No visit to Zurich is complete without a boat trip around Lake Zurich - or the Zurichsee as it is known over here - and, yesterday, there was a steady stream of Middlesbrough fans queuing at the numerous jetties dotted around the shore.

The Zurichsee formed after the Linth glacier melted more than 10,000 years ago and forms a wide funnel that stretches into the heart of the city.

The lake's basin was first populated in around 4,000BC by prehistoric settlers who assembled basic shelters on piles of elevated rocks, and it has helped to provide water for the people of Switzerland ever since.

The breathtaking beauty of the lake provides a stunning backdrop to one of Europe's prettiest cities and undoubtedly one of the continent's cleanest.

Barely a leaf seems out of place along Zurich's wide central avenues and the city's two rivers - the Limmat and the Sihl - boast crystal clear waters and carefully-tended banks.

It was no surprise to learn, therefore, that a recent survey claimed that Zurich's residents have a higher quality of life than those of any other European city.

They must also be the continent's most talented linguists, as even primary school children are able to speak five different languages.

Switzerland has four official languages - French, German, Italian and Romansch - and, while Zurich is overwhelmingly German in its orientation, all four are evident on the city's streets. Children are also taught English from a young age.

Zurich has two football clubs in the Swiss top-flight - Grasshoppers and FC Zurich - but the sport is by no means the biggest in the city.

As well as boasting a massive winter sports section, Zurich's biggest sports shop also has large displays dedicated to athletics and tennis.

Zurich's Golden League athletics meeting is one of the most prestigious in the world, while the city's biggest tennis tournament is currently coming to a climax.

The Zurich Open finishes on Sunday and, yesterday, the exploits of Swiss star Patty Schnyder were given far more exposure than the visit of Middlesbrough.

Current world number one Roger Federer is the country's biggest sporting star, with the recently-retired Martina Hingis still running him close.

Grasshoppers' Hardturm Stadium resembles an English lower-league ground from the early 1980s, with the kind of wooden stands that were phased out from our game following the Valley Parade fire in 1985.

Improvements had been planned for last year, but were shelved when Switzerland and Austria were awarded the next European Championships. Instead, the ground is now due to be demolished, with a brand new stadium being built in time for the big kick-off in 2008.