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Swiss oddities
Cervelat, the ‘Swiss national sausage’
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Apr 11, 2026
Inexpensive and versatile, the cervelat has established itself in all Swiss regions and all social strata.
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Swiss oddities
Switzerland, a paradise for dinosaur hunters. Or is it?
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Mar 21, 2026
Switzerland is a special place for ichnologists, students of fossilised remains of animals.
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Swiss oddities
Funeral cards, a genealogical treasure trove
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Feb 28, 2026
A once widespread tradition in Switzerland is dying out. Today these images are of particular interest to genealogists.
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Swiss oddities
The Geneva cardoon: a vegetable with spine
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Dec 27, 2025
The thistle-like relative of the globe artichoke is an intrinsic part of festive season in Geneva.
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Swiss oddities
When the ancient Swiss wanted to be beside the seaside
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Dec 20, 2025
A museum is looking at the mass migration of Helvetii to the Atlantic coast 2,000 years ago.
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Swiss oddities
Is the smallest town in Europe really in Switzerland?
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Nov 22, 2025
Several towns claim to be the smallest in Europe. Rue in canton Fribourg is a serious contender.
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Swiss oddities
Five surprising facts about Swiss number plates
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Nov 1, 2025
The number plates on our vehicles hold many surprises for the discerning eye – especially in Switzerland.
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Swiss oddities
The Swiss and their gold Vrenelis, an enduring love affair
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Aug 30, 2025
The minting of a new coin generated enormous interest but turned into an online fiasco.
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Swiss oddities
Mennonite movement turns 500 in Zurich, where it all began
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Jun 28, 2025
On its 500th anniversary, the worldwide Mennonite movement remembers its Swiss roots.
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Swiss oddities
The difficult search for real Swiss cows
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Jun 7, 2025
Swiss cow breeds have conquered the world but are struggling to survive in their homeland.
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Swiss oddities
Why the Swiss still like to have cash in hand
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May 3, 2025
Cash is losing out to plastic or digital cash in Switzerland, but it’s unlikely that coins and notes will become obsolete.
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Swiss Abroad
Former Swiss Papal Guard reflects on Pope Francis’ legacy
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Apr 21, 2025
Didier Grandjean, a seminarian and former Swiss Guard, believes Francis' papacy marked a milestone in the evolution of the Catholic Church.
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Swiss oddities
Gentian, the ‘yellow fairy’ of the Swiss Jura
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Mar 8, 2025
A Jura treasure, gentian is a versatile plant that can heal, intoxicate and even polish.
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Swiss oddities
Weapons or uniforms? The cost-cutting Swiss army has chosen
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Jan 18, 2025
One casualty of the Swiss Armed Forces' austerity measures is the dapper service uniform.
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Swiss oddities
Switzerland, the promised land of coats of arms
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Dec 14, 2024
Most Swiss families have a coat of arms. This may come as a surprise abroad, where heraldry is often the preserve of nobility.
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Swiss oddities
In search of the ‘authentic’ Swiss musical instrument
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Nov 16, 2024
The alphorn is the most emblematic instrument in Swiss folklore, but not necessarily the most authentic.
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Swiss oddities
Gold-digging: why some Swiss bury their wealth in the garden
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Nov 2, 2024
The Swiss sometimes keep their gold in surprising places.
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Swiss oddities
When a Roman emperor risks falling from his pedestal
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Oct 26, 2024
Almost 85 years after its discovery, the identity of the golden bust from Avenches remains a mystery.
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Swiss oddities
The Ticino palm falls victim to its atypical reproduction
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Sep 28, 2024
It has given southern Switzerland a tropical feel but the authorities have banned its sale.
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Swiss Abroad
After 100 years, the Swiss Abroad Congress remains politically significant
This content was published on
Jul 10, 2024
While the Congress has evolved over the years, its core mission remains the same: to unite the Swiss Abroad and raise awareness of their specific needs.
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