Switzerland is a federal republic divided into 26 territories known as cantons (counties). A Swiss canton is the equivalent of a state in the United States or a county in the United Kingdom. The canton is given a large amount of power in politics and administration. Your canton is usually the first port of call for expats after your local council (Gemeinde). Here is a guide to the cantons of Switzerland.
History of Swiss cantons
The reason why cantons have such a large amount of power in Switzerland is because of how the Swiss Confederation was first established. The Old Swiss Confederacy, the precursor to modern Switzerland, was a collection of cantons that fought together to deter common enemies. The first cantons, or Waldstätten, of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden banded together in 1291 in order to establish their independence, a moment that is now celebrated on Swiss National Day.
As more cantons joined, their rights as independent territories remained. Despite being part of Switzerland, the cantons were free to make their own alliances, conquests, and policies when it came to taxation. One of the most famous examples of how much power the cantons had was during the Italian Wars of 1515, where each canton's forces could vote on whether they wished to continue fighting or leave.
Federalisation
After the adoption of a new constitution following the Sonderbund War of 1848, Switzerland began to centralise and take power away from the cantons. Although much of the power of the cantons has been given to the Swiss government, its legacy has meant that a large number of functions remain. It is still common for Swiss people to identify themselves by their cantons when within Switzerland.
Each canton has its own flag and its own two-letter code, which is used in many different contexts, most visibly on the number plates of vehicles that are registered within that canton.
The different cantons not only have their own histories, but also their own unique traditions, cultures and politics. This variation is evident in language differences: most Swiss cantons have one official language, but three cantons have two official languages, and one has three. Below is an overview of the 26 different cantons, with some information about their location, capital cities, letter codes, and the languages spoken.
Canton Zurich
The most populous canton for locals and expats, Canton Zurich is a prime destination for newcomers to Switzerland. Through a complex history of Romans, rectors, reformation, and republic, the canton has now become a hub for business and banking. The canton has many of the largest cities in Switzerland within its borders, including its capital city of Zurich. Its canton code is "ZH" and its official language is German.
Canton Bern
One of the cantons that has had the most varied history is Canton Bern. Bern has been at the centre of Swiss culture since its admission to the old Swiss confederacy, and since then it has conquered, ruled, and assimilated its neighbours, forming the modern canton we see today. Alongside a fascinating history, the canton is also home to some astounding Swiss lakes and historical sites. The capital of Canton Bern is the city of Bern, its canton code is "BE" and its official languages are German and French.
Canton Lucerne
Located in central Switzerland on the northern foothill of the Swiss Alps, Canton Lucerne is based around its capital city, also called Lucerne. Its canton code is "LU" and its official language is German.
Canton Uri
Also located in central Switzerland, Canton Uri was one of the founding members of the Swiss Confederation. Its territory covers the valley of the Reuss between the St. Gotthard Pass and Lake Lucerne. Its capital city is Altdorf, its official language is German and its canton code is "UR".
Canton Schwyz
Canton Shwyz is located in central Switzerland between the Alps, Lake Lucerne and Lake Zurich, and is centred on its capital, Schwyz - which is also where Switzerland as a country gets its name. Its canton code is "SZ" and its official language is German.
Canton Obwalden
Also known as Obwald, Canton Obwalden is in the exact centre of Switzerland (it straddles the country's geographical centre), and is one of the smallest Swiss cantons. Together with Canton Nidwalden, it previously made up the historic canton of Unterwalden. Its capital city is Sarnen, its canton code is "OW" and its official language is German.
Canton Nidwalden
Canton Nidwalden is located in the Swiss Alps, south of Lake Lucerne, and is another of the country's smallest cantons, with its capital in Stans. Its canton code is "NW" and its official language is German.
Canton Glarus
Canton Glarus is another German-speaking canton in mountainous central Switzerland. Its capital city is also called Glarus and its canton code is "GL".
Canton Zug
One of the smallest Swiss cantons in terms of area, and famous for its low tax rates and business-friendly climate, Canton Zug is located in central Switzerland. Its capital city is also called Zug, and its canton code is "ZG". The official language in Zug is German.
Canton Fribourg
Also known as Freiburg, Canton Fribourg is a bilingal (German and French) canton located in western Switzerland. Its capital city is Fribourg and its canton code is "FR". More than two-thirds of its citizens speak French.
