos. The full route takes you through endless mountains and gorges and over 291 bridges. 

Jungfrau Railway: If you want to visit the top of the Jungfrau but don't fancy the climb, the mountain's own railway will take you there. Completed just over a century ago, this cog railway will take you to the highest rail station in Europe, at an altitude of more than 3,450 metres. Most of the five-and-a-half-mile journey is via a long tunnel within the mountain, with two brief stops en route to let passengers see the ice and snow. At the top, there's an observation platform with amazing views of the surrounding mountains, as well as restaurants and a cave with a display of ice sculptures.

Bernina Express: Part of this famous route has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage site status because of its beautiful landscapes. Passengers travel by narrow-gauge train from historic Chur across the Alps and over the Italian border to the wine town of Tirano, taking in 196 bridges along the way. Panoramic windows on the train give great views of the gorges, glaciers and mountain streams, before you arrive amid the palm trees of Italy. During summer, after finishing your rail tour you can take a bus ride along the shores of Lake Como to Lugano.

Swiss Chocolate Train: As its name suggests, this route offers not only wonderful landscapes, but also delicious food. Setting off from Montreux, passengers can choose to travel in vintage 1915 Pullman “Belle époque” coaches. The journey takes you to Gruyère, with visits to the castle and a dairy where you can see how the famous cheese is made and try a sample. Also included in your ticket price is a trip to nearby Broc, with a tour of the Cailler-Nestlé chocolate factory and a chance to sample the wares. 

Golden Pass: This journey runs between Lucerne and Montreux, passing lakes and waterfalls, with two changes of train at Interlaken and Zweisimmen. You'll travel above the shores of Lake Geneva and through Alpine forests during your journey. The Golden Trains are luxurious, with meals and drinks available on board, while you gaze out of the windows at the spectacular scenery. It's possible to travel just part of the route if you prefer.

Wilhelm Tell Express: Passengers taking this scenic route, named after the Swiss national hero, won't just travel by train, but also by boat. The journey begins with a three hour journey in a steamboat on Lake Lucerne to Fluelen, where the train sets off. You can dine on the boat and then walk around the deck while it visits several lakeside villages. The rail journey goes through Swiss mountain scenery including the Reuss valley and Gotthard tunnel before arriving in Ticino, with a change of trains en route.

Furka Steam Railway: A ride on the cogwheel railway across the Furka Pass in the Swiss Alps is a nostalgic treat for train buffs and families during the summer months. You can travel by steam train along the old Glacier Express route, between Gletsch and Oberwald. Run by volunteers, this heritage railway uses vintage carriages and locomotives and runs from June to October each year.

If you need to arrange removals to and from Switzerland, Hamiltons can provide you with an expert service from start to finish. We operate a weekly service to the country and can arrange to transport your goods in a dedicated container or using groupage if preferred. Get in touch for details of our shipping to Switzerland service.

Hamiltons Removals – Click here for more information about how Hamiltons can help you.

World Famous Swiss Writers and Artists

Hamiltons Removals is THE place to come if you are looking for competitive removals from the UK to Switzerland, and Switzerland is a great place to be moving home to, particularly if you are a lover of art and literature. You may already know of some of the great artists and literary geniuses to hail from this part of the world, you may even have read some of their books or seen some of their great works in galleries here in the UK or abroad.

Moving to Switzerland, particularly with children, presents you with the ideal opportunity to visit some of the places that these great artists have highlighted. In this article we have put the spotlight on some of the most famous names and, in some cases, some of the museums or art galleries that you can visit to see their work at first hand.

Literature

Heidi

Written by Johanna Spyri, this book and later its televised production, was set in The Swiss Alps and centres on Heidi, a young girl who is raised by her aunt after the untimely death of her parents. She is taken to live with her grandfather, a bitter and reclusive man who has no time for the other members of his village. It’s the story of how this charming young girl wins his affection and helps to mend the rift he created between himself and his neighbours.  The village of Oberrofels, near Maienfeld, has since been renamed “Heididorf” (Heidi’s town) and, as you might expect, there is a small museum here which is dedicated to the book and its characters.

Swiss Family Robinson

Written by Johann David Wyss, this fictional piece has more to do with Swiss values than with Switzerland itself. A Swiss family are shipwrecked on their way to Australia. They salvage what they can from their stricken vessel, including farm animals and supplies, and begin a new life for themselves on a seemingly deserted island. It was written as an educational tale of survival, good animal husbandry, and cooperation, with lessons in natural history and the physical sciences. The book has been re-written, added to, and abridged many times over the past two centuries. It has been made into a film and serialised for television.

Artists

Paul Klee  (1879–1940)

Born in Münchenbuchsee in Switzerland, his works are greatly prized and shown in some of the finest galleries in the world including the Tate in London and the Kunsthaus in Zurich. Among his most recognised works are pieces entitled "They're Biting", "Comedy", "A Young Lady's Adventure" and "The Protector". In these, and his other works, you can see the inspiration of a number of different artistic movements including expressionism, cubism, and surrealism.

 Le Corbusier  (1887–1965)

Born Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris in the Jura Mountains of north-western Switzerland, Le Corbusier was a talented architect and designer as well as a painter and writer. He dedicated his professional life to designing and creating better living spaces within crowded cities. Starting with houses and office blocks, he then went on to redesign whole towns and cities. He was known in some circles as the first Brutalist, as he was,  at least in part, responsible for the tower block revolution of the early 1950's.

