BASF (BASF.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) has launched an agreed cash offer to acquire smaller Swiss rival Ciba (CIBN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research) for 3.4 billion Swiss francs ($3 billion), a deal that would boost its position in the specialty chemicals business. The move by the world's biggest chemicals maker on Monday follows Dow Chemical's (DOW.N: Quote, Profile, Research).

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Host and guest expressed their delight at the recent fine development of bilateral relations, which culminated in a visit to Vietnam by Swiss President Pascal Couchepin in August. Son thanked the Swiss Government for its official development assistance in poverty reduction, environment and climate change as well as its credit package supply.

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With seemingly endless mountains blanketed in bright white snow, a small and friendly population, enviable laws preventing pollution and maintaining a pristine environment, majestic castles and dense woodlands, Switzerland seems to have it all. From the simple life to lavish indulgence, the breadth of possible experiences is one aspect that draws visitors in. The country is ne that’s envied all around the world for its peaceful and neutral stance on many worldwide happenings. Always regarded as a peacemaker.

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Zürich's Grossmünster is a Romanesque and Gothic cathedral with a fascinating history involving both Catholic saints and Protestant preaching. According to legend, the Grossmünster was founded by Charlemagne after his horse bowed down on the spot marking the graves of three early Christian martyrs.

In the 3rd century, Felix and Regula were members of an all-Christian Roman legion that was to be executed en masse in southwest Switzerland. They fled with their servant Exuperantius and got as far as Zürich before being tried and executed in 286 AD.

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I had always dreamed of being in the Alps, not just seeing them from miles away but actually being where the Alps are. Like, on them. We have climbed to the top of Pike's Peak and to the bottom of the Grand Canyon but I never knew you could be so close to mountains that are so rugged and majestic until we went to the Berner Oberland region of Switzerland.

Not only can you see the mountains, you can smell them, feel them, touch them and, best of all, climb them. This part of the Alps isn't as high as the "14ers" in Colorado but the vertical drop from the 10,000-foot/3,048-meter peaks to the valley floor (about 2,000 feet/609 meters) is spectacular.

Alpine Walks Around Gimmelwald
We left our home in Heidelberg one morning for the town of Lauterbrunnen, a hub for Swiss public buses running through the valleys. Our bus route took us to the end of the Lauterbrunnen Valley, past multiple waterfalls cascading from cliffs on either side. We were at an altitude of about 2,623 feet/796 meters. From there, we rode up the Stechelberg cable car -- straight up a cliff -- to our hiking base at Gimmelwald, which is at about 5,000 feet/1,524 meters.Read the rest of this entry »

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An excellent day trip from Zurich and close to the town of Schaffhausen, the Rhine Falls (Rheinfall) is the largest and most powerful waterfall in Europe, impressive not so much for its height of 75ft (23m), but more for the mighty volume of water thundering over its broad breadth. This magnificent natural wonder is especially remarkable during late spring when the snowmelt adds to its volume. On the hill above the falls is a medieval castle, Schloss Laufen, housing a restaurant, shops and a youth hostel. Rainbow-coloured mists rising from the forest and encircling the castle create an enchanting atmosphere. In summer one of the highlights of a visit to the falls is a boat trip across the white-water of the cataracts to the Centre Rock, with a short climb up some stairs to the top for an exhilarating view of the rushing water. Breathtaking views can also be enjoyed from three different lookout platforms along a path leading from the castle. The Känzeli Lookout, with a protruding platform at the base of the falls, is the most spectacular. The Rhine Falls is host to the fantastic fireworks display held on Swiss National Day (August 1) that attracts thousands of spectators every year.

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Switzerland is a wonderful country with a lot of eye-catching attractions. The fantasy and attractions of the place has never failed to attract the tourists throughout the entire globe. It is a dreamland destination, where the tourist can witness unparallel sights of attractions like the panoramic mountain peaks that always remains masked under snow throughout the year. Switzerland travel provides a wide range of opportunity to witness the astounding natural treasures of the next paradise on the earth.

Switzerland is a developed country and the living standards of the Swiss people are of high standards. The literacy rate in Switzerland is 100%. The Swiss Alps, lakes, glacier mountain peaks are some of the attracting features of Switzerland. Travel to Switzerland to enjoy hiking in the Swiss Alps. One can find a lot of people crowded in Switzerland at the time when glacier starts to melt. The Schilthorn, Piz Gloria, Jungfraujoch and Zermatt are some of the astounding Swiss Alps that have captured the heart of numerous tourists throughout the entire globe.

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The Pays de Fribourg is somewhat a world turned upside down: cold, limestone summits are found in the south and mild, even Mediterranean-like lakesides in the north. On its small territory, two languages coexist and three very distinct holiday regions overlap: the Pre-Alps, the city of Fribourg and the Three-Lakes Region.

