Swiss Stories

zibelemarit

The delicious tradition of Bern’s Onion Market

Society

Bern’s folk traditions

On the fourth Monday in November, Bern awakens to an unusual spectacle.

by Dimitri Kas

François Giovanola

The sound of Switzerland

Society
You may have already heard bells reverberating through Swiss pastures, in the mountains or maybe on a farm. Unless there is a church nearby, the sound of bells in Switzerland signals the presence of animals grazing. Bells, as symbols of traditional folklore, serve as shorthand for Swissness.

by Lea Huszno

Ini Archibong

Ini Archibong

Society
The 35-year-old American has just completed the Ecole cantonale d'art de Lausanne (ECAL) and has already been hired by a famous French luxury goods maker to design a new watch collection. An achievement that is the result of a carefully planned strategy going back several years.
Bircher muesli

Muesli: the world-famous Swiss breakfast classic

History
It is hard to imagine a breakfast table or Sunday brunch in Switzerland without the ubiquitous muesli. But this Swiss speciality is now also a well-established staple on breakfast tables elsewhere around the world. And yet barely anyone knows its origins. So let's take a trip back in time and meet Swiss doctor Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner, who discovered the famous Swiss superfood over 100 years ago.
Federal Palace © Julian Bregnard

Modesty and splendour: the two sides to the Federal Palace

History
Attracting tourists from all over the world, yet largely unknown to the Swiss at home, the Federal Palace stands out from other seats of power. Our journey begins at the very heart of the building, which mirrors the political structure of the country it represents.
Artist's impression of the space telescope © ESA/ATG medialab

Switzerland in space

Science & Education
Switzerland is leading the consortium of 11 European countries participating in the CHEOPS mission. The CHEOPS telescope was launched in 2019 to learn more about the little-known world of exoplanets. This is the first mission Switzerland has led within the European Space Agency (ESA), although it has been a member since the agency's inception. Other missions are in the pipeline – more on that below.
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.