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.
Household Removals to Switzerland Contact us now for to find out about how we can tailor your European removals to suit your requirements.
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.
Friday 17 January 2014
Tuesday 14 January 2014
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.
Hamiltons Removals - follow the link for a competitive removals to Switzerland quotation.
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.
Hamiltons Removals - follow the link for a competitive removals to Switzerland quotation.
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