Swiss Stories

Laxersee © Adrian Michael

Allegra! A look at Romansh, Switzerland's fourth language

Society
Switzerland's fourth national language remains quite a mystery in the eyes of the outside world…and even in the eyes of many Swiss people. Romansh is spoken almost exclusively in the Canton of Graubünden and rarely reaches the ears of other Swiss people. Yet it is part of the Swiss identity and has status as a national and official language. Today, this cultural heritage is at risk. Its use is declining despite measures aimed at reviving it, since it has to compete with Swiss German.

by Tatiana Tissot

The Böögg in fire © ZZZ Zentralkomitee der Zünfte Zürichs

Sechseläuten: Zurich’s spring festival

Society
For the last 500 years, the city of Zurich has staged Sechseläuten, a huge festival celebrating the end of winter and the arrival of spring.

by Dimitri Kas

Gallia

The St Bernard: the making of an Alpine legend

History
According to the breed’s official motto, the St Bernard embodies dignity, devotion and sacrifice. So, how did this breed of dog become one of Switzerland’s most iconic ambassadors? A few salient historical facts will shed some light on how the St Bernard became an Alpine legend.

by Dimitri Kas

Winegrower Marie-Thérèse Chappaz in her vineyard © 2013 Dominique Derisbourg

Swiss wine embraces its feminine side

Society
The number of female winegrowers in Switzerland is increasing all the time. Their wines are as reputed as those of their male counterparts and many have won awards. We talked to four Swiss women who have made a career in winemaking, each in a different canton.
Cylinder music box at CIMA © T. Tissot

The captivating delights of Swiss mechanical engineering

Science & Education
Though closely related to watchmaking, Swiss music boxes and automated dolls are still less well known than Switzerland's famous watches. And yet their inner workings are just as complex - sometimes even more so…

by Tatiana Tissot

Cloisonné de Théâtre (detail, 1951) – Aloïse Corbaz – Eternod and Mermod Collection, on loan to LaM (Villeneuve d’Ascq) © P. Bernard

7 Swiss works that have left their mark on art history

History
Switzerland has produced a wealth of artists and designers, making it hard to choose from the abundance of artistic creations on offer. Let’s take a look at our – inevitably subjective – choice of seven Swiss works that have left their mark on the history of art.

by Dimitri Kas

The largest Mondaine clock in Switzerland (nine meters in diameter) is in the Aarau train station The largest Mondaine clock in Switzerland (nine meters in diameter) is in the Aarau train station © SBB

Swiss design: nine objects that have acquired cult status

History
Le Corbusier, Jürg Bally, Kurt Tuth, Christophe Guberan, Nicolas Le Moigne, Adrien Rovero, Atelier Oï and Big-Game are among hundreds of designers who have elevated Swiss design to international significance. Swiss designers past and present express and cultivate a unique identity based on minimalism, quality, functionality and innovation. Here’s a look at nine fascinating and indispensable objects.

by Vanessa Hambaryan