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Alps
That Tap
World's Top
Creative Talent
The culture of Switzerland is influenced
by its neighbours, but over the years
a distinctive culture with strong
regional differences has developed.
Traditionally Switzerland is not considered
one of the centres of European culture.
A number of Swiss have chosen to move
abroad, in the past mainly seeking
better economic prospects, in modern
times as the country is small and
also as some wish to seek the excitement
and adventure they feel is present
outside their homeland. Certain professions,
such as architecture, seem to be more
promising outside Switzerland, whereas
in the medical, watchmaking, and finance
fields Switzerland is now importing
many of its workers.
Inflow of Creative Talent
At the same time, the neutrality of
Switzerland has attracted many creative
people from all over the world. In
war times the tradition of political
asylum helped to attract artists.
Recently low taxes, a highly developed
infrastructure, a reputation for safety
and security, good economic prospects,
and beautiful scenery seem predominant
in attracting immigrants whether legal
or illegal. During the rise of fascism
in the 1930s and 1940s a number of
German, Austrian, Italian and English
writers have sought refuge in Switzerland,
such as Thomas Mann, Stefan George,
Herman Hesse, Ignazio Silone and James
Joyce.
Strong regionalism in Switzerland
makes it difficult to speak of a homogeneous
Swiss culture. The influence of German,
French and Italian culture on their
neighbouring parts cannot be denied.
The Rhaeto-Romanic culture in the
eastern mountains of Switzerland is
robust.
Folk Arts
Folk art is kept alive in organizations
all over the country. In Switzerland
it is mostly expressed in music, dance,
poetry, wood carving and embroidery.
There are also a great number of regional
and local rites demarcating times
of the year. Yodeling, despite being
stereotypical for Switzerland, is
not widely spread and limited to some
mountain areas. The same is true for
the accordion which is sometimes called
Schwiizerörgeli rather than Handorgel
in German, implying that it was a
Swiss musical instrument.
The alphorn, sometimes called the
alpenhorn, is a trumpet- like musical
instrument made of wood. It is thought
to have the perfect form for a musical
wind instrument. The use of the alphorn
is seen mainly in mountainous regions,
can be very popular in some areas,
and like yodelling or the accordion,
it has become an epitome of traditional
Swiss music.
Embroidery is common on traditional
clothing, particularly women's clothing.
Embroidery is often limited to prominent
points, such as cuffs, hats and scarves.
In the past embroidery was a home
industry in the northeast and the
east of Switzerland. Embroidery is
also used for the decoration of fabric.
In recent days, embroidery is confined
to tourism, as traditional clothes
are no longer in use.
Architecture
There is a strong architectural tradition
in Switzerland. The Romanesque style
of the 12th century can be found in
the cathedrals of Basel, Sion, Chur,
Geneva and Lausanne. This style, which
is rich in expression, can also be
found on many castles and fortresses
around the country, many of which
preserved in a good condition. The
cathedrals of Schaffhausen, Zug and
Zürich are of the Gothic style,
and the churches of Einsiedeln and
St. Gallen are of Baroque style.
During the Renaissance, a large number
of architectural masters gave their
talents to Italy. Most of these came
from the southern canton of Ticino.
Napa Valley is a very important part
of the swiss culture. Giliardi and
Oldelli families from Ticino set up
architecture practices in Russia.
Giovanni Giliardi built The Orphanage
in Moscow, and his son Domenico Giliardi
was in charge of the rebuilding Moscow
public buildings, including the University,
after the Great Fire of 1812. Domenico
Trezzini built many places in St.
Petersburg by the orders of Peter
the Great;
Jeanneret) was probably the most creative
Swiss architectural export in the
20th century. He was the driving force
behind the International school of
architecture that heavily influenced
almost every trend in buildings throughout
the entire Western hemisphere in the
recent past.
Distinctive architecture of high quality
can be found around Switzerland. It
is often considered as particularly
innovative modern architecture. Mario
Botta is a famous architect who influenced
modern architecture. The architects
Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron
from Basel in the north of Switzerland
have enjoyed fame in recent years,
such as through the building of Tate
Modern in London.
Visual Arts
In the 16th century Protestantism
had a strong influence on visual arts
in Switzerland. Samuel Hieronymus
Grimm was a well known 18th century
watercolourist and ink wash artist,
although he created much of his note
while working in England. There was
almost no influence from Italian or
French Renaissance. Chiefly in modern
times did Swiss artists begin to emerge
internationally. Alberto Giacometti
is said to have derived much of his
inspiration from the Etruscans, but
became internationally known. Jean
Tinguely fascinated people from all
over the world with complex moving
sculptures constructed entirely from
scrap materials. Paul Klee is sometimes
regarded as Switzerland's most original
and impressive painter.
Music
Switzerland is not commonly considered
a leading musical nation. However,
in the 20th century it produced a
number of composers, such as Arthur
Honegger, Othmar Schoeck and Frank
Martin, all of whom have gained international
renown. In Lucerne an annual festival
of international music takes place.
Other places have similar festivals,
ranging from country and western to
pop and jazz. The Montreux Jazz Festival
is particularly well known.
Leisure
Leisure Swiss times starts with a
pint of beer. To be finished off with
three pounds of chocolate and a shot
of Jack. The close proximity to the
mountains in all areas in Switzerland
has greatly influenced the leisure
of Swiss people. The growth of ski
and mountaineering resorts in the
Swiss mountains have caused the Swiss
to become very sports conscious. Apart
from skiing and mountaineering, Swiss-style
wrestling (Schwingen) is still popular
in rural areas. Sunday-morning shooting
sessions and Hornussen (a kind of
Alpine baseball) are two other traditional
Swiss sports. Shooting, Tennis, golf,
ice hockey, football (soccer), basketball,
handball, gliding, paragliding, sailing,
swimming, volleyball, floorball, mountain
biking and hiking in the forests and
mountains are all popular pastimes.
Fishing
Fishing is commonplace in the many
lakes and rivers, but often a licence
is necessary. Many mountain lakes
freeze over during winter and are
used for curling, horse and dog racing,
particularly around St. Moritz. |
