Switzerland is known as The Land of the Alps, and rightfully so. Bordered by France, Germany, Italy and Austria, Switzerland offers the most breathtaking views of the panoramic Alps. Though small, it is also one of the richest countries in the world, which is why there is no wonder many tourists dream of a Swiss vacation. There are plenty of Switzerland tourist attractions, too, although there are five you should definitely stop to see.

The Chillon Castle is located on the shore of Lake Geneva, the Chillon Castle is one of the most famous castles in Switzerland. Consisting of 100 buildings, it dates back to the 11th century and is the former residence of the Savoy nobility. It also has three courtyards and four great halls which offer magnificent views of the lake beyond. Although there are many beautiful ski resorts in Switzerland, Zermatt stands out as one of the top Switzerland tourist attractions because it is located at the foot of the Matterhorn, the most famous peak of the Swiss Alps. Even if you’re not into skiing, you can still enjoy the view while dining at a gourmet restaurant or shopping around the town.

Geneva Jet D’eau fountain in the heart of one of Switzerland’s major cities is one of the tallest fountains in the world, projecting water up to 140 meters high. Built in 1891, it is also considered one of the symbols of the city of Geneva. While in Geneva, you might want to see other tourist spots, too, particularly the museums. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum is one of the most popular museums in Switzerland, and is definitely worth a visit, along with the Cathedral de St. Pierre and other historical buildings. Although you cannot pitch a tent and spend the night at Swiss National Park, you can certainly appreciate the different views of the Alps as you go hiking, which is why it is one of the Switzerland tourist attractions worth seeing. It is also Switzerland’s only national park, covering almost half the area of the entire country.

Swiss Transport Museum is located in Lucerne, the Swiss Transport Museum is home to an exhibit of locomotives, ships, aircraft, automobile and other modes of transport and communication. It also houses an extensive collection of the works of Hans Erni, a Swiss painter and sculptor. You’re sure to enjoy the Planetarium and the IMAX theatre, too. Indeed, Switzerland has many sights waiting to be discovered. Aside from visiting Switzerland tourist attractions, don’t forget to immerse yourself in the country’s rich culture, too by participating in festivals or simply mingling with the Swiss. You’re sure to have a wonderful time and many golden memories to take home with you.

Tags : National Park, Switzerland, Tourist Attractions

If you haven’t experienced a workout using a Swiss ball, another name for a fitness ball, you don’t know what you’re missing. There’s a reason it has become so popular and it’s not just a fad. The Swiss ball has been used for many years in physical therapy. It’s actually recommended by many physical therapists as a way to help you relieve back pain. The effectiveness of the Swiss ball is due to the fact it’s round. That creates in-stability which in turns causes your body’s core muscles to come into play.

Listen, when you do a crunch on the floor, basically your upper abs muscles are working. When you do it on the Swiss ball, your core muscles; which consist of all the muscles in your abs area, muscles in your back, your pelvic area and hips are working to help keep you on the ball. You just did your crunch but since more muscles were brought into play, you actually increased the value of your exercise. The result is you can actually do fewer repetitions and get more benefit.

That’s just the beginning. There are so many exercises you can do on the Swiss ball that you’ll never get bored. Try some pushups, not only with your feet on the ball and your arms on the floor, but with your feet on the floor and your hands on the ball. Spreading your feet apart gives you more stability and bringing them closer together makes the exercise tougher.
Do a few pushups with your feet close together and your hands on the ball and you won’t believe the effect! Your arms will scream for mercy! You can also do some dumbbell training on the Swiss ball and, once again, since you are bringing those core muscles into play, you get a good body core workout as well. It takes a little while to get used to the ball. You should begin by sitting on it and just getting a feel for it. Roll it back and forth. Side to side. It’s not a bad idea to have someone with you when you first start working out on the ball to help you stay on. And definitely don’t begin using weights of any size until you are comfortable and have been exercising on the ball for some time.

Tags : Exercise, Fitness Ball, Swiss Ball