Swiss Stories

Salt

Salt – the raw material from the Swiss Alps

History
Switzerland is famous for its mountains. Its mountain salt mines are less well known. The history of Swiss Saltworks goes back over 450 years. Salt mining played a major role in Switzerland's development and laid the foundation for today's global chemical and pharmaceutical companies and the country's wellness tourism industry. Salt embodies typical Swiss characteristics such as innovation, tradition, reliability and quality. Read on for a brief history of Switzerland's white gold.
Hand hygiene © Julien Gregorio/phovea/HUG

COVID-19: Dr Clean Hands

History
Hydroalcoholic gel is a much sought-after product these days. It was developed by Dr Didier Pittet, infectious disease expert and director of the Infection Control Programme of Geneva University Hospitals (HUG). A pioneer in hospital hygiene, Dr Pittet developed, together with HUG pharmacist William Griffiths, this hydroalcoholic solution which has revolutionised hand disinfection methods in medical settings. Rubbing one's hands with this product is a very simple step that has been adopted worldwide and saves 8 million lives every year.
Solarkiosk © Andreas Spiess, SOLARKIOSK AG / ZHdK

Can Swiss design save the planet?

History
Social design looks beyond the material nature of an object in order to tackle the major economic, environmental and societal challenges of today and tomorrow. The practice is taking off in Switzerland and changing the face of design.
© Paolo De Caro ("Junge Macherinnen", Édition De Caro)

Apps, wine and literature – the young generation of Swiss women creators

Society
They are young, female and are making a name for themselves as the vision behind some innovative new projects and start-ups. More and more young women in Switzerland are breaking out of traditional roles and rejecting the limitations imposed by existing structures to give shape to their ideas.
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.
Slalom

A clear run for Swiss slalom

History
After years on the sidelines, the slalom is finally reclaiming the spotlight in Swiss competitive skiing – thanks largely to the success of two rising stars, Ramon Zenhäusern and Daniel Yule. A profile of two extraordinary champions making their mark both on and off the piste.

by Bertrand Monnard

Sophie Lavaud on the summit of Everest

Conquering the Himalayas

History
Known as the '88,000 lady' among the mountaineering cognoscenti, Sophie Lavaud is the first Swiss woman to have climbed eleven peaks of over 8,000 metres in the Himalayas. Quite a topical achievement, as mountaineering was added to UNESCO's list of Intangible World Heritage in December 2019. Portrait of an astonishing woman at the top of her game.

by Lea Huszno