Ancient artifacts from the Paleolithic Age reveal that hunter-gatherers first inhabited Chur around 13,000 years ago, and permanent settlements existed as early as the Bronze Age (around 2200 BCE). Subsequent residents included the Celts, Romans, Ostrogoths, and Franks. Today, Chur is a cultural hub of eastern Switzerland, known for its proximity to world-class ski resorts.

A climb to the top of Dufourspitze is not for the faint of heart. This massive peak is located in the Monte Rosa massif on Switzerland’s southwestern border with Italy. With a height of 15,203 feet, it is the second-highest mountain peak in Western Europe, behind France’s Mont Blanc. It was originally known as “Highest Peak” or “Höchste Spitze,” but it was later renamed after Swiss general and topographer Guillame-Henri Dufour.

Lauterbrunnen is a picturesque valley in western Switzerland, just south of Interlaken. Its rocky cliffs give way to a tranquil valley and Lauterbrunnen village.With a name meaning “many fountains,”Lauterbrunnen is home to 72 waterfalls, but its most famous is Staubbach Falls. At 984 feet tall, it’s one of Europe’s highest waterfalls. This valley is also one of the country’s largest nature conservation areas and is a top destination for Alpine hikers.

Built in 1322 over the Reuss River, the charming Chapel Bridge and its water tower are the most recognizable landmark of Lucerne, a medieval town in central Switzerland. Pictorial panels depicting the town’s rich history were added to the inside of the bridge in the 17th century. Near the center of the bridge stands a 14th-century water tower that was once used as an archive, treasury, prison and torture chamber.

With its fuzzy white petals, the edelweiss can be seen on everything from airline liveries to coins and the logo of Switzerland’s official tourism office. The flower is found in high altitude Alpine locations, and its blooms dot these mountain meadows from July through August each year. It was originally called the “wool flower,” but today, its German name “edelweiss” means “noble white.”

The St. Bernard dog breed originated in the 17th century in the Great St. Bernard Pass, located high in the Western Alps. A group of monks who lived at a remote hospice here first bred the dogs to guard and protect the hospice and its residents. The dogs proved adept at snow rescues, and soon the breed earned a permanent place in Swiss culture.

The Alpine section of the mighty Rhine River meanders through Switzerland, forming its border with southern Germany. This is where the famed Rhine Falls (Rheinfall) are located. Created by tectonic shifts during the last Ice Age, these falls are the largest in Europe, measuring nearly 500 feet across.

With stunning views of the surrounding Alps, Chillon Castle occupies a tiny island on the eastern edge of Lake Geneva near the town of Montreux. A settlement has existed here since the Bronze Age, but it wasn’t until Peter II, Count of Savoy, made the fortress his summer residence in the 13th century that it began to take shape. Years later, Lord Byron immortalized the castle in his 1816 poem, “The Prisoner of Chillon,” which tells the story of an imprisoned monk.

Towering high above Lake Lucerne is Mount Bürgenstock and its Hammetschwand Elevator. The highest outdoor elevator in Europe carries passengers to an altitude of 3,700 feet above sea level in under a minute. The 500-foot-tall open-air shaft was built in 1902 as an attraction for a nearby hotel. The original wooden elevator has since been renovated and is now made of sturdy steel and glass walls.

Historically, alphorns were used by 16th-century shepherds to call cattle in from the pastures. A historical engraving shows a farmer using the horn’s loud call to motivate his cows over the last stretch in a long Alpine climb. The long wooden horns also allowed shepherds to communicate with each other and with those in the valleys below. Today, alphorns are a national symbol often played at traditional Swiss festivals.

The Jungfrau railway transports visitors to the highest-altitude railway station in Europe, located over 11,300 feet above sea level. Part of the Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn UNESCO World Heritage Site, the famous peak is home to restaurants, shops, hiking trails, viewing platforms, an ice palace, and Europe's highest permanently manned research and weather station.

Situated in central Switzerland is Reichenbach Falls, a 400-foot waterfall which served as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s setting for his beloved character, Sherlock Holmes, and his rival, Professor Moriarty, to plummet to their doom. The area features scenic hiking trails and several restored wooden carriages that carry visitors up to viewing platforms that overlook the falls.

Tucked away in Switzerland's Engadin valley, St. Moritz has hosted the Winter Olympics twice, once in 1928 and again in 1948. The 1928 winter games included the first participation from an Asian country, Japan. The 1948 games were known as the “Games of Renewal” after a 12-year break due to World War II. Remnants of the games can be seen around St. Moritz, including an enormous outdoor Olympic ice rink and a bobsleigh run.

The two most popular varieties of cheese used in classic Swiss cheese fondue are Gruyère, named after a medieval town in western Switzerland, and Emmental (also named after a Swiss city). Gruyère’s namesake cheese has been produced there since 1115 CE. Today, only cheese produced in this region can be labeled as “Gruyère” cheese in Europe.

Switzerland is famous for its chocolate. The country’s first mechanized chocolate factory was opened in 1818 in Vevey (a town on Lake Geneva) by François-Louis Cailler, who went on to found the famous Cailler Swiss chocolate brand. Rodolphe Lindt set up shop in Bern a few decades later in 1892, and Theodor Tobler created his famous Toblerone chocolate bars in 1908.

Bordered by the Aare River in western Switzerland, Bern became the administrative capital of the united Swiss Confederation in 1848. However, while Bern was chosen as Switzerland's “federal city,” nothing in the constitution officially declares it the country’s capital. Bern’s famous 16th century Clock Tower (Zeitglockenturm) is a highlight of the town center, and its Gothic cathedral featuring a 328-foot spire is the city’s highest landmark.

Switzerland has four national languages: French, Italian, German, and Romansh. Over 60% of the population speaks German as their main language. About a quarter speak French, primarily in the Romandie region of western Switzerland. Around 8% of Swiss residents speak Italian as their main language, mostly in the south near the Alpine border of Italy. The fourth and lesser-known language of Switzerland is Romansh, which accounts for 0.5% of the population.

One of Switzerland’s most recognizable landmarks is the Matterhorn. This 14,690-foot peak soars high over Zermatt, one of the country’s most popular ski villages. Known for its distinct pyramid shape, the Matterhorn straddles the border of Switzerland and Italy. Its name roughly translates to “the peak in the meadows.”

The crescent-shaped Lake Geneva is Switzerland’s largest body of water and is also the largest lake in the Alps. Switzerland shares this lake with France, as it forms part of the border between the two countries. The French call it “Lac Léman,” harkening back to its old Celtic name, “Lem an,” meaning “large water.”

Zurich, located in north-central Switzerland, is often confused as the country’s capital because of its large population and booming banking and financial district. Despite not being the country’s capital, it is one of the most important and most visited Swiss cities. Zürich is also known for its well-preserved Altstadt (Old Town), situated on the northern shores of Lake Zürich.