What animals live in Switzerland?

Switzerland has some remarkable wildlife living in its forests and mountains! The Alps are home to the ibex, a sturdy wild goat with long curved horns that can leap across rocky cliffs like it's nothing. Marmots — chunky, burrowing animals related to squirrels — whistle loudly to warn each other when a golden eagle circles overhead. In the forests you might spot red foxes, roe deer, and even the European lynx, a spotted wild cat that was once gone from Switzerland but slowly returned. The rivers and lakes hold brown trout and a fish called the Arctic char. Switzerland is a small country, but it packs in a wide variety of creatures thanks to its valleys, forests, and high mountain peaks.

What do kids eat in Switzerland?

Swiss kids eat some really satisfying food! Rösti is a big favorite — it's a crispy pan-fried potato cake that's golden on the outside and soft inside. Cheese is everywhere too, because Switzerland is famous for it. Melted cheese dishes like fondue, where you dip bread into a pot of warm cheese, are a special treat. For something sweet, Swiss kids enjoy chocolate almost every day — Switzerland makes some of the finest chocolate in the world, and even the grocery store chocolate is top quality. Another common meal is called Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, which is thin-sliced veal in a creamy mushroom sauce served over rösti or pasta. Bread, cold cuts, and hot cereal called Birchermüesli — a mix of oats, fruit, and yogurt — also show up on the breakfast table regularly.

How do people say hello in Switzerland?

Switzerland is one of the few countries in the world with four official languages! So the way people say hello depends on where you are. In the German-speaking parts, you'd hear 'Grüezi' (say it like GROO-et-see). In the French-speaking west, it's 'Bonjour.' In the Italian-speaking south, people say 'Ciao' or 'Buongiorno.' There is even a fourth language called Romansh, spoken by a small group of people in the mountain valleys, where you might hear 'Allegra' as a greeting. Herman and Rusty think it is quite something that a country smaller than the state of West Virginia has so many languages living side by side. It is a good reminder that God made people in all kinds of varieties — and the gospel of Jesus is good news for every single one of those language groups.

What sports or games do kids play in Switzerland?

Swiss kids love being outside, and the mountains make that pretty easy! Skiing and sledding are huge in winter — some kids ride their sleds down actual mountain paths to get to school. In warmer months, hiking and football (what we call soccer) are everywhere. Switzerland also has some sports that are uniquely Swiss. Hornussen is an old game where players hit a puck called a 'hornuss' into the air with a long whip-like stick, and the other team tries to knock it down with wooden paddles — picture a wild mix of baseball and lacrosse. Another one is Schwingen, a form of wrestling where two competitors grab each other's canvas shorts and try to pin the other to the ground. These games have been played in Swiss villages for hundreds of years and are still a big deal at local festivals.

What's the weather like in Switzerland?

Switzerland has some of the most varied weather you can find in one small country! In the Alps — those towering, snow-capped mountains — it stays cold and snowy much of the year. But down in the valleys and near the lakes, summers can be warm and pleasant, and winters are milder. The mountains actually split the country into different weather zones. The south gets more sunshine and feels almost Mediterranean, while the north can be grey and foggy in winter under what locals call the 'Hochnebel' — a thick blanket of low clouds. Explorers like us would say Switzerland packs the weather of many countries into one tidy place!

Tell me a fun fact about Switzerland.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Switzerland has four official languages — German, French, Italian, and Romansh. That means people in different valleys of the same small country might greet each other in completely different languages! Rusty loves this part: Switzerland is known for making some of the world's most famous cheese, like Emmental — that's the one with the big holes in it. Cheesemakers in the Swiss Alps have been perfecting their recipes for hundreds of years, and the milk comes from cows grazing on high mountain meadows. It's a good reminder that God fills His world with all kinds of good gifts, even cheesy ones!

What is school like for kids in Switzerland?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Switzerland start school around age four or five, and they usually walk or ride bikes to school — even in small mountain villages. Switzerland has four national languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh, so depending on where a child lives, their whole school day happens in a completely different language. Swiss students tend to stay in school until their mid-teens, and then many go into apprenticeships where they learn a trade like carpentry, baking, or watchmaking right on the job — Switzerland is famous for its precision watches! One thing to keep in mind as you explore Switzerland on this atlas: even in a country with great schools and plenty of Bibles, many Swiss people have drifted away from trusting Jesus personally. That's a good reason to pray that Swiss kids and families would come to know Him — not just know about Him.

