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At the heart of Europe is Switzerland. The country that gave us triangular chocolate and holey cheese. The country famous for its punctual trains and strict neutrality.
The country that has yodelling festivals on national television.
Swiss Watching is a light-hearted yet revealing journey around Europe's most individual country. From seeking Heidi and finding the best chocolate to reliving a bloody past and exploring an uncertain future, Swiss Watching proves that there's more to Switzerland than banks, skis, francs and cheese.
This is a picture of the real Switzerland, a place where the breathtaking scenery shaped a nation not just a tour itinerary, and where tradition is as important as technology. And where recycling is forbidden on Sundays. It's also the story of its people, who have more power than their politicians, but can't speak to one another in the same language. And who own more guns per head than the people of Iraq.
One country, four languages, 26 cantons, and 7.5 million people (but only 80% of them Swiss): there's nowhere else in Europe like it. Switzerland may be more than 500 miles from the nearest drop of seawater, but it is an island at the centre of Europe. Welcome to the landlocked island.
ISBN: 978-185788-5484. To be published June 2010