Switzerland Photo Gallery

Surrounded by other peaks of the Pennine Alps, the Matterhorn's stark pyramid commands the horizon.  

Perhaps the beauty of Lake Geneva inspired Stravinsky to create The Rite of Spring—the composer wrote the piece in Montreux, on the east side of the lake. Today, the city hosts one of world's most famous jazz festivals.  

The tongues of three bordering countries compose Switzerland's official languages. To accommodate the varying speech, everything from TV manuals to grocery ingredients is printed in German, French, and Italian.  

Grindelwald's population has merely doubled since 1799 when the valley recorded 1,985 permanent residents. Today that number is about 3,800, but nearly 10,000 beds in local hotels, apartments, and campsites welcome visitors.  

Majestic mountains constitute more than 60 percent of Switzerland's terrain —it's no wonder that one-third of Switzerland's residents take to skis.  

Although founded in 1191, Bern was rebuilt out of sandstone after a fire destroyed most of the city in 1405.  

Crystal blue Lake Sils in Switzerland's lake region of the Upper Engadine is a favorite retreat.