Swiss Stories

Alphorn Milano

8 surprising Swiss records

Society
The next time someone asks you what Switzerland could possibly be good at, show off with one of these Swiss world records!
Dimitri Burkhard

by Dimitri Burkhard

Velo Stromer © Stromer

Swiss pioneering spirit on two wheels

Society
The bicycle is the most practical means of day-to-day transport and is constantly being reinvented: as a piece of sports equipment, as an accessory or even as a vehicle with electrical assistance. Swiss manufacturers have played a key role in the history of the modern bicycle: let’s take a look at their contributions.
Football field

Four Swiss coaches dazzling the world of football

Society
Three Bundesliga teams have Swiss coaches – Lucien Favre, Urs Fischer and Martin Schmidt – while Bernard Challandes is currently the manager of Kosovo, one of the standout teams during this year's Euro 2020 qualifiers. The Swiss touch is winning over football fans!

by Bertrand Monnard

René Burri © Sandro Canperdo

Great figures in Swiss photography

Society
The works of Swiss photographers have a story to tell. They are recognisable the world over and some have even become classics of their genres.
Julien Gremaud

by Julien Gremaud

FREITAG © FREITAG/fluxif.com

Freitag: recycling with style

Economics
In the mid-1990s, two brothers from Zurich reinvented the bag, using recycled tarpaulins from lorries. Some 27 years and a string of innovative products later, FREITAG stores have sprung up in Berlin, Tokyo and many other cities, employing over 250 staff and drawing enthusiasts from around the world. What is FREITAG's recipe for success? Good ideas that capture the spirit of the age are naturally part of the equation, as is a holistic approach. The result is Swiss, environmentally friendly and uniquely recognisable around the world. An interview with Daniel Freitag at his office in Oerlikon.
In September 2018, GreenGT unveiled its fourth sports car, H2 Speed, developed in collaboration with Pininfarina. This makes it a racing car, but one that will complete the circuit with a hydrogen-powered engine instead © GreenGT

The future of Swiss transport is hydrogen-powered

Environment
Imagine a vehicle that emits only water vapour. Such technology has now become possible thanks to hydrogen. For over ten years, Switzerland has been an open-air laboratory for this promising renewable energy source. Several major projects led by ETH Zurich and EPFL, distribution companies and start-ups are now reaching maturity and are placing the country at the forefront of a green revolution.
Patrizia Danzi

A woman who observes, listens and forges ahead

Society
Portrait of Patricia Danzi, head of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. When Swiss women won the right to vote at federal level in February 1971, Danzi was just two years old. "I was too young to realise what was going on, but my grandmother gained something tangible that day. It was like being liberated – finally, her voice counted. "