Hans Rudolf Giger (1940 – 2014)

Born in Chur, Switzerland, Giger is perhaps best known for his work on the set of the smash-hit movie Alien. One of the world's best in his field, Giger's mastery of the art of Fantasy Realism has led him to create some of the most stunning imagery of its kind. So unusual is his artform that more than 20 books have been published on the subject, and a museum dedicated to his paintings, sculptures, furniture and film designs, has been opened in Chateau St. Germain, in the Swiss city of Gruyères. 

Jean Tinguely (1925 – 1991)

Tinguely was a painter and sculptor best known for his kinetic art or “metamechanics”. In his productions he highlights the absurdity of overproduction in modern day society.  His art-in-motion works include a sculpture that virtually destroyed itself, the remains of which can be viewed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and one entitled,  “Study for an End of the World No. 2”, which actually exploded, as it was supposed to, representing the demise of our planet.

About Hamiltons Removals

At Hamiltons Removals we offer competitive removals from the UK to Switzerland. We take pride in our customer service and pay attention to all the detail to ensure that your house move to Switzerland goes as smoothly as possible. Click here  here  to contact us and receive an instant quote.

Related articles:

Famous People that Have Lived or Were Born in Switzerland
Removals to Switzerland: Museums, Art and Culture
A Guide to Some of the Best Swiss Museums
A Guide to the Country’s Best Family-Friendly  Attractions

Ten Traditional Swiss Dishes to Try Once You have Moved

Anyone undertaking domestic removals to Switzerland will be looking forward to discovering Swiss life and culture – along with the country's food and drink. Traditional Swiss cuisine varies according to where you live, but neighbouring countries such as France, Germany and Italy all have an influence.

Although the food varies from place to place, many dishes can be found on the menu all over the country. Here are some of the most popular, which you are likely to come across after house moves from the UK to Switzerland.

Hamiltons Removals has more than 20 years of experience of carrying out moves to Europe and worldwide, including many domestic removals to Switzerland. Whether you are relocating your business or need shipping for your household possessions, we will make sure the moving process goes smoothly from start to finish.

Hamiltons Removals – Get in touch with Hamiltons now to find out more about how we can help you.

Swiss Delicacies on the Menu

Raclette: Switzerland's famous cheeses are used in many different dishes, including warming winter favourite raclette. The meal is made from melted cheese which is scraped from a block and used to cover a plate of boiled potatoes, together with dried beef or ham, pickled onions and gherkins. This dish is traditionally prepared over an open fire, but nowadays many people use table-top raclette machines. 

Fondue: Melted cheese is also the key ingredient of this traditional meal, which is sometimes described as the Swiss national dish. A cheese sauce, containing white wine and other ingredients such as herbs, is cooked in a fondue pot, and then diners use special forks to dip pieces of bread in the mixture. Variants such as meat fondue and chocolate fondue have been created over recent decades. 

Bircher Muesli: We might have all eaten various brands of muesli from the local supermarket, but real Swiss muesli is another matter. It has a much higher fresh fruit content than modern mass-produced versions, and exactly what is in it will depend on which fruits and berries are in season. The original Bircher Muesli was developed by a Swiss doctor, Maxilimian Bircher-Brenner, as an energy-giving health food, and its fame went on to spread around the world.

Rösti: This popular German Swiss dish is made from grated potatoes, which are made into cakes and fried until they are crunchy and golden. A traditional peasant breakfast, it is now often eaten as a side dish. There are many variants on the basic recipe, including adding onions, herbs or cheese. It is sometimes served together with spinach and fried eggs. 

Pastetli: These meat pies made from puff pastry are especially popular in Zurich, but also eaten all over the country. The pies are usually round, but can also be heart or star-shaped. The classic filling is made from chicken together with white wine, onions, garlic and herbs, but there are also other variants available. Pastetli are usually served with rice and peas.

Alpine Macaroni:  This grand version of macaroni cheese is ideally made with mountain cheeses, together with garlic and herbs. The macaroni is traditionally boiled in milk rather than water. Some variants also include potatoes and bacon. It's traditionally served with apple sauce, and can also be eaten with a green salad on the side.

Zurich Hot Pot: A one-pot casserole, this classic stew is based on pieces of neck of pork, which are cooked up with onions and garlic, then covered with layers of potatoes, carrots and cabbage. Dry white wine is also part of the recipe, and modern versions are often prepared in a pressure cooker.

Nusstorte: The Graubünden canton is the original home of these walnut-filled pastries, which feature a shortcrust pastry and a filling containing chopped nuts, cream and honey. The pastries are available from many different small bakeries, with recipes varying.

Carnival Cookies: Known in German as Fasnachtsküchlein, these cookies are traditionally baked for the famous annual carnival in Basel. Made from eggs, sugar, butter, flour and cream, they are thin rounds of dough which are fried in deep fat, then dusted with sugar before serving.

Zuger Kirschtorte: Despite also being known as a cherry tart, this dessert from the small Swiss city of Zug doesn't actually contain any cherries. It's created from layers of biscuit and buttercream, and flavoured with cherry brandy. The original tart was invented by pastry chef Heinrich Höhn in 1915.

About Hamiltons Removals

Hamiltons has organised many commercial and domestic removals to Switzerland over more than 20 years, and we can provide full or part-load shipping to the country, tailoring our service to your requirements. We can also organise specialist moves for items such as vehicles.

Contact Hamiltons  now to find out more and get a free online quote.

