That small window where the hillsides turn white with narcissus (often referred to in English as a white daffodil) is upon us again. One of the best places to see these stunning flowers is at Les Pleiades above Vevey. The region takes the flower very seriously. There is an association for the preservation of the […]
Swiss 2020 grape harvest modest but excellent
Last year’s grape harvest in Switzerland produced nearly 84 million litres of wine, down 13% on the 10-year average and the lowest volume in 10 years. Cold weather in Spring damaged the grape buds as they flowered, but a hot dry summer ensured rich flavour and sugar, two features that should ensure an exceptional vintage. […]
Swiss 2021 summer music festival Paléo cancelled
In April 2020, when Covid-19 was spreading across Europe, Paléo announced it was cancelling its 2020 summer music festival. Today, it announced it is cancelling its 2021 festival. In an announcement Paléo said: “the whole organising team kept their hopes alive until the very end. They stacked all the odds in their favour, fiddling with […]
Swiss-Kiwi wine educator, writer and reviewer taken by Covid
In 2014, when Le News was still a print newspaper, the editorial team was approached by Nina Bobillier, a bubbly wine writer and educator who had recently brought her knowledge and enthusiasm for wine from her native New Zealand to Switzerland, where she also had family connections. Over the years, from her new home near […]
Coronavirus: Switzerland considers adding only parts of France to its quarantine list
With daily infection rates in France rising to levels not seen since its previous peak in April 2020, the Swiss government is considering modifying its quarantine risk list system to include certain French regions rather than the whole country. The idea is being discussed as a potential way to avoid paralysing parts of Switzerland that […]
How Switzerland’s best river swim became a summertime commute
Most people float down the Aare River in Bern just for fun. For Evelyn Schneider-Reyes, it was her summertime commute home. “I only had like 30 seconds walking from my office to the river,” she recalls. “I had an ‘Aare Bag’, where I put all my clothes, my smartphone, wallet and shoes. I put on […]
Renowned artist EDWARD HOPPER in Basel
Solitary, pensive figures. Deserted streets or a luminous gas station in twilight. A night diner seen from outside. These are the static, atmospheric scenes we usually connect with Edward Hopper’s paintings. A uniquely American artist, who lived from 1882 to 1967. The famed Beyeler museum in Basel has chosen to exhibit a few of these, […]
Summer camps – post lockdown learning and adventure in the Swiss Alps
Brought to you by Aiglon College. 2020 has been a tough year so far for both parents and their children. Swiss schools were closed in mid-March and children were sent home to be supervised by parents, many of whom had to juggle this new activity with an already hectic schedule. Some now fear this missed […]
Explore the rich history of Swiss watch making in the enchanting Vallée de Joux
There is far more to Switzerland than cheese and chocolate. Switzerland has watches too! Home to global watch brands such as Audemars Piguet and Jaeger-LeCoultre, La Vallée de Joux, is one of Switzerland’s most renowned watch making regions. Watchmaking is woven into the valley’s past. Farming has always been a challenge, given the region’s high […]
Mountain biking in the Jura
SPRING-SUMMER-AUTUMN The Alps have their attraction, but some of the best mountain biking is just outside Geneva. For most of us, Sunday mornings are meant for kicking back and relaxing. For me, it means waking up and hitting the trails as early as possible. That’s when they’re the best. Empty. Unridden. Pumped up with caffeine, […]
