Swiss Stories

lerichti

Inside @lerichti's Instagram

Society
Today, we turn our attention to @lerichti. His account is not devoted to images of Swiss mountains but to Switzerland's architecture.
Silvesterchläuse

Urnäsch’s magical ‘double New Year’s Eve’

Society
The Silvesterchläuse of the village of Urnäsch in the Swiss canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden celebrate the New Year twice. It is an old tradition going strong again.
1

Swiss industrial designer Guberan

Society
Christophe Guberan, a Swiss industrial designer based in Lausanne, is currently teaching product design at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

by Cécile Vulliemin

Cheese

The Swiss cheese with the musical taste

Society
When a Swiss person travels abroad, the odds of cheese being mentioned in the first five minutes of a conversation are almost as high as talking about chocolate or the mountains. While Swiss cheesemaking remains true to its roots, there is still plenty of room for innovation and creativity, with new varieties being introduced regularly and production methods constantly being updated. As if to prove this, the latest surprising – yet entirely serious – initiative is the use of music during the ripening process.
Julien Gremaud

by Julien Gremaud

Andri Ragettli

Andri Ragettli: working out under lockdown

Society
Andri Ragettli, the Swiss freestyle skiing phenomenon, is almost more famous for his crazy parkour workout videos than for his World Cup wins. Now he has devised a 'stay at home' parkour workout for people under lockdown.
Ajla Del Ponte, Sarah Atcho, Mujinga Kanbundji et Salomé Kora

Swiss sprinters: the women's dream team

Society
Fourth at the last World Championships in Doha in 2019, the Swiss women in the 4 x 100 metres relay will be aiming for a medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games. They represent Switzerland and have roots in Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Congo and Bosnia, which is also their strength.

by Bertrand Monnard

Swiss Federal Palace

Dear State Secretary…

Society
To lighten the workload of the members of the Federal Council and relieve them of certain administrative and representational duties, the Government Administration and Organisation Act of 1978, as amended, created the post of titular state secretary. The title of state secretary, which was initially conferred on only two high-ranking diplomats responsible for 'relations with foreign countries', took on increasing importance over the years as additional state secretariats were created. State secretaries are now officially recognised as the highest-ranking civil servants in the country. They support the Federal Council in negotiating international treaties, managing key dossiers and representing Switzerland to the outside world in the thematic areas that fall within their remit. Switzerland currently has five state secretariats , which until 2011 were exclusively headed by men.