Swiss Stories

Laxersee © Adrian Michael

Allegra! A look at Romansh, Switzerland's fourth language

Society
Switzerland's fourth national language remains quite a mystery in the eyes of the outside world…and even in the eyes of many Swiss people. Romansh is spoken almost exclusively in the Canton of Graubünden and rarely reaches the ears of other Swiss people. Yet it is part of the Swiss identity and has status as a national and official language. Today, this cultural heritage is at risk. Its use is declining despite measures aimed at reviving it, since it has to compete with Swiss German.

by Tatiana Tissot

train

Swiss public transport – going places for 175 years

History
175 years ago, the Spanisch-Brötli (Spanish bun) line between Baden and Zurich was the first railway to operate in Switzerland. Today, public transport brings hundreds of thousands of people to work and school every day – even in the most remote valleys and regions of Switzerland. Public transport connects and keeps us moving, and it is helping Switzerland achieve its climate goals.

by Union of Public Transport

earth from space

A Swiss astronaut on the launching pad!

Science & Education
Fulfilling a childhood dream is the stuff of a story worth telling. As a child, Marco Sieber was fascinated by space travel, reading many a book on the subject, and even building a model rocket with his brother. He could never have imagined that one day he might actually have the chance to experience space travel!

by John Durham

Why Switzerland

Why Switzerland has no capital and other questions you have about Switzerland

Science & Education
On one of the recent warm spring evenings, we sat on the balcony and wondered what the world thought about Switzerland. But how should we find out? A flash of inspiration: Google knows everything! Let’s take a look at the most common search queries people have about Switzerland.
neuchâtel festival

Neuchâtel Grape Harvest Festival, a living tradition

Society
The city of Neuchâtel has been hosting the Grape Harvest Festival for more than a century. Over a long weekend in late September, the streets of this small city in French-speaking Switzerland with a population of just over 33,000 are the backdrop for this outdoor party.
Matthias Vauthier

by Matthias Vauthier

Chasselas

Grape varieties – Swiss made

Environment
You may be surprised to hear that Switzerland has more than 200 indigenous grape varieties. For hundreds of years now, many of these have been imported and bred by winegrowers all over the world. Among the most widespread varieties worldwide are Merlot for red wine and Chardonnay for white.
SafeHost

Switzerland to become a secure haven for the world's data

Economics
Quality, stability, neutrality, confidentiality: The country is capitalising on its strengths and investing in the data-driven economy. The ambition is to become a peaceful haven for the storage of confidential physical and digital data for Swiss and international companies.