Are you Taking Your Bike with You on Your House Move to Switzerland? Here’s a Brief Overview of Cycling in the Country

One of the things you might want to consider when you are packing your bike for your house move to Switzerland, is the ease of getting about on two wheels - especially as the country isn’t flat like Holland.

The good news is that when the date of your household removals to Switzerland arrives, you can rest assured that the country is pretty bike friendly. Nearly half the population have bicycles and one in ten people cycle to work.

Cycling is a great way of getting fit, enjoying the fresh air and appreciating the beauty of your new surroundings. Whether you are a beginner, or an experienced cyclist, there are routes of varying levels of difficulty to try – and you’ll discover some great sights along the way!

And, whether you have a lorry load of household possessions to move, or would prefer a shared container load, Hamiltons Removals can help. We offer regular removals to Switzerland for homes and businesses and are dedicated to customer service. Just click on the link above to find out more.

Cycling in the City in Switzerland – All cities in Switzerland differ in terms of their cycling facilities and, as we can’t give you the rundown on every Swiss city here, we shall just focus on two: Zurich and Berne.

If you are moving house from the UK to Zurich and don’t have your own bike, the city has several places where you can ‘hire’ a bike free of charge for the day during the months of May to October.

However, if you intend to commute to work by train and want to cycle to and from the railway station, here you will find a year round ‘hire’ facility. Again, this is free of charge: all you need is some ID and a deposit which you get back when you return the bike.

If you are moving house to Berne and don’t have a bike, the city has a number of free bike hire facilities – just bring along some ID and a deposit. Unlike in Zurich, bike hire in the capital is only free for the first four hours and there is a minimal hourly cost after this. Bikes can be hired all year round from the railway station while other places offer seasonal bike hire facilities.

Cycling in the country in Switzerland – If you love to cycle, Switzerland has a 9,000km cycle network and you will find routes that are as slow pace, or as challenging as you want them to be.

If you are looking for a leisurely cycle to enjoy the scenery or stop off at one of the many attractions, there are nine national routes to take and more than 50 regional cycle trails and 68 local routes. Some of the routes will take you along lakesides, rivers and through valleys, forests and pretty villages, while others are mountainous and are generally braved only by the fittest of cyclists.

For easy cycling, there are various family friendly routes including the Mittelland Route, a multi-day route from Romanshorn to Lausanne, which is ideal for beginners. Depending on which part of the route you choose to cycle on, you will get to admire stunning scenery, including lakes, rivers and valleys. Most of the route is mainly is on traffic free paths, so it is a great one to start on.

The more experienced cyclists will enjoy pedalling at least some, if not all, of the Alpine Panorama route which leads from St Margrethen to Aigle. As expected, the route can be quite hard going (you will be cycling up and down mountains for some time). However, it is well worth it as you get to see some fantastic scenery, not to mention the fact that your fitness levels will soar even higher.

Off Road Cycling – If off-road cycling is your style, Switzerland has three multi-day national routes to choose from, 15 regional off road routes and 172 local routes.

If you are an experienced off roader, cycling through the Alps is a wonderful way to see the true beauty of your host country. The Alpine route takes you from Scuol to Aigle and you will be rewarded with some amazing panoramic views. Expect to really work those thighs though as you will negotiate steep slopes and long descents. But the scenery makes it all worthwhile!

The whole route takes about 16 days, although you can take it in stages. However, if you do have the time to spare to do the whole route, from start to finish, it will give you a fantastic sense of accomplishment.

Professional UK to Switzerland Removals –  click here for a free quotation for home or office removals to Switzerland.

Related articles:

Removals to Switzerland: Most Picturesque Places to Visit
Removals to Switzerland: The Ten Highest Peaks in Switzerland
Removals to Switzerland: Extreme Sports in Switzerland

Celebrating Easter in Switzerland – What to Expect When You Move

If you are moving to Switzerland, with Easter coming up soon you may want to know how the Swiss mark this grand occasion. The good news is that the Swiss celebrate events in style and if you are moving abroad as a family, your children will enjoy taking part in the festivities (as well as eating all that delicious Swiss chocolate!). Meanwhile, the adults of the family can look forward to an extended holiday.

Removals from the UK to Switzerland – Contact Hamiltons Removals today for high standards at low prices.

Easter in Switzerland

Easter is a grand cause for celebration and, just as in Britain, children can wake up to chocolate eggs and egg painting. Many Swiss families also decorate their homes too and some have an Easter ‘tree’, which might be a bush or branch from which they hang delicious Swiss chocolate eggs, chicks and bunnies. As Swiss chocolate is known worldwide for its quality, the chances are the adults will want to indulge in some chocolate eating too! Decorating at Easter is not just confined to the home; many shop windows in cities, towns and villages will be awash with colour as decorated eggs are put on display in shop windows.

The Easter Egg Hunt

If you are arranging removals from the UK to Switzerland with children, just as in Britain the day generally starts with an Easter egg hunt where the youngest members of the family will get the run of the house and/or garden to gather as many eggs and chocolate bunnies they can find. The winner, who is the one who collects the most eggs, will be rewarded with even more treats!

If you are moving to Zurich, you will discover a traditional Easter custom called Zwanzgerle, which involves the adults. Children challenge the adults to break their painted eggs with a coin thrown from the distance. If the adult is successful, they get the coin and the egg, and, if not, the children get the coin. In most cases, this is the perfect opportunity for children to top up their pocket money!

