Culture of Switzerland Culture of Switzerland Switzerland lies at the crossroads of several major European cultures. Three of the continent's major languages, German, French and Italian, are national languages of Switzerland, along with Romansh, spoken by a small minority. Therefore, Swiss culture is characterized by diversity, which is reflected in a wide range of traditional customs. The 26 cantons also account for the large cultural diversity. Not withstanding the regional disparities, the Alps have played an essential role in shaping the history and culture of Switzerland. The region of the Gotthard Pass became the nucleus of the Swiss Confederacy in the early 14th
Cantons of France several smaller "communes". In the latter case, administrative services, the "gendarmerie" headquarters for example, are often situated in the principal town ("chef-lieu") of the "canton", although there are exceptions, such as "cantons" and , which have in common a "chief-town" which does not belong to either "canton". For statistical (INSEE) purposes, the twenty arrondissements of Paris – the administrative subdivisions of that city – are sometimes considered "cantons", but they serve no greater electoral function. "Cantons" also form legal districts, as seats of "Tribunaux d'instance" or "Courts of First Instance" (also, ""TI""...). Historically, the "cantons" are called "justices de paix"