As Switzerland debates the “No to a 10-million Switzerland” initiative backed by the Swiss People's Party (UDC/SVP), it is worth setting the country’s demographic trajectory in a broader European context. Switzerland’s population has expanded … [Read more...]
News and Features
Swiss mountain rescue exceptionally busy over Easter
Switzerland’s alpine rescue services were unusually busy over the Easter weekend, as fine weather drew large numbers into the mountains. Between April 3rd and 6th, Air-Glaciers and Air Zermatt carried out a combined 121 helicopter missions, more … [Read more...]
Swiss consumer sentiment reaches lowest level in over a year
In March the index compiled by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) dropped by 12.5 points to –42.9, compared with February 2026. That marks a decline of 8.1 points from the same month a year earlier. The fall leaves sentiment at its … [Read more...]
Swiss village halts mosque project
Plans to create a mosque in the village of Siebnen, in the canton of Schwyz, have been shelved after a surge of local opposition. The Albanian-Islamic community behind the project says it is withdrawing for now to avoid further tensions, reported … [Read more...]
Switzerland prepares for the arrival of ultra-potent opioids
Swiss authorities are preparing for the likely arrival of a new class of highly potent synthetic opioids, reports RTS. In cantons such as Geneva and Fribourg, officials have recently announced measures to anticipate the spread of … [Read more...]
Guides
Language requirements for Swiss citizenship and visas – what you need to know
Brought to you by Swiss French School. On 1 January 2019, Switzerland’s federal government tightened and harmonised the rules on language requirements to qualify for some residence permits, B and C permits in particular, and … [Read More...]
10-step guide to hiring an employee in Switzerland
Brought to you by quitt.business. For startups and small companies, hiring and onboarding new employees can be a real hassle. In Switzerland especially, there is a significant amount of admin to deal with. The following is a guide to all the … [Read More...]
Activities
Going underground – Touring Switzerland’s oldest salt mine
There is a reason why the Swiss excel at digging tunnels: they have been doing it for a very long time. In 1680, tunnels were dug into the Vaud Alps near Bex to get at salt buried there more than 200 million years earlier, le Sel des … [Read more...]
Lausanne’s Olympic Museum – a great family day out
In 1915, the Olympic headquarters moved from Paris to Lausanne, a peaceful stable place at a time when war was tearing Europe apart. It is still there today, on the shimmering shores of Lake Geneva. Today’s picturesquely set modern … [Read more...]
Switzerland’s spectacular dams and their uncertain future
Switzerland’s 604 hydroelectric plants aren’t just powerhouses for clean energy. Some dams are also dramatic destinations. But their source of fuel is literally drying up. By Bill Harby Switzerland’s glaciers are shrinking. In 2015, of 99 Swiss … [Read more...]
