Leysin is an educational and recreational center in Switzerland, offering a wide range of professional, cultural, sporting and recreational attractions.
This Alpine village is conveniently located near the larger Swiss cities of Montreux, Lausanne and Geneva - home to the United Nations, World Trade Organization, International Red Cross, Nestle Corporation and other international organizations.
Rail service, on campus, connects to the main transportation hubs in Europe.
Milan, Venice, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Heidelberg, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Liechtenstein are within a 6 hour train ride.
Leysin is situated near Lake Geneva in the historic Rhone Valley overlooking at the base of the Swiss Alps.
One of the most beautiful alpine resorts in the French-speaking region of Switzerland, the area offers 110 km of ski trails (including summer skiing on the Matterhorn at nearby Zermatt), hiking, mini-golf, swimming, tennis, horseback riding.
Leysin's academic institutions and resorts attract a growing number of Swiss and international students.
A high percentage of the village's 3,000 full-time residents are young adults.
Leysin offers a full complement of services and conveniences, from outdoor cafes and specialty shops to physicians and pharmacies.
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Switzerland is a culturally diverse country, situated between Italy, Austria, Germany, and France. The country has four official languages – German, French, Italian, and Rumantsch. English is becoming a popular second language for most Swiss young people. Most of the 7.4 million inhabitants speak at least two languages, and many speak three or more.
With its unparalleled mix of pristine scenery and rich culture, Switzerland offers visitors a wealth of exciting possibilities, whether it's skiing the Alps, soaking in Zurich's vibrant arts scene, or relaxing in Geneva's unique lakeside setting. Switzerland enjoys a wide range of wildlife and botanical habitats, thanks to the huge difference in altitude, climate and vegetation zones.
The country has traditionally been regarded as peaceful. Its reputation as a centralist and non-confrontational democracy has led to its central role in international politics, as evidenced by the European headquarters of the United Nations and numerous humanitarian organizations. However, Switzerland's history has not always been peaceful. From its origin in the 13th century until the 19th century, the country was characterized by war and conflict between regional factions.
Switzerland's existence as a modern federal state dates back to 1848. The government is made up of seven members who are elected by the Federal Assembly. The members of the government take turns acting as president. Swiss people can influence political affairs through the highly developed system of direct democracy.
Services such as banking, insurance and tourism are vital sectors in the economy. Farming is also important, but production is far below the country's needs. As a result, Switzerland relies on imported goods from other countries. Swiss currency is called Schweizerfranken, or a Swiss Francs for short.