In addition to these games, various Easter egg hunts take place all over the country, which also include a host of children’s activities. So, if you are organising removals from the UK to Switzerland, it is well worth finding out what is happening in your area, so you can join in the fun.

Easter Festivals

Easter is very traditional in Switzerland and wherever you settle in the country, you can expect a festival or celebration of some sort. Street markets, egg hunts, live music, craft making, egg decorating, egg and spoon races, and parades take place in towns and villages all over the country.

As well as the regular events, there are also more unusual festivities. For example, in the town of Nyon in the canton of Vaud, fountains are decorated with colourful flowers, eggs and ribbons. It is a delight to see and the children will enjoy discovering the decorated fountains. More comically, in the village of Rumedigen, Bern, you might be a bit taken aback to see people throwing wooden clubs on the ground on Easter Sunday. This is a throwback to when it was forbidden to play traditional sports on the day, and the aim of the game is to get your club closest to the oldest player’s club. 

Expats will also discover various sombre and religious festivals taking place in Switzerland. On Good Friday, for example, in the town of Romont, Fribough, a procession of veiled and weeping women carrying crimson cushion with symbols of Christ’s passion, parade through the streets dressed in black.  Also, on the day, there is a procession in Mendrisio, Ticino, where people walk through the streets carrying statues of Christ and the Virgin Mary. Wherever you live, you will never be short of things to do at Easter!

Hamiltons organise removals from the UK to Switzerland that are designed to take all the stress out of moving house. Whether you are moving home or office to Switzerland contact Hamiltons Removals  as we have more than 20 years of experience in making your move run smoothly.

Attractions in Switzerland to Spark Your Child’s Imagination!

If you are moving house from the UK to Switzerland, you may struggle to keep the children amused before term starts. As a newcomer, it’s still early days to make friends in your host country, and as a result, you may find it hard to find ideas during the school holidays. Once term starts, however, parents are often surprised how quickly their children settle in and make new friends.

The good news is that in the interim period, there are a host of family-friendly attractions in Switzerland offering a fun day out for all age groups. Whether your children enjoy adventure parks, theme parks, and attractions that will spark their imagination, you will find plenty of these. And, if you are lucky, some of these attractions may be just a short drive from your new home!

This article spotlights amusement parks and themed attractions for families moving house from the UK to Switzerland.

Moving House from the UK to Switzerland? – Contact Hamiltons Removals today for a high quality, low cost removals service. 

Theme Parks, Amusement Parks, and the Science Museum in Switzerland

Conny-Land in Lipperswil – Opens from the first Saturday of April to mid -October (2014) and promises to be an exciting, fun filled adventure for youngsters and adults alike. Rides and attractions for thrill seekers include the water-filled Voodoo Island and the stomach dropping Cobra rollercoaster. Your children can enjoy a fascinating trip through Prehistoric times and there’s also a jungle adventure for the liveliest of youngsters. If you remember to pack swimsuits, why not head for a splash about in the water-filled activity area?  If you are moving house from the UK to Switzerland and live in the area, the venue also hosts children’s parties, which promise to be a birthday to remember.

Labyrinthe Adventure in Valais – This is actually the world’s largest tree-lined maze and is 3km long. Children love finding solutions to the challenges and discovering the hidden treasures. At the end of the maze is a children’s playground with miniature golf, a climbing wall and trampoline. You don’t have to bring food with you as you will find plenty of refreshments at the venue. The Labyrinthe is wheelchair and pushchair friendly, so it is fully accessible.

Maxifun Sports and Nature Park in Val d'Anniviers – This fantastic sports and adventure park opens from April to October and offers adrenalin rush activities for children and adults. It’s not for the faint-hearted though as among the activities are: bungee jumping (the highest jump from a suspended bridge in Europe), trampolining, flying fox (which is a sort of zip wire), a sphere to experience weightlessness, a 360 degree swing, and an activity similar to high ropes. Steer clear if you are afraid of heights! For safety purposes, there are age limits, height and size restrictions on some of the activities. It is always best to check what these are in advance to avoid disappointment.

Swiss Science Centre in Winterthur – This isn’t an amusement park, but it offers an interesting play on the senses. If your young ones are fascinated by science, a visit to this Science Centre will be a real highlight. This is an amazing, interactive museum, which puts your children on a journey of discovery and offers a variety of hands-on activities for all age groups. Let your young ones find out all about wood, get tricked by optical illusions, learn about magnets and immerse themselves in the world of mechanics. They can also discover how lightening occurs, and how powerful gasses are.  If you live in Winterthur, this museum is covered by the 2-day Museum Pass.

Hamiltons Removals provide high quality, full and part load domestic and commercial removals to Europe, including removals to Switzerland.  Our services are tailored to individual needs and we also offer specialist removals for cars, motorcyclists and oversized goods. We do our best to cater for all your requirements, and we can even provide cleaning services to spruce up your new or former home.

If you are moving house to Switzerland, or moving from Switzerland to the UK, contact Hamiltons Removals who are the experts in making your move run smoothly.

House Moves to Switzerland: Celebrating Christmas and New Year in Switzerland

If you are undertaking house or office moves to Switzerland, two key events you can look forward to in your host country are Christmas and New Year celebrations. Whether you are enjoying Christmas at home with the family or watching fireworks being set off against the backdrop of a picturesque lake at New Year, your first festive celebrations in Switzerland will always be remembered. If you are planning a house move to Switzerland, seeing the New Year in is synonymous with a brand new beginning and a fresh start – just like moving house.

