Swiss Stories

Sofia de Meyer

Reaping the fruits of success

Society
Swapping her business suit for an apron, Sofia de Meyer abandoned her career at a corporate law firm in London and founded an eco-responsible juice company in Switzerland. This is the remarkable story of a Swiss woman who has made a success of more than one business idea.
Konzertsaal Tonhalle Maag, Zürich, Switzerland © Unsplash @gwundrig

Swiss choral singing: a tradition that unites

Society
Singing together is about meeting, communicating, sharing a part of yourself and connecting with like-minded people. The importance of Switzerland's choral singing tradition is reflected in the number of young people making up today's ensembles.
Wow museum room

Four unusual Swiss museums you might not have heard of

Society
With over 1,110 different museums covering everything from art, science, or history, Switzerland’s museum landscape has much to offer. No wonder it has gained a reputation near and far. Yet, when asked about Swiss museum experiences most of us can only think of the usual suspects. With this Swiss Story, we want to take you on a journey to four unusual museums that you might not have heard of yet and that might just tell you something unexpected about Switzerland.
©️ Swiss Armed Forces Digital Media Centre, Nadine Strub

Haute cuisine in camouflage trousers: the Swiss Armed Forces culinary team

Society
The Swiss Armed Forces culinary team is repeatedly voted one of the best in its field, often far outdoing non-military culinary teams in international contests. How can that be? The answer lies in the militia system that has shaped Switzerland for centuries.

by Michael Senn

© ECAL / Jean-Vincent Simonet

Swiss photography: its museums and institutions

Society
The ‘Rencontres d’Arles’, the world’s foremost photographic festival, attract many major artists of this field, in particular within the walls of ‘Nonante-neuf’, a 100% Swiss venue successfully launched at the 2015 event. Before opening the doors of the former SNCF workshops where it is housed, first a few words about this Swiss ecosystem, an exceptional fabric of museums, institutions and top schools.
Julien Gremaud

by Julien Gremaud

absinthe

Absinthe: Swiss local product leaves behind its shady past

Society
Switzerland's Val-de-Travers is the birthplace of absinthe and has strong links to this local product that was banned for many years. An interactive exhibition in Môtiers in the canton of Neuchâtel tells its extraordinary story, while some distillers have set about seeking a PGI. We take a closer look at a spirit with a colourful past.

by Tatiana Tissot

nova friburgo

A Swiss city in the heart of Brazil

Society
In the uplands of Serra Fluminense, 130km from the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, lies a city of 185,000 people. Proud of its Swiss heritage, Nova Friburgo is getting ready to celebrate with great fanfare the 200th anniversary of its foundation. Numerous initiatives on both sides of the Atlantic will strengthen existing ties between Nova Friburgo and Switzerland.