Thursday 18 September 2014

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.

Monday 15 September 2014

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.

Thursday 11 September 2014

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

Monday 8 September 2014

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.

Thursday 4 September 2014

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