In the Pre-Alps region, tradition and modernity rub shoulders every day. After feeling as if you were living in Heidi's time, you'll suddenly find yourself in Gruyères amid the works of H.R. Giger, the creator of Alien! If you like to hike or bike, the resorts of Schwarzsee, Charmey, Bulle, Moléson and Les Paccots will give you dream-come-true settings. Whatever you do or don't do, do not miss the Castle of Gruyères and the demonstration cheese dairy.

In Fribourg, the canton's capital and economic centre, you'll find a cultural treasure trove that goes back to the Middle Ages. Fribourg is known for its cultural plurality, university and gastronomy. Our heart's delights: the Espace Jean Tinguely - Niki de Saint Phalle in Fribourg and the Swiss Stained Glass Windows Museum in Romont.

via myswitzerland.com

St. Moritz is in the south-east corner of Switzerland, near the Italian border. The famous Badrutt's Palace Hotel occupies a central, but quiet location on 6 acres of private grounds. The hotel enjoys a sunny climate and stunning views of Lake St. Moritz and the Swiss Alps.

Badrutt's Palace, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, opened in 1896 as the first palace hotel in the world as well as a symbol of chic St. Moritz. With unrivaled views over the lake to the Alps, Badrutt's Palace offers uncompromising levels of service in both winter and summer. Enveloped in St. Moritz's legendary "champagne climate" where the sun shines 322 days a year. As the crisp winterscape settles over St. Moritz, Badrutt's Palace reopens for the season, emanating warmth from a dazzling line-up of winter activities, galas, world-class events and festivals.

via luxurytravelmagazine.com

The largest city in Switzerland is Zurich and the main commercial and cultural centre. Several surveys in 2006 and 2007, Zurich was named the city with the best quality of life in the world and it is the banking capital.

In Zurich, a total of around 2,000 restaurants and bars pamper guests palates with culinary delicacies from all over the world and between the spring and fall these are supplemented by some 480 open air restaurants. Since planning laws were changed in the late 1990s hundreds of new bars, restaurants and clubs have opened.

Zurich now hosts Europes largest annual street party. The Street Parade proceeding along the side of Lake Zurich, it normally occurs on the second Saturday in August

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The former fishing village of Ascona is situated beside a charming, sunny bay on Lake Maggiore, and, with its Old Town and lakeside promenade, is a popular yet exclusive holiday destination, with some of the most famous hotels in Switzerland. While Lake Maggiore offers a wide range of water sports, the unspoilt valleys in the hinterland are ideal for excursions and walks.

Ascona is on the north-west shore of Lake Maggiore, on the large delta created by the River Maggia. At an altitude of just 196 m, Ascona is the lowest town in Switzerland.

The old town centre, called Borgo, huddles round the church of San Pietro e Paolo, a columned basilica dating from the 16th century, whose high bell-tower or campanile is the symbol of Ascona. The dense network of alleyways, with shops of all kinds, leads directly down to the Piazza by the lakeside promenade, from where there is a beautiful view of Lake Maggiore.

via myswitzerland.com

Situated at around 1000 metres in altitude, half-way between the classy resort of Gstaad in the Bernese Oberland and the small town of Gruyères in the canton of Fribourg, lie the two places of Château-d'Oex and Rougemont. The holiday region of Pays-d'Enhaut in the canton of Vaud is linked to the Lake Geneva region by the Col des Mosses and by the Montreux – Bernese Oberland Railway. Thanks to its favourable micro-climate, Château-d'Oex has developed into a hot-air ballooning metropolis. Passenger flights are available throughout the year and an international competition in hot-air ballooning is held every January.

But the older traditions too have been retained: accordingly, the much-loved Alpine cheese of Etivaz is still made over an open wood fire. In Rougemont, many chalets dating back a hundred years bear testimony to the folk art of the region.

via myswitzerland.com

This beautiful pilgrimage church Madonna del Sasso with its Capuchin monastery is towering high above Locarno. The old town enjoys the most glorious of locations, on a broad sweeping curve of a bay in the lake, and also clocks up the most sunshine hours of anywhere in Switzerland.

The monastery has a spectacular view of the town beneath it was built to honour the Virgin Mary, who was said to have appeared in a vision in 1480 and was completed by 17th century. The monastery’s museum hosts a remarkable collection of sacred art. The twenty-minute walk up through the lush ravine of the Torrente Ramogno is a romance in itself.

via europeeuphoria.com

Adelboden is an attractive and not over-populated resort at the southern end of Kanton Bern. It’s linked with Frütigen and is an attractive place for a family ski holiday. In response to requests for more than just skiing, they’ve opened up 35km of snowshoe trails.

The sport is beginning to attract more and more people, maybe in response to the number of skiers, and the increasing speeds being seen on the slopes.

via theswitzerlandtraveler.com

The Tinguely Fountain in Basel, Switzerland, is one of my favorite fountains in the world. There’s so much going on that I could watch it for hours...

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