Canton Solothurn
Canton Solothurn (also known as the canton of Soleure) is a northwestern canton with the city of Solothurn as its capital. Its official language is German and its canton code is "SO".
Canton Basel-Stadt
Composed of three municipalities with Basel as its capital, Canton Basel-Stadt (Basel-City) is the smallest canton of Switzerland by area, but one of the most densely-populated. It borders Germany and France to the north and is one of Switzerland's major economic centres. Its canton code is "BS" and its official language is German.
Canton Basel-Landschaft
Basel-Landschaft (Basel-Country) is the rural counterpart to Basel-Stadt and one of the northernmost cantons of Switzerland, also bordering Germany and France to the north. Its official language is German and its canton code is "BL".
Canton Schaffhausen
Another canton that takes its name from its capital city, Canton Schaffhausen is Switzerland's northernmost canton and surrounds the German exclave city of Büsingen am Hochrhein. Its canton code is "SH" and its official language is German.
Canton Appenzell-Aussherrhoden
Located in northeastern Switzerland, Appenzell Ausserrhoden is an enclave within the canton of St. Gallen and is situated in the foothills of the Swiss Alps. The name "Appenzell" refers to the Abbey of St. Gall, which was once one of the area's most important locations. Its official language is German and its canton code is "AR".
Canton Appenzell-Innerrhoden
The other "half" of Appenzell Ausserrhoden is Canton Appenzell Innerrhoden, the smallest canton of Switzerland by population and the second-smallest by area. It is also enclaved within Canton St. Gallen. Its official language is German and its canton code is "AI".
Canton St. Gallen
Named after its capital city St. Gallen, Canton St. Gallen or St. Gall is a northeastern canton bordered by Lake Constance, Austria and Liechtenstein. It completely surrounds the cantons of Appenzell-Aussherrhoden and Appenzell-Innerrhoden. Its official language is German and its canton code is "SG".
Canton Graubünden
Canton Graubünden, also known as Grisons, is the largest canton of Switzerland and has its capital in Chur. It has some of the most diverse geography of any Swiss canton, taking in both sides of the Alps and bordering Austria, Italy and Liechtenstein. It is also the only trilingual canton, with German, Romansh and Italian as its official languages. Its canton code is "GR".
Canton Aargau
Canton Aargau - and its capital city, Aarau - takes its name from the River Aare, and is one of the most densely populated regions of Switzerland. Its official language is German and its canton code is "AG".
Canton Thurgau
Also named after its local major river (the Thur), Canton Thurgau is located in eastern Switzerland and has its capital city in Freunfeld. Its canton code is "TG" and its official language is German.
Canton Ticino
With the prettily-named Bellinzona as its capital, Canton Ticino is the only Swiss canton where Italian is the one official language. It covers the majority of Italian-speaking Switzerland and incidentally has one of the highest life expectancies in Europe. Located in the south of the country, its largest city is Lugano and it also contains Lake Maggiore. Its canton code is "TI".
Canton Vaud
The largest French-speaking canton in the country, Canton Vaud is a new canton with new ideas. After gaining its independence from Bern in 1803, the canton has become a haven for art and music, attracting famous faces from around the world to its many picturesque cities. Now a popular destination for expats, the canton has cemented itself as a good place for business and leisure. Its capital city is Lausanne, its official language is French and its canton code is "VD".
Canton Valais
Canton Valais is one of the largest cantons in Switzerland and is situated in the southwestern part of the country. It borders Italy to the south and France to the west. It has French and German as its official languages and its capital is Sion. Its canton code is "VS".
Canton Neuchâtel
The French-speaking canton of Neuchâtel is located in western Switzerland, within the Jura mountain range. It was one of the first cantons in Switzerland to grant women the right to vote, and was also one of the first to extend voting rights to foreigners with residence permits. Its canton code is "NE" and its capital city is also called Neuchâtel.
Canton Geneva
The westernmost canton of Switzerland, Canton Geneva, is one of the country's most densely-populated and contains the city of Geneva. The canton's official language is French and its canton code is "GE".
Canton Jura
Last, but not least, Canton Jura is located in northwestern Switzerland and borders France. It gives its name to the Jura mountains and its capital is Delémont. Its canton code is "JU" and its official language is French.