Swiss oddities

Rock’n’hole: the awe-inspiring Martinsloch sun phenomenon

This content was published on Apr 12, 2025 Twice a year the sun pierces a hole in a mountain in eastern Switzerland and lights up a church.

Discovered thanks to lidar: Former castle site in the Bernese Emmental.

Why Switzerland is an archaeological treasure trove

This content was published on Apr 5, 2025 No other country offers such comprehensive, freely available, high-resolution radar scans – a unique resource for science.

The Federal Palace, symbol of the federal city of Bern since 1902.

Why Switzerland hasn’t got a capital city

This content was published on Mar 29, 2025 Bern is not officially the capital of Switzerland. Rather, it’s the “federal city”. Why?

Heimatort, sweet Heimatort: the unique Swiss concept of home

This content was published on Mar 22, 2025 Why do Swiss passports and ID cards care about your “place of origin” rather than “place of birth”?

Cars drive over the Astra Bridge on the A1 motorway.

Ups and downs: Swiss drivers benefit from world’s only mobile bridge

This content was published on Mar 15, 2025 A 257-metre bridge on wheels lets cars drive over Swiss roadworks. But its launch was a “debacle”.

Artist/Film maker Andrew Norman Wilson with a pig in front of a house.

The American who quit art to discover the odd side of Switzerland

This content was published on Mar 9, 2025 Andrew Norman Wilson talks about his shift from art to filmmaking and his enchantment with Swiss oddities.

Gentian, the ‘yellow fairy’ of the Swiss Jura

This content was published on Mar 8, 2025 A Jura treasure, gentian is a versatile plant that can heal, intoxicate and even polish.

Face time: the terrifying Swiss tradition of Tschäggättä

This content was published on Mar 1, 2025 When night falls, ancient, eerie figures roam the villages of a Swiss mountain valley. They are the Tschäggättä.

On Lake Geneva, the bise can lead to high waves.

The bise, the ill wind unique to Switzerland

This content was published on Feb 22, 2025 When a cold, dry wind sweeps through Switzerland, many people complain of headaches and other problems. They then often curse the bise.

Audrey Hepburn made Switzerland her home so she could lead a normal life

Audrey Hepburn valued the discretion of the Swiss Alps

This content was published on Feb 16, 2025 The sale of a Swiss villa which once belonged to film star Audrey Hepburn demonstrates Switzerland's status as a haven for the stars.