Whatever the date of your move, you can look forward to joining in the festivities. Here’s our brief guide to what you can expect when you bring in the New Year at the end of 2014...and as they say in Swiss-German ‘Es guets Nöis!’ 

House Moves to Switzerland – click here for full information on domestic or commercial removals to Switzerland or contact us direct on 01379 855203.

Christmas in Switzerland

If you are celebrating Christmas in Switzerland, the good news is that there are a host of celebrations at this time of year, and wherever you choose to settle you will find one near you.

The fourth Sunday before Christmas Eve hails the start of Advent, which is said to teach children the benefits of patience. Householders decorate their windows for Advent, and the opening of each Advent window corresponds with an open house which is followed by music and mulled wine. Advent candles (four arm candles) also mark the countdown to Christmas. One candle is lit for on the first Sunday, and two on the second, and so on until all four candles are lit.

In addition to this, church services, concerts, parades and carol singing events take place all over the country. Among the many celebrations is Trychle in Meiringen, which involves processions each evening from Christmas Day until New Year’s Eve. It’s a noisy celebration too, as the locals carry drums or cowbells to make as much din as possible to drive away evil spirits. 

If you are short of Christmas gift ideas, there are some amazing Christmas markets all over the country, where you can also whet your appetite with a glass of mulled wine, and tasty waffles or sausages. The largest, and what are considered the most attractive, are the Basel Markets which start at Advent and run until December 23. You can find them next to the cathedral in Munsterplatz and in the Old Town in Barfusserplatz.

St Nicklaus Day takes place on December 6 and is traditionally when the children get a visit from St Nicholas and his ‘evil’ twin called "Schmutzl’. The children receive small gifts after they recite a poem to gain forgiveness for their naughty deeds. This usually happens on the day, but can take place after December 6th.

The week before Christmas, the youngest members of the household visit homes of friends and relatives and bring small gifts. The Christmas tree is chosen and cut down on Christmas Eve and is decorated after Midnight Mass, after which the families feast on doughnuts and hot chocolate.

Christmas Dinner

Families enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve – which usually takes the form of boiled ham, scalloped potatoes with melted cheese, followed by walnut cake and gingerbread biscuits. 

Fondue is traditionally eaten at this time of year, and is a popular winter dish (as in summer it is mainly eaten by tourists).

After Christmas dinner it is traditional to attend Midnight Mass, and the service followed by decorating the tree with real candles. Families will either present gifts on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day or on January 6th.

New Year in Switzerland

If you are in Switzerland over the New Year period, the good news is that the Swiss like to bring in the New Year in style and you will find some fantastic, vibrant and colourful celebrations taking place all over the country – all against a scenic backdrop of beautiful lakes or mountains.

If you are in the popular ski resort area of Zermatt, you may have the chance to bring in the New Year with fireworks and music. However you are celebrating in Zurich during 2014 you can join the thousands of people at Silvesterzauber, and soak up the atmosphere on the shores of the Lake Zurich. Now in its 12th year, you can enjoy a fantastic firework display and dance the night away. Don’t eat before you go as there will be plenty of food and drink on offer.

Interlaken also attracts thousands of people for the New Year. Here, you will also find all sorts of festivities including a gala dinner, an open air concert and a massive firework display. The celebrations end with a procession designed to ward off evil spirits.

About Hamiltons Removals

If you are organising house moves to Switzerland, Hamiltons are the experts, and whether you require domestic or commercial moves, we will help make the entire process, from door to door, run smoothly.


Hamiltons Removals – click here for full information on our home or office moves to Switzerland or contact us now for a free online quote.

Removals to Switzerland: Ten of the Most Popular Art Museums in Switzerland

With European removals experts Hamiltons at the helm for your removals to Switzerland, we aim take all the worry out of your hands. With almost every aspect of your removals taken care of, you can turn your attention to the fun part of moving – such as how to furnish your new home or office, and places to see in your host country.

If you are an art lover, investing in costly masterpieces for your interior may well be out of your reach, but there are some wonderful works of art you can buy from established local artists or up and coming names in Switzerland. Whether you like traditional oil paintings or modern designs, something is bound to catch your eye once you have completed your home or office removals to Switzerland.

Meanwhile, after you have organised your house move to Switzerland and have settled in your new home, there are many excellent art museums and galleries to visit. Many host permanent exhibitions, and some also feature temporary exhibitions, including tours of works by famous names such as Van Gogh or William H Turner. Hamiltons Removals puts the spotlight on ten of the most popular art museums in Switzerland:

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Oskar Reinhart Museums, Winterthur – The amazing Oskar Reinhart collections can be seen in two museums – the Oskar Reinhart Museum, a former grammar school where you can view more than 600 works  of art by Australian, German and Swiss artists – and a collection in his former home, ‘Am Romerholz’. The latter museum houses works by French impressionist painters such as Monet, Cézanne and Renoir, as well as those by famous old masters such as Rubens.

Reitberg Museum, Zurich – This museum, which opened in the early 1950s, is the third largest in Switzerland and receives more than 150,000 visitors a year. One of the many reasons for its popularity is that it is the only museum in Switzerland dedicated entirely to non-European art.  Another highlight of the experience is that the museum is set in one of the most beautiful parks of Zurich.

Ariana Museum, Geneva – If you enjoy ceramics and glassworks, this is the museum for you.  Set in a picturesque location by Lake Geneva, it features as many as 20,000 works of art, from all over the world and spanning a dozen centuries. The museum is actually named after the mother of Gustave Revilliod, from Geneva. Revilliod built the museum for his own private art collection and generously bequeathed it to the city of Geneva.

