Swiss Stories

Christmas tree and cookies

Christmas and New Year traditions in Switzerland

Society
December is full of magic, festivities and light – although every now and then something other-worldly can emerge. It is a time of year well known for its particularly abundant end-of-year celebrations, especially Christian traditions such as Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) and Christmas.
Barbara Piatti

by Barbara Piatti

Gottardo pocket knife

A Story of Swiss Precision

Economics
In celebration of the commitment to precision and the achievements that come with it, Victorinox has created the limited edition Gottardo pocket knife. 91 mm long, its blade shows the Gotthard mountain range and marks the tunnel from Erstfeld to Bodio.
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.
Raphaël Domjan

Raphaël Domjan - Between the ocean and space

Environment
Fascinated by adventure and exploration since his childhood, Raphaël Domjan is today an eco-explorer active in protecting the planet, its biodiversity and atmosphere. Through visionary projects and audacious challenges, this Swiss national wants to show that renewable sources of energy are reliable, efficient and economically viable.
Nico Hischier

The American dream of Swiss sports stars

Society
“A flurry of goals in tonight’s NHL”, “a prolific evening for the Swiss”: these headlines from America are so commonplace that we are almost used to them. However, it took decades for Swiss sporting prowess to make its mark on the other side of the Atlantic.
Julien Gremaud

by Julien Gremaud

Eiger Ultra Trail

Switzerland's mountain trails

Society
Thanks to its varied mountainous territory, Switzerland offers an impressive number of mountain trails.
Sebastian, Gert-Jan, Grégoire and David

Swiss neurotechnology

Science & Education
Paraplegics are being given new hope by Swiss researchers who have come up with a technological breakthrough that is helping people who have suffered spinal cord injuries to walk again.

by Lea Huszno