The government of Vaud recently announced its plan for reopening college, known locally as gymnase. Compulsory school restarted across Switzerland on 11 May 2020. However, gymnase pupils, who are typically 15 or older, will have to wait until 8 June 2020 to return. Gymnase classes, which will start on 8 June and run until 3 […]
2020 Winter Youth Olympics kick off in Lausanne
The 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games were declared open in Lausanne on 9 January 2020, by Simonetta Sommaruga, Switzerland’s president. The 8,000 spectators present at the Vaudoise Arena saw seven stories performed by local youth emphasising the Olympic spirit and the theme of home – Lausanne is the home of the Olympic governing body. Participants competing […]
Lausanne ranked world’s best small city
Lausanne grabs top spot in the global affairs and lifestyle magazine Monocle’s debut ranking of the world’s best small cities. To qualify, a city needs to be home to roughly 200,000 people. This provides a sweet spot between social and cultural diversity and quaintness, according to the publisher. Lausanne has a population of 140,000. Once […]
Vaud’s 2020 budget – higher spending, higher taxes
The Swiss canton of Vaud has managed to balance its 2020 budget with a small surplus of 76,000 francs. This is the 14th time in row that the canton’s budget has been in the black. At the same time planned spending is up by 2.43%, well ahead of Swiss inflation – prices were lower in […]
Vevey’s Fête des vignerons set to make large loss
With the celebration over, attention has shifted to the cost of the Fête des vignerons, Vevey’s once-in-25-year winegrowers festival. As the bills come in it looks like the festival will make a loss of CHF 16 million, according to the François Margot, who was interviewed by the newspaper 24 heures. Fête des Vignerons: “Le manque […]
Vaud explosion came from military jet
On Monday at around 14:50, a loud bang, that sounded like an explosion, took some people in the greater Lausanne region by surprise, prompting a number of them to call the police. The sound came from a military aircraft breaking the sound barrier, according to various newspapers, including 20 Minutes. The Swiss military reported that […]
Public canteens in Vaud might soon have a meat-free day
Some members of Vaud’s government are demanding a meat-free day in public canteens to promote more environmentally friendly eating, according to the newspaper Le Matin. Producing a gram of animal protein has a much higher environmental impact than a gram of vegetable protein. Livestock production accounts for 70% of all agricultural land (grazing and feedstock […]
Parts of Switzerland shaken by earthquake
If you live near Montreux you might have felt an earthquake yesterday at 10:48 am when one measuring 4.2 struck. The quake was widely felt in the region and the police received a number of calls from concerned residents. Many would have heard a loud bang. The quake’s epicentre was around 15 km from Montreux in […]
Lausanne to restrict child care places to working parents
Finding day care for young children can be difficult in Switzerland. In Lausanne it has been difficult for many years. The challenge doesn’t disappear when children go to school either. In Switzerland, schools close at lunchtime and children are the responsibility of parents, a system that works when one parent works and the other stays […]
Bern bans jet skis on Lake Geneva
Switzerland’s Federal Council recently banned boat-based parasailing along with the use of jet skis and other jet propelled vessels on Lake Geneva. Rules in place since 1979 covering what can be used on the lake did not specifically mention such activities or vessels. After France specifically banned them the baton was the Swiss Federal government […]