Kunsthaus Zurich, Zurich – This museum dedicated to fine arts is in fact one of the best museums of its type in Europe. As well as a permanent exhibition where you can find around 4,000 works of art, there is a year round programme of temporary exhibitions, including a private collection of master prints by Norwegian Expressionist Edvard Munch, which includes ‘The Scream’, which you can see until January 12.

Rosengart Collection, Luzern – This is the newest art museum in Switzerland and houses a host of well known works by artists of the 19th and 20th centuries including Monet, Matisse, Cézanne and Picasso. It also includes a Paul Klee collection of more than 100 paintings, drawings and watercolours.

Fondation Beyeler, Riehen – This art museum receives around 350,000 visitors a year and houses the private collections of Ernst Beyeler and Hilda Kunz. Visitors can admire 20th century artworks by well known names such as Warhol, Picasso, van Gogh, Cezanne, Lichtenstein and Bacon, and also includes various tribal art works.

Museum of Fine Art, Basel – This museum’s main emphasis is on Flemish paintings and paintings from the Upper Rhine area from the 15th to the 17th century. It also shows art collections from the 19th and 20th century and features Cubist works (including Picasso) and Pop art.

Paul Klee Center, Bern – This museum is dedicated to German-Swiss artist Paul Klee, one of the most important artists of the 20th century. It opened in 2005 in a wave-like building designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, which is a feature in itself. Klee’s works are shown on a rotation basis with only 150 works displayed at any one time.

Geneva Art Museum, Geneva – This museum opened in the early part of the 20th century and is Geneva’s largest art museum. Art lovers will find gems from the pre-historic era to the modern day. There are various different sections including archaeology, applied art and fine art. 

Museum of Photography, Lausanne – If you enjoy photographic works, this stunning 18th century villa overlooking Lake Geneva is the superb setting for around 120,000 exhibits.  It opened in the mid-80’s and was in fact one of Europe’s first ever museums devoted entirely to photography.

Hamiltons Removals are specialists in removals to Switzerland and our moves are tailored to your requirements. We can take charge of everything for you to ensure a stress free move – even down to arranging storage, packing and unpacking your possessions and organising the cleaning of your new home. To find out more about our services, just click on the link below.

Hamiltons Removals are the experts on house and office moves from the UK to Switzerland. To find a competitive quote for your house move, please click here

Moving House Switzerland: International Schools

If you are organising UK removals to Switzerland and are settling in the country with family, the good news is that the standard of education is excellent. However, although it has a superb the state-run system, if you are living in Switzerland then you may want to consider sending your child to an international school. Here, your child will gain an internationally recognised qualification or benefit from an education similar to that in Britain, so they will be able to move gently back into the UK school system once you return.

Hamiltons Removals provides domestic, international and UK to Europe house moves, including removals to Switzerland. We provide packing and unpacking service, sole use of containers or shared loads, and will also organise the removals of specialist items such as cars and other vehicles.

UK Removals to Switzerland – Click here to find out our prices for removals to Switzerland service or contact us  for a competitive quote for your move.

Meanwhile, if you require UK removals to Switzerland, here’s the run down on some of the country’s top international schools. We have been unable to mention all the international schools here, but here are just some of the best. It is worthwhile researching and visiting the schools in your canton to find the right one for your child.

Some Top International Schools in Switzerland

British School of Geneva

Students from more than 40 nationalities represented at the British School of Geneva. It is the ideal choice for children who want to continue following the English national curriculum and is open to students between the ages of five, right the way through to A-levels. Classes are small too, as you can expect a maximum of 16 students per class, with ten pupils per A-level class. Founded in 2005, the school has been purpose built for learning. Facilities include science labs, three IT premises, a dining hall, library, music room, theatre and nurses’ station.  

The International Cottage in Vevey

The English-speaking International Cottage in Vevey has a spectacular location overlooking Lake Geneva. It was founded by an expat family who wanted something suitable for their children in the Vevey area, and has a strong emphasis on green development. One of the many benefits of the school is its excellent student teacher ratio, as it has just one teacher for every eight students. The school is expanding too and is set to open a second campus next year (in 2014). This will enable the school to accommodate 145 children up to the age of 15.

Gstaad International School

The exclusive Gstaad International School is set in picturesque surroundings in a stunning ski resort overlooking the Alps. Classes are small and are geared to the standard of the student, so they are placed in a class according to ability, rather than age. It is an academically challenging school, founded in the early 1960’s, and is considered one of the world’s most exclusive and expensive boarding schools. Along with its full academic programme, it has a fantastic range of extra-curricular activities, including white water rafting, horse riding, paragliding and even zip-lining!

International School of Berne

Founded in 1962, The International School of Berne gives a quality education to the children of expats living in Switzerland. This truly multi-national school takes in pupils from 40 different countries, and covers a wide age range from early years, right through to the 12th grade. It offers all three International Baccalaureate programmes to its 250 students, and also offers a fully-recognised US high school education. As well as its strong academic emphasis, the school is involved in the Swiss city's international community, with a full programme of activities and sports.

International School of Zurich

The International School of Zurich was founded in 2001 and is an amalgamation of two schools – the American International School of Zurich and the International Primary School of Zurich. It has grown dramatically in size and now accommodates 1,500 students across five different campuses. The students, aged from two to 18 years, are representative of more than 50 different nationalities.

