Swiss oddities

The bise, the ill wind unique to Switzerland

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

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

Swiss oddities

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.

Rocky landscape around the Stockhorn in the Simmental.

Swiss oddities

Spell check: the Swiss origins of the European witch craze

This content was published on Feb 15, 2025 The 15th-century description of a witch hunt in the Bernese Simmental became the blueprint for witch hunts across Europe.

Swiss oddities

An eye-opening guide to Switzerland’s ear-splitting sirens

This content was published on Feb 1, 2025 Every year, on the first Wednesday in February, the sound of 7,200 sirens fills the Alpine air, startling anyone who doesn’t know it’s a test.

Swiss oddities

Spring begins in Geneva when the official horse chestnut tree says so

This content was published on Jan 25, 2025 It's spring in Geneva when the secretary general of the cantonal parliament sees the first leaf on the city's official horse chestnut.

Swiss oddities

Weapons or uniforms? The cost-cutting Swiss army has chosen

This content was published on Jan 18, 2025 One casualty of the Swiss Armed Forces' austerity measures is the dapper service uniform.

Swiss oddities

Solothurn, the Swiss city that goes up to 11

This content was published on Jan 11, 2025 Eleven is a magic number for residents of Solothurn, Switzerland's most beautiful Baroque city. But why?

Swiss oddities

Ubersitz, the utterly unique – and deafening – Swiss custom

This content was published on Dec 21, 2024 At the end of the year the villages around Meiringen pump up the volume and bizarre characters celebrate the ancient tradition of Ubersitz.

Swiss oddities

Switzerland, the promised land of coats of arms

This content was published on 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.

Swiss oddities

How Swiss festive bad boy Schmutzli cleaned up his act

This content was published on Dec 7, 2024 Once upon a time, a mysterious dark-faced figure would enter Swiss homes on December 6, beating and (briefly) abducting children into behaving better. Schmutzli needed an image makeover.

Swiss oddities

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Swiss oddities

More

The bise, the ill wind unique to Switzerland

More

Audrey Hepburn valued the discretion of the Swiss Alps

More

Spell check: the Swiss origins of the European witch craze

More

An eye-opening guide to Switzerland’s ear-splitting sirens

More

Spring begins in Geneva when the official horse chestnut tree says so

More

Weapons or uniforms? The cost-cutting Swiss army has chosen

More

Solothurn, the Swiss city that goes up to 11

More

Ubersitz, the utterly unique – and deafening – Swiss custom

More

Switzerland, the promised land of coats of arms

More

How Swiss festive bad boy Schmutzli cleaned up his act

Popular Stories

Most Discussed