Out & About in Switzerland: Zurich goes to the country

The Zurich train station transformed into a barn in honour of the city's appearance at the fair Keystone

Canton Zurich is this year's guest of honour at Switzerland's largest agriculture fair. The most populous Swiss canton is also the country's fourth largest farming region. The Olma runs from October 12 to 22.

The special exhibition at the “Olma” in St Gallen will try to show how Zurich has managed to strike a balance between nature protection, preservation of the rural landscape and industrial development.

A dozen moving sculptures created by the artist, Yvan Lozzi Pestalozzi, will symbolise the motto of the special exhibition, “Typical Zurich – a canton on the move”. Zurich’s Tonhalle orchestra and the Cabaret Rotstift will provide the cultural highlights.

The “virtual Zurich” will be present during the entire fair on a large screen.

But Zurich will have to compete for the fair goer’s attention with the regular stars of the Olma – the farm animals, which this year include threatened species, and a cattle auction on October 17.

The Federal Environment Agency is sure to ruffle some farmer’s feathers at the Olma by presenting an exhibition on the lynx. The predator was reintroduced to Switzerland and is a protected species. But it has attacked and killed a number of sheep in recent months, prompting opposition from farmers.

There will also be demonstrations of traditional Swiss wrestling on October 22. The organisers of the Olma invite the country’s top wrestlers (Schwinger) to the fair every three years. They’ll be accompanied by the usual collection of alphorn players, yodellers, and flag throwers.

swissinfo

Out & About in Switzerland is updated regularly to keep you informed of upcoming events, which may provide a different insight into the country and its people.