I.

Introduction

Switzerland (French, Suisse; German, Schweiz; Italian, Svizzera), federal republic in west-central Europe, bounded to the north by France and Germany, to the east by Austria and Liechtenstein, to the south by Italy, and to the west by France. The country has an area of 41,285 sq km (15,940 sq mi). Its largest city is Zurich, and the capital is Bern.