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Table of Contents

History of Switzerland ....................................... 3

Switzerland ......................................................... 5

Keeping in Touch in Switzerland ...................... 6

Jardin Anglais (English Garden) and Horloge Fleurie (Flower Clock) .................. 7

Jardin Botanique (Botanical Gardens) ............. 8

Jet d’Eau (Water Fountain) ................................ 8

Palais des Nations (Palace of Nations)............. 9

Musée Patek Philippe (Patek Philippe Museum) .................................. 10

Musée International de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge (International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum) ............................. 10

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Genève (St Peter’s Cathedral) ......................................... 11

Mur des Réformateurs (Reformation Wall) ............................................. 12

CERN .................................................................... 13

Origins of CERN (09.12.1949) ............................ 14

Accompagning Persons Social Program........... 15

History of Switzerland

Neutrality is a key part of the Swiss national identity. While the conflicting forces of the world have squared up to each other time and time again, Switzerland has steered clear of global clashes since it first adopted a neutral stance in 1815. Though peace and stability have characterised the last two centuries, the country’s earlier years were more turbulent.

Like most of its southern European neighbours, Switzerland was invaded by the Romans in the 1st century BC. As the Roman Empire began to decline in the 4th and 5th centuries, Germanic and Burgundian tribes arrived, effectively carving up the country between them – a division that is still evident today in the French and German-speaking areas of the nation.

In the 9th century, Switzerland came under the dominion of the Holy Roman Emperor. To begin with, the Swiss were allowed to do mostly as they pleased, but by the 13th century, the Romans had tightened the reins. Resentment soon bubbled among the population, culminating in the founding of the autonomous Swiss Confederation (of three cantons) in 1291. The country gained full independence in the late 15th century and was replaced by a sovereign government in the late 19th century, relying on a unique hands-on system, which allows its citizens to vote regularly on various matters, both large and small.

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Neutrality is a key part of the Swiss national identity. While the conflicting forces of the world have squared up to each other time and time again, Switzerland has steered clear of global clashes since it first adopted a neutral stance in 1815. Though peace and stability have characterised the last two centuries, the country’s earlier years were more turbulent.

Like most of its southern European neighbours, Switzerland was invaded by the Romans in the 1st century BC. As the Roman Empire began to decline in the 4th and 5th centuries, Germanic and Burgundian tribes arrived, effectively carving up the country between them – a division that is still evident today in the French and German-speaking areas of the nation.

In the 9th century, Switzerland came under the dominion of the Holy Roman Emperor. To begin with, the Swiss were allowed to do mostly as they pleased, but by the 13th century, the Romans had tightened the reins. Resentment soon bubbled among the population, culminating in the founding of the autonomous Swiss Confederation (of three cantons) in 1291. The country gained full independence in the late 15th century and was replaced by a sovereign government in the late 19th century, relying on a unique hands-on system, which allows its citizens to vote regularly on various matters, both large and small.

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Switzerland

Combining expansive greenery, slick cities and bucketful’s of fresh air, Swit-zerland is a stylish tourist destination offering countless outdoor adventures and contemporary urban breaks.

Switzerland’s Alpine vistas are so picture perfect, they can appear plucked from the pages of a storybook. But these disarming landscapes are alive and kicking, as a spot of skiing, hiking or mountain biking will attest.

Ski resorts like Zermatt (home to the lofty Matterhorn), Verbier and celebrity-studded St Moritz provide everything from big, bad Olympic runs to encouragingly gentle novice slopes. And when the snow melts at low altitudes, the white-tipped mountain peaks remain against a backdrop of blue skies, providing a superb setting for summertime hiking.

The ancient capital Berne provides endless opportunities for sightseeing, shopping and traditional folk entertainment, while Zurich leads the way in art, design and nightlife; from opera and world-class theatre to stylish bars and nightclubs. Geneva is the sleekest and most upscale of Switzerland’s cities, acting as home to a thriving community of expats, many of whom work for the numerous international organisations that are headquartered there.

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Yet Switzerland’s cultural offerings don’t stop there. When it comes to contemporary art, polished Basel reigns supreme, with more than 40 museums and galleries packed into this compact city. For a few days every year, it takes centre stage for the eminent Art Basel fair. French-flavoured Montreux also steals a moment in the cultural spotlight when it becomes the centre of focus for the jazz world during the Montreux Jazz Festival. Elsewhere, dotted around green foothills, are countless spruce towns and folkloric villages, where ancient farm culture survives and cattle still loiter amid flower-filled pastures.

Small, mountainous and wealthy, Switzerland is renowned for its enviable quality of life, with public services ticking along like clockwork. Come for the pungent cheese, smooth chocolate and luxury watches; stay for the exquisite culture, incredible scenery and sheer sense of fun.

Keeping in Touch in Switzerland

Telephone: Payphones can be found in towns and cities throughout Switzerland. Calls are made using phonecards, which can be purchased in newsagents.

Mobile Phone: Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies and coverage is good across Switzerland. Local SIM cards are readily available in newsagents.