International Removals If you are moving home or office from the UK to Switzerland, contact Hamiltons Removals today.

European Removals to Switzerland: Follow in the Path of the Aristocracy and Visit Top Swiss Chateaux

If you are organising European removals to Switzerland, you may well be thinking about what to do in your leisure time when you get there. At the weekend, or during the holiday period, it could be that you will want to get out and about and see some of the fascinating attractions on your doorstep. Certainly, if you are moving house to Switzerland and enjoy visiting historic buildings, you will be spoiled for choice as the country has some beautiful châteaux to visit. This article spotlights on three of the best.

Switzerland is a popular place to move to as part of a job or office relocation, and Hamiltons are experienced in removals to all parts of Switzerland including the cities of Zurich, Geneva, Bern, Lausanne and Basel. Whether you require a domestic or commercial move, read on to discover some of the country’s historic attractions.

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Three Excellent Swiss Chateaux to Visit

Switzerland has a rich and varied history and each of these châteaux make a fantastic family day out. Here you can delve into the past and discover about the castle’s royal visitors and famous owners, and marvel at the architecture, décor and artwork. Here’s some of the places we recommend once you have organised your European removals to Switzerland, and some of these castles may well be in your local area.

Chillon Castle, Lake Geneva

No guide to Swiss châteaux should go without a mention of Chillon Castle, a popular tourist destination which attracts around 330,000 visitors a year. Here, you can follow in the footsteps of Her Majesty the Queen and artist Salvador Dali, and marvel at its views and architecture.

The castle is reached via a moat and has an idyllic location right on the water’s edge of Lake Geneva. Under the ownership of three wealthy families throughout its history – the Savoys, the Bernese, and lastly, the Canton of Vaud – it has a long and interesting history, and can trace its roots right back to the Roman Era.

With its fairytale looks, the castle captures the imagination of its visitors. Children, in particular, love to take a trip back in time and explore the maze of passageways, walkways, and the dungeons. In fact, the castle has inspired the imagination of writers and poets for centuries, including Lord Byron, and Victor Hugo.

Gruyères Castle, Gruyères

This beautiful 800-year-old castle is considered one of the most famous in Switzerland and enjoys a stately position overlooking the medieval town of Gruyères. It has an interesting history and belonged to the various Counts of Gruyères until Count Michel fell bankrupt in the mid 16th century. Following the bankruptcy, various bailiffs and prefects lived there, although in the 19th century it was bought as a summer residence for the Bovy and Balland families.

The castle exchanged hands again the 1930’s when it was sold back under the ownership of the Canton of Fribourg. Now run as a foundation, it is open all year round. Visitors can explore the castle grounds, its museum, rooms and chambers, and enjoy its fantastic art collection.

Castelgrande, Bellinzona

Castlegrande towers 50 metres over the town of Bellinzona and enjoys a majestic position on a site that dates as far back as Stone Age times. The castle has its roots in the 13th century and over time it was shaped into the stunning building you see today. It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the latest restoration work, by architect Galfetti, took place in the 80’s and early 90’s. Inside the castle you will find an art history and archaeological museum.

Castelgrande is the oldest of three castles in Bellizona, the others being Montebello, and Sasso Corbaro, which were built and developed by the Dukes of Milan. It is certainly well worth bringing your walking shoes and you will be rewarded with some spectacular views. And, if you want to take a break from exploring, the castle has an excellent restaurant, or you can enjoy a family picnic on the grass.

Moving House to Switzerland contact Hamiltons Removals for high quality household and office removals to Switzerland.

Removals to Switzerland: A Spotlight on the Country’s Most Unusual Buildings and Structures

If you are moving to a foreign country the first thing you will want to do – after you have organised your removals to Switzerland – is to familiarise yourself with your surroundings. Whether it is taking a walk in your local area to find out where the nearest shops and amenities are, or to discover the attractions near your home, and further afield.

If you are moving house to Switzerland, you may also want to know about the interesting buildings and structures in your area and this article will spotlight the ones that we feel are the most fascinating. While some are tourist destinations, others are important landmarks that you will come across once you have organised your removals to Switzerland and settled in your new home.

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Hanging Bridge at Trift Glacier

Although you have to go out of your way to see this, you might want to make a point of trying out this incredible structure at least once. The Hanging Bridge at Trift Glacier has made a name for itself as being one of the scariest bridges in the world, so if you are afraid of heights, it is best to give this one a miss. This 100ft high and 170ft long bridge was built in 2009 and is the longest and highest pedestrian suspension bridge in the country. It is a tourist attraction in itself and receives as many as 20,000 visitors a year. You can reach it by cable car and it will lead you to the Trift Hut of the Swiss Alpine Club.  

The Zytglogge, Bern

This 800-year-old clock tower is a major landmark and tourist draw in Berne. It was built in the first part of the 13th century and was once a guard tower and also a women’s prison; the astronomical clock itself is a newer structure which dates from the early 15th century when the tower stopped being used as a prison. Zytglogge can be translated as ‘time bell’ in Bernese German and is named as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

Chillon Castle, near Montreux

This beautiful, medieval castle has a fairytale location, right on the shores of Lake Geneva. The history of the castle dates back 1,000 years, and has inspired a multitude of people throughout history, including writer Victor Hugo. It attracts a third of a million tourists a year, many of whom live outside Switzerland. You can reach it via a modern bridge and it is a fascinating place to visit for adults and children alike. It has 40 rooms, impressive dungeons, and internal and external passageways.

