Suisse Romande
The Suisse romande (lit.:"Romance Switzerland") is a local name for the French-speaking districts of western Switzerland. The name Romandie (Romandy) is also used. (Note that in French the word "romande" is an adjective and is not capitalised.) The term "Suisse romand" is used to refer to Swiss French, the variety of French spoken in Switzerland. There are about 1.6 million French-speakers in Switzerland, about 20% of the total population.
The word "romand/romande" indicates the Latin or Roman origin of the French language and the general orientation of the region to the French-speaking cultural sphere, to Roman Law and to some extent the Roman Catholic Church (although Geneva and Neuchâtel have a strong Protestant tradition). It is used in contrast to "Suisse alémanique" (German Switzerland) and "Suisse italienne" (Italian Switzerland).
The Suisse romande is not a precisely defined area, but in general includes the Cantons of Fribourg, Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, western Valais, Vaud and the northern part of Berne (known as the Jura Bienne or the Bernese Jura). The city of Geneva constitutes the largest urban area of the region.
German-speaking Swiss refer to the Suisse romande as Welschland and to the French-speaking Swiss as Welsches. This word, related to Walloon and Welsh, refers in German to a foreigner of Celtic or more precisely Gallic origin.
The cultural identity of the Suisse romande is supported by Télévision Suisse Romande, Radio Suisse Romande and the Universities of Geneva (founded by Jean Calvin), Fribourg and Lausanne.
The expression "Suisse romande" or "Romandie" is best-known in the English-speaking world through institutions such as the Geneva-based Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and the annual stage race Tour de Romandie.