Wi-Fi is ubiquitous in Switzerland with most hotels, restaurants and public spaces offering access. Connections are also available in Internet cafés and phone booths, which are found in most major town and cities. In the case of phone booths, charges are payable by phonecard or credit card.

Post: Airmail within Europe takes three days.Post office hours: Mon-Fri 07:30-12:00 and 13:45-18:30. Saturday closing is at 11:00 except in major cities.

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Jardin Anglais (English Garden) and Horloge Fleurie (Flower Clock)

The English Garden, dating from 1854, is home to the Monument National, a statue of two young women – the ‘Republic of Geneva’ and ‘Helvetia’ – which together symbolise Geneva’s induction into the Swiss Confederation in 1814. Within the park there is an elegant bronze fountain and L’Horloge Fleurie (Flower Clock) that was installed in 1955 to honour Geneva’s watch-making industry and is now decorated with over 6,500 plants. The clock measures 5m (16.4ft) in diameter and 17.7m (58ft) in circumference. And if you’re into obscure world records, its second hand is the longest in the planet, at over 2.5m (8ft).

Opening Times: Daily 24 hours. Admission Fees: No. Disabled Access: YesUnesco: No Address: Quai Général Guisan, Rive Gauche, Geneva, 1204, Switzerland

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Jardin Botanique (Botanical Gardens)

Geneva’s world-renowned Botanical Gardens were created by the bota-nist A P de Candolle in the Parc des Bastions in 1817. Relocated to their present site in 1904, the 28-hectare (69-acre) gardens have greenhouses with tropical plants from six continents, a pond brimming with aquatic plants, a rose garden, an arboretum, a garden of the senses, an aviary and a park of rare animals, as well as a research laboratory, herbarium collec-tion (open by appointment) and an extensive library. In total, the gardens consist of around 16,000 different plant species from around the globe.

Opening Times: Daily 09:30-17:00 (Nov-Mar); Daily 08:00-19:30 (Apr-Oct). Admission Fees: No Disabled Access: Yes Unesco: No Address: Chemin de l’Impératrice 1, Chambésy, Geneva, 1292, SwitzerlandTelephone: (022) 418 5100. Website: http://www.ville-ge.ch/cjb

Jet d’Eau (Water Fountain)

Geneva’s world-renowned Botanical Gardens were created by the botanist A P de Candolle in the Parc des Bastions in 1817. Relocated to their pre-sent site in 1904, the 28-hectare (69-acre) gardens have greenhouses with tropical plants from six continents, a pond brimming with aquatic plants, a rose garden, an arboretum, a garden of the senses, an aviary and a park of rare animals, as well as a research laboratory, herbarium collec-tion (open by appointment) and an extensive library. In total, the gardens consist of around 16,000 different plant species from around the globe.

Opening Times: Daily 09:30-17:00 (Nov-Mar); Daily 08:00-19:30 (Apr-Oct). Admission Fees: No Disabled Access: Yes Unesco: No Address: Chemin de l’Impératrice 1, Chambésy, Geneva, 1292, SwitzerlandTelephone: (022) 418 5100. Website: http://www.ville-ge.ch/cjb

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Palais des Nations (Palace of Nations)

Geneva’s world-renowned Botanical Gardens were created by the botanist This vast Geneva building, designed in the form of a double horseshoe and set in a park with century-old trees, is the European headquarters of the United Nations and the largest UN centre after New York. It was built between 1929 and 1937 to host the League of Nations, the precursor to the UN, so in terms of historical significance it’s something of a titan. Guided tours take in the Assembly Hall, the Council Chamber and the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilisations Room with its incredible ceiling painted by Spanish artist Miguel Barcelò. Unsurprisingly, visits are extre-mely popular and it attracts more than 100,000 tourists annually. Tours last an hour and are available in more than 15 languages.

Opening Times: Mon-Fri 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00 (Sep-Mar); Mon-Sat 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00 (Apr-Jun); Mon-Sat 10:00-16:00 (Jul-Aug). Group tours for more than 15 people must be booked in advance.Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes Unesco: No Address: Avenue de la Paix 14, Nations, Geneva, 1202, SwitzerlandTelephone: (022) 917 4896. Website: http://www.unog.ch

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Musée Patek Philippe (Patek Philippe Museum)

If your knowledge of Swiss timepieces begins and ends with cuckoo-clocks (which originated in Germany anyway), prepare for enlightenment. Geneva and the nearby Jura region have long been associated with clocks and the Patek Philippe Company counts among the finest manufacturers of Swiss watches. The exhibition is split into two main sections: the first displays antique watches from the 16th to the 19th centuries, many of them considered masterpieces of their kind, while the second showcases watches made by Patek Philippe from 1839 to the present day.

