Swiss Stories

copyright Guillaume Megevand

The Swiss athlete who runs like a Kenyan

Society
Julien Wanders from Geneva has been training in Kenya since his late teens. Now, at the age of 23, he is already on first-name terms with the world's top runners. This is his inspiring story.

by Bertrand Monnard

Sophie Lavaud on the summit of Everest

Conquering the Himalayas

History
Known as the '88,000 lady' among the mountaineering cognoscenti, Sophie Lavaud is the first Swiss woman to have climbed eleven peaks of over 8,000 metres in the Himalayas. Quite a topical achievement, as mountaineering was added to UNESCO's list of Intangible World Heritage in December 2019. Portrait of an astonishing woman at the top of her game.

by Lea Huszno

A future in protecting the environment

A future in protecting the environment

Environment
Ecosystem, sustainable development, renewable energies, carbon footprint, environmental protection: in recent decades, a number of terms that were previously only familiar to specialists have enriched our everyday vocabulary. We have become more aware of ecological challenges and the need to protect the environment. These are also issues we face in Switzerland. Here are five examples.
Swiss made plastic house

Upcycling: Swiss made plastic house

Environment
Switzerland is often cited as a model for recycling because of the rubbish collection, waste separation and waste recovery methods deployed. Public bodies, research institutes, companies and citizens are taking action to reduce their impact on the environment and society. Businesses are innovating and developing technologies for resource management, rubbish collection and recycling more effectively with a view to creating a more circular economy.
Tavillon

The 'tavillon' or wooden shingle – ancestral craft and living tradition

History
The smooth covering of wooden scales that clothes the curves of many a roof are part of Switzerland's built heritage. A technique passed on orally from generation to generation
Michelle Gisin St. Anton

Michelle Gisin: jewel in the family crown

Society
The 27-year-old Engelberg native has emerged this winter as the new star of Swiss skiing. She and her older sister Dominique have each won an Olympic gold, while their brother Marc also made his name a few seasons back on Kitzbühel's legendary Streif. Presenting the Gisins: a family of gifted skiers.

by Bertrand Monnard

ibex

The Swiss National Park – nature at its purest

Environment
In April 2021, the Swiss National Park became the first Swiss site to be included on the Green List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This special distinction is already inspiring other parks in Switzerland and in neighbouring regions.

by Lea Huszno