It is not unusual for a country to be shaped in the public gaze by some of its most stereotypical facets. For some, France will always be the Eiffel Tower, a striped T-shirt and a baguette in a bicycle basket. Germany’s image will forever have something to do with beer and sausages. As for Switzerland, the next three words choose themselves. Mountains. Clocks. And, depending on the sweetness of your tooth, cheese or chocolate.
There was a time when the European holiday calendar was set, if not in stone, then certainly within four defined boxes. Spring, summer, autumn, winter. One of these was hot, one was cold – and the other two offered a little of both. Pack your bags accordingly.