Swiss Stories

swiss medicinal plants

Medicinal plants: working with nature for our health

Environment
Industrialisation has somewhat eclipsed the valuable properties of medicinal plants. Recently, however, these noble plants are being rediscovered in Switzerland and are experiencing a renaissance.

by Lea Huszno

Cabaret Voltaire, Zurich

Emmy Ball-Hennings

Society
She beguiled cabaret audiences as a singer and dancer and pushed the art scene in new directions. But outside the world of theatre, the German artist Emmy Hennings and her partner and eventual husband Hugo Ball lived in exile and grinding poverty. In February 1916 the couple opened the Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich's Niederdorf district – Dada had arrived!
Barbara Piatti

by Barbara Piatti

militaire

Military peace support

Society
Some 250 Swiss nationals are currently engaged in military peace support missions worldwide. With its strong commitment to international conflict management efforts, Switzerland is thus helping to preserve peace and protect local populations. Swiss military personnel are highly valued because of their consensual approach and multilingual skills and their country's neutrality.
Creux du Van, a natural rock arena in the Jura mountains

The Switzerlands of the world

Society
The image of a small landlocked country with a stable economy, growing service sector, and scenic views of roaring rivers, glacier-fed lakes and snow-covered peaks is so associated with Switzerland that it is often used to describe other places.

by Jessica Davis Pluess

© Switzerland Tourism

The mystical and mythical edelweiss

History
The flower has attracted admirers and critics over the years but remains one of the most iconic images of Switzerland, adorning everything from airlines to coins to the logo for the Swiss tourism office.

by Jessica Davis Pluess

Data provided by the pedometer attached to the halter enables the behaviour of cows to be monitored on a tablet. ©Agroscope, Gabriela Brändle

Swiss Agriculture 4.0

Economics
Smart farming: digitalisation is about to revolutionise farming in Switzerland
The Muldry family ‘alpage’ lies above the Rawyl Dam and Zeuzier Lake near Anzère in the canton of Valais

Love of the High Country

Society
It’s the same ritual every year: in June, cows are led up to the mountain pastures, known locally as the ‘alpage’, to spend the summer.