Prime Tower, Zürich

The Prime Tower, which is also called Maag-Tower, is Zürich’s, and Switzerland’s tallest skyscraper, which is 126 m in height. It took 15 years of planning, and millions of pounds to build and is mainly used as offices, although it also has shops, a fitness centre and galleries. The elegant Clouds restaurant is a gourmet restaurant on the 35th floor (the top floor) and offers a varied menu of delicious culinary delights, while the second highest floor has conference facilities. Along with the top floor restaurant, there’s also a cocktail bar, two further restaurants and a coffee bar.

Sphinx Observatory, Jungfraujoch

Built in the 1930’s, this is the highest building in Europe, so called because it is built at 3,571 m in the Swiss Alps. Declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is reachable via a lift that goes from the Jungfraujoch Station up through the mountain to the observatory. Next to it is a public viewing deck, where you can enjoy incredible views of the peaks of Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau.

Gotthard Rail Tunnel

Work on the £6.4 bn world’s longest transport tunnel started in the late 1990’s and is still taking place beneath the Alps. The tunnel is due to open at the end of 2016 and will change the face of transport in Europe, providing a super fast link between the north and south of the continent. It is set to take up to 300 trains a day and a journey between Zurich  and Milan will take just 90 minutes from start to finish. There’s expected to be less traffic on the roads as result, as cargo will be transported by rail.

About Hamiltons Removals

Hamiltons Removals provide high quality household and commercial removals to suit your individual requirements. We have two decades of experience in European and worldwide removals and are specialists in removals to Switzerland. For more information, follow the link below.

UK to Switzerland Removals -  click here to get a detailed quotation for removals to Switzerland.

Moving House to Switzerland: Native Plants and Trees to Discover when You Settle

If you moving house to Switzerland and enjoy spending time in nature, your new home in Europe will give you hours of pleasure. From the dramatic scenery of the Alps, to the hilly open countryside and parklands, Switzerland is a haven for those who enjoy the great outdoors.

While most people move house to Switzerland to take up a job offer, it is also a wonderful place to relocate to enjoy a better lifestyle. Here you can go for a scenic hike in the mountains, explore one of the many nature reserves, or visit the breathtakingly beautiful San Grato Botanical Park in Lugano.

Meanwhile, if you enjoy plants, trees and flowers, this article looks at some of the most common species you can find in Switzerland, as well as rare and unusual plants you may be lucky to find.

Competitive removals UK to Switzerland  Contact us now for high quality household and commercial moves to Europe.

Alpine Plants

Switzerland is home to hundreds of alpine plants: these rugged, sometimes colourful plants are able to survive tough conditions, such as high altitudes and extreme temperatures, and some have healing properties. Stem cells extracted from the Alpine Rose, for instance, is used in a sought after skin cream; and Edelweiss, also known as the Snow Plant, is known for its anti-oxidant, soothing, and anti-inflammatory properties and is unofficially regarded as Switzerland’s national plant.

The Alpine Rose, or Snow Rose, is an evergreen shrub that produces clusters of flowers delicate in appearance and bright pink in colour. Edelweiss, or Snow Plant, is white in colour, prefers rocky surfaces and high altitudes, and actually belongs to the sunflower family.

Another common alpine plant is the Cowslip, which lies quite close to the ground and has yellow, funnel shaped flowers – the flowers and roots are used to treat colds. You will find these aplenty once your removals to Switzerland have been completed and you have settled in your new home.

Swiss Trees

There are two types of trees: deciduous trees, which are those that shed all or some of their leaves seasonally, and coniferous trees, which keep their leaves and generally produce cones. Switzerland has both varieties, and among the most common types of deciduous trees are oak, beech and maple, all of which can be found on lower ground and generally don’t grow at altitudes of above 4,500 metres.

Linden trees can also be found in Switzerland and there is a mention of one in the area of Naters on a 14th century document that described the tree as ‘huge’. The Linden tree of Murten has a legend attached to it – a heroic messenger ran, carrying a branch of the tree, to bring news of victory at the Battle of Murten in 1476. He collapsed, exhausted, and a lime tree grew on the spot where he had fallen. Thought to have medicinal properties, its flowers are used to treat common colds, ease inflammation and relieve headaches as well as other ailments such as inflammation and high blood pressure.

The coniferous trees that can be found in Switzerland are pine, fir and spruce, and these can be found at the higher altitudes.

Rare and Unusual Plants   

Switzerland has a number of plant species that are endangered and there are a variety of agencies and organisations that have been set up to protect them. This includes The Swiss Committee for the Preservation of Wild Plants that coordinates the actions in Switzerland in dealing with the protection of rare and endangered plants.

Among them are Poplar trees and, although it’s quite common to see foreign originated Poplar trees, the ones native to Switzerland such as Poplar Nigra (Black Poplar), and the Poplar Alba (White Poplar) are protected as they are few and far between. 

Another vulnerable plant species in Switzerland is the Narcissus Poeticus (or Poet’s Daffodil), a flower linked with the Greek legend of Narcissus. It has pure white petals and is intensely fragrant, so it is often used in perfumes.

Among the unusual variety of plants are the small trees that can be found in higher altitudes in Switzerland and resemble Japanese Bonsai trees.

About Hamiltons Removals

Hamiltons Removals are specialists in domestic and commercial removals to Switzerland and can help in all aspects of your move, from packing and unpacking, to organising long or short term storage. For more information about Hamiltons and how we can help with European removals, just click on the link below.

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