Swiss Stories

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

train in Swiss countryside

A history of the Swiss railway

History
Travelling over 2,000 kilometres per capita per year, the Swiss are among the world's keenest train travellers. With around 5,300 kilometres of railway lines, Switzerland has one of the most extensive railway networks in Europe. But why does this small, landlocked country have the world's densest transport network? What drove the Swiss to build railway lines at such altitudes – sometimes over 3,000 metres? Let's go back in time to find out!

by Swiss Travel System AG

Photo

Drug checking – the Swiss response to the risks of drug use

Society
People have a fundamental responsibility for their own lifestyle and behaviour. The Swiss National Strategy on Addiction is based on this principle. So is the innovative Swiss approach known as 'drug checking'. Its aim is to promote health literacy among drug users by providing them with information on the composition of the drug(s) they take and increasing their awareness of the risks and consequences of their consumption of illegal substances. Although not all drug use can be prevented and many people choose to consume drugs despite the risks, Swiss drug-checking services strive to minimise risks and prevent harmful consequences such as overdosing.

by Infodrog - Swiss Office for the Coordination of Addiction Facilities

woman running

Endurance sports: Swiss women at the top

Society
Swiss women are at the top of their disciplines in triathlon, ski mountaineering, trail running, orienteering and mountain biking, but they're hardly household names. So what keeps them going – and winning – these toughest of athletes?
Sofia de Meyer

Reaping the fruits of success

Society
Swapping her business suit for an apron, Sofia de Meyer abandoned her career at a corporate law firm in London and founded an eco-responsible juice company in Switzerland. This is the remarkable story of a Swiss woman who has made a success of more than one business idea.
Olympic torch, Glacier 3000

Lausanne 2020

Society
After St Moritz back in 1928 and 1948, Switzerland is now set to host an Olympic event for the third time. The sixth Youth Olympic Games (YOG) will get under way shortly in Lausanne. Former IOC President Jacques Rogge is the inspiration behind the youth event which was launched in 2008. The YOG, which take place this year from 9–22 January, bring together the world's best athletes in the 15–18 age group to compete in 8 sports, 16 disciplines and 81 medal events.
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