The House of Switzerland opens its doors in Paris
On Thursday 9 June, the House of Switzerland - Paris 2016 will be officially opened for Euro 2016 at the Wanderlust, an open-air cultural centre in the heart of Paris. This venue will allow Switzerland to cultivate its close bilateral relations with France and serve to promote not just Swiss sport but also the Swiss economy and the country's artists, writers and film-makers.
On 22 May 2015, the Federal Council charged Presence Switzerland, a unit of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), with the task of promoting Switzerland during the country's participation in the 2016 UEFA European Championship in France.
A contemporary and creative Switzerland will be on display at the Wanderlust, a cultural venue in the heart of Paris. Situated on the banks of the Seine, just across from the Gare de Lyon, in the heart of Paris's old docks today devoted to fashion and design, Wanderlust is an open-air culture club. "By setting up the House of Switzerland in the trendiest spot in Paris, Switzerland is seizing the opportunity to play in the big leagues of football and culture. Our artists, just like the players of our national football team, are great at boosting Switzerland's image abroad. We want to invest in this potential," stresses Ambassador Nicolas Bideau, head of Presence Switzerland.
At the centre of the venue, a giant open-air screen will broadcast the matches live. Special events will be held during the matches involving the Swiss national team. Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, the head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport, will travel to Paris on 15 June to attend the Switzerland–Romania match, and will then watch a live screening of the France–Albania match at the House of Switzerland.
Swiss traditions will take centre stage at the House of Switzerland, as will Swiss design, contemporary art, the dramatic arts, music, cinema, literature and food. The Montreux Jazz Festival, the Locarno Film Festival, the Théâtre de Vidy and the Théâtre de l’Arsenic in Lausanne, the Montreux Comedy Club and the contemporary art funds of the City and Canton of Geneva will be responsible for Switzerland's cultural programming during Euro 2016.
Swiss food and cuisine will also be showcased with weekend brunch menus and Swiss street food. The House of Switzerland's restaurant menu has been created for the occasion by Swiss chef Pierre Jancou, who has been based in Paris for 25 years. Thanks to a key partnership with Le Gruyère AOC Switzerland and various Swiss wine producers, Parisians will have the opportunity to sample a selection of excellent Swiss wines and cheeses. Fine watchmaking will also be at the centre of the House of Switzerland through a partnership with Hublot, maker of the official watch of Euro 2016.
Alexander Frei, the former leading scorer of the French Championship and captain of the Swiss national team, will be one of the guests at the opening night of the House of Switzerland on 9 June.
The House of Switzerland has developed, together with Wanderlust, a security operation that meets the French authorities' requirements and standards. The security operation has a budget of CHF 1 million, to be covered by a public-private partnership.
Venue: Wanderlust, 32 quai d’Austerlitz, open daily from 11am. Free admission until the end of the matches.
More info: http://wanderswiss.com/en