Who are the unreached people in Switzerland?

Switzerland is a wealthy country in the middle of Europe, known for its mountains and chocolate — but many people there still haven't truly heard the good news about Jesus. The biggest unreached groups are Muslim immigrants, especially people from Turkey, Kosovo, Bosnia, and North Africa. They may have lived near churches their whole lives without anyone ever telling them that Jesus is the only one who can forgive sins and bring them to God. There are also many Swiss people whose families were Christian long ago, but who now think church is just an old tradition with nothing real in it. They have Bibles on their shelves but have never personally trusted Jesus as their Savior. Missionaries and local Swiss Christians are working hard to reach both groups — sharing the gospel in city neighborhoods, in language classes for immigrants, and in everyday conversations. We can pray that God opens hearts in Switzerland to hear and believe the truth about Jesus.

How can I pray for the people of Switzerland?

Great question — and Switzerland needs prayer more than many people realize! Switzerland is a wealthy country in the heart of Europe, full of churches and cathedrals, but many Swiss people are not sure who Jesus really is or why He matters. Pray that God opens their hearts to truly know Him, not just know about Him. You can also pray for the local churches in Switzerland to grow strong and bold in sharing the gospel with their neighbors. Pray for missionaries there who work hard to reach people who feel like they already have everything they need — because the one thing everyone truly needs is Jesus. And pray for Swiss Christian leaders who are raising up the next generation to follow Him faithfully.

What is a holiday or celebration in Switzerland?

One of the most beloved celebrations in Switzerland is National Day, held every August 1st. It marks the founding of the Swiss Confederation back in 1291, when three mountain communities made a pact to stand together. Swiss families gather for bonfires on the hillsides, fireworks over the lakes, and the ringing of cowbells across the valleys — it is quite a sight! Switzerland is also known for its Christmas markets, especially in cities like Zurich and Basel. Many Swiss families come from Protestant and Catholic backgrounds, so the Christmas season holds real meaning — celebrating the birth of Jesus. Wooden stalls fill the town squares with lights, warm drinks, and handmade crafts, and carols echo off the old stone buildings. It is a good reminder that the good news of Jesus arriving on earth is worth celebrating!

What language do people speak in Switzerland?

Switzerland is one of the few countries in the world with four official languages! Most people speak German, but you will also find French speakers in the west, Italian speakers in the south, and a small, ancient language called Romansh tucked into the mountain valleys. Romansh is especially interesting — it is descended from the Latin that Roman soldiers brought to those Alpine valleys over two thousand years ago, and only about 60,000 people still speak it today. Because Switzerland has so many languages, Bible translators have worked hard to make sure God's Word is available in all of them, including Romansh. Every language group deserves to hear about Jesus in the words of their own heart.

What's a famous place to visit in Switzerland?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! One of the most famous places in Switzerland is the Matterhorn — a towering, pyramid-shaped mountain that rises nearly 14,700 feet into the sky near the town of Zermatt. It looks almost too perfect to be real, like a mountain drawn in a picture book. Rusty loves this part: Switzerland is also known for its beautiful lake cities like Lucerne, where you can see old wooden bridges reflected in crystal-clear water, and the snow-capped Alps stretching out behind the rooftops. People travel from all over the world to see these places — and it's a good reminder that the God who made every mountain and lake is worth knowing far more than any of them.

Switzerland — Kids Missions Explorer

Alpine Ibex

This sure-footed wild goat climbs nearly vertical rock faces in the Alps, gripping ledges that look impossible to stand on.

European Brown Bear

Though rare in Switzerland today, the brown bear has long been a national symbol — the capital city Bern is even named after it.

Bearded Vulture

This massive mountain bird drops bones from great heights onto rocks below to crack them open and eat the marrow inside.

Raclette

A wheel of cheese is melted by heat and scraped right onto boiled potatoes, pickles, and onions for a hearty mountain meal.

Rösti

This golden, pan-fried potato cake is a beloved everyday dish, especially in the German-speaking part of the country.

Swiss Chocolate

Swiss chocolate is known worldwide for its smooth, creamy texture, and Swiss makers perfected the milk chocolate recipe in the 1870s.

Switzerland

Things you should know about Switzerland

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in Switzerland

Missions in Switzerland

Pray for Switzerland