Opening Times: Tues-Fri 14:00-18:00, Sat 10:00-18:00. Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: YesUnesco: No Address: Rue de Vieux-Grenadiers 7, Plainpalais, Geneva, 1205, SwitzerlandTelephone: (022) 807 0910. Website: http://www.patekmuseum.com

Musée International de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge

(International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum)

Completely renovated in 2013, this museum documents the work of the Red Cross from the humanitarian vision outlined by founder Henry Dunant in 1863, through the many conflicts worldwide where its work has been so vital. The permanent exhibition, entitled The Humanitarian Adventure, is split into three thematic sections, each comprising moving video interviews with witnesses to the Red Cross’ work. Particularly affecting is the section detailing how the Red Cross reunites families following war or genocide, while the collection of 6 million record cards containing the fate of prisoners of war during WWI is extraordinary.

Opening Times: Daily 10:00-18:00 (Apr-Oct); Daily 10:00-17:00 (Nov-Mar). Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes Unesco: No Address: Avenue de la Paix 17, Nations, Geneva, 1202, SwitzerlandTelephone: (022) 748 9511. Website: http://www.redcrossmuseum.chAddress: Chemin de l’Impératrice 1, Chambésy, Geneva, 1292, SwitzerlandTelephone: (022) 418 5100. Website: http://www.ville-ge.ch/cjb

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Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Genève (St Peter’s Cathedral)

For a spot so central to Geneva’s religious life, St Peter’s Cathedral – built between 1160 and 1289 – is surprisingly small. Even more astonishing is its combination of Romanesque, gothic, and neoclassical styles. The austerity of the main body of the church seems wholly appropriate for a building in which protestant reformer John Calvin preached (1536-1564). By contrast, the 15th-century Chapel of the Maccabees (restored in 1875) is a riot of gilded embellishment against blue and red backgrounds. The neoclassical facade was added in 1750. Under the cathedral is an archaeological site revealing remains dating back to the pre-Christian era, while climbing the 157 steps to the top of the north tower rewards visitors with fine views over the Old Town and lake.

Opening Times: Mon-Sat 09:30-18:30 and Sun 12:00-18:30 (Jun-Sep); Mon-Sat 10:00-17:30, Sun 12:00-17:30 (Oct-May). Vaults open daily 10:00-17:30.Admission Fees: No (although there is a small charge for the tower) Disabled Access: YesUnesco: No Address: Cour St-Pierre 6, Old Town, Geneva, 1204, SwitzerlandTelephone: (022) 311 7575. Website: http://www.saintpierre-geneve.ch

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Mur des Réformateurs (Reformation Wall)

Construction of Geneva’s 60ft (18m) Reformation Wall began in 1909 on the 400th anniversary of the birth of protestant reformer John Calvin, considered the spiritual father of the city. The monument features huge statues of the four figures central to the Reformation movement: John Calvin (1509-64), Théodore de Bèze (1513-1605), John Knox (c1514-72) and Guillaume Farel (1489-65). The quartet casts a watchful eye over students lounging about the lovely Parc des Bastions in the university district.

Opening Times: Daily 24 hours. Admission Fees: No Disabled Access: Yes Unesco: No Address: Parc des Bastions, Geneva, 1204, Switzerland

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CERN

At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. They use the world’s largest and most complex scientific instruments to study the basic constituents of matter – the fundamental particles. The particles are made to collide together at close to the speed of light. The process gives the physicists clues about how the particles interact, and provides insights into the fundamental laws of nature.

The instruments used at CERN are purpose-built particle accelerators and detectors. Accelerators boost beams of particles to high energies before the beams are made to collide with each other or with stationary targets. Detectors observe and record the results of these collisions.

Founded in 1954, the CERN laboratory sits astride the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva. It was one of Europe’s first joint ventures and now has 22 member states.

The name CERN is derived from the acronym for the French «Conseil Eu-ropéen pour la Recherche Nucléaire», or European Council for Nuclear Re-search, a provisional body founded in 1952 with the mandate of establishing a world-class fundamental physics research organization in Europe. At that time, pure physics research concentrated on understanding the inside of the atom, hence the word «nuclear».

Today, our understanding of matter goes much deeper than the nucleus, and CERN’s main area of research is particle physics – the study of the fun-damental constituents of matter and the forces acting between them. Be-cause of this, the laboratory operated by CERN is often referred to as the European Laboratory for Particle Physics.

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Origins of CERN (09.12.1949)

At the end of the Second World War, European science was no longer world-class. Following the example of international organisations, a handful of visionary scientists imagined creating a European atomic physicslaboratory.

Raoul Dautry, Pierre Auger and Lew Kowarski in France, Edoardo Amaldi in Italy and Niels Bohr in Denmark were among these pioneers. Such a laboratory would not only unite European scientists but also allow them to share the increasing costs of nuclear physics facilities.

French physicist Louis de Broglie put forward the first official proposal for the creation of a European laboratory at the European Cultural Conference which opened in Lausanne on 9 December 1949.

A further push came at the fifth UNESCO General Conference, held in Florence in June 1950, where American physicist and Nobel laureate Isidor Rabi tabled a resolution authorising UNESCO to «assist and encourage the formation of regional research laboratories in order to increase international scientific collaboration…»

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