Switzerland

Switzerland is a year-round wonderland of astonishing beauty and one of the most multilingual countries in Europe. You can experience several different cultures encompassing four national languages - all within one neat little country. The German-speaking Swiss make up 65% percent of the population; French, 18 percent; Italian, 10 percent; and Romansch, 1 percent; and 70-plus dialects lend a special charisma to tiny villages and hamlets. And many Swiss can speak all four languages and English, too. The diversity doesn't end there. From majestic snowcapped mountains to languid palm-fringed lakes, from cowbells and yodeling to craftsmanship and incredible feats of railroad engineering, Switzerland is surprising. © 2009, The Globe Pequot Press, LaVerne Ferguson-Kosinski Information by Europe by Eurail