Switzerland

Where the name comes from

Switzerland is named after Schwyz, a founding canton recorded as Suittes in 972; the canton’s own name origin is uncertain.

First people

Lake dwellers built houses on stilts by Alpine lakes from about 5000 BC, and Celtic Helvetii lived here in Roman times.¹

Known for

Switzerland is known for the Alps, watches, chocolate and long neutrality, and it has four national languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh.^2,3

Outside contact

Rome conquered the Helvetii in 58 BC, and the Habsburgs later held much of the land until a medieval alliance of Alpine communities broke away from their rule.^4,5

The modern country

That alliance grew into a confederation, and its present federal system of 26 cantons was set up in 1848.⁵