Stories: Switzerland

Stories connected to Switzerland.

• Spaghetti grew on trees. For one BBC broadcast.On April Fools’ Day in 1957, the BBC showed a supposed Swiss spaghetti harvest. Some viewers asked how to gro…
• White chocolate on a vitamin product.According to Nestlé, before 1936 it worked with pharmaceutical company Roche on a coating for a vitamin produ…
• Build a village on a giant creature. Then choose to feed it your villagers.Swiss-developed game The Wandering Village puts a settlement on the back of a huge creature. A community vote…
• Two stone columns stand at a mountain pass. They once belonged to a Roman sanctuary.Switzerland's Julier Pass saw traffic long before modern roads, including in Roman times. Two soapstone colum…
• A government commissioned stained glass, then judged it too provocative to install.The Irish Free State commissioned Harry Clarke to create a window for a League of Nations building in Geneva.…
• The score comes after the ball bounces backIn tchoukball, an attacker throws at a rebound frame and scores when the returning ball lands on the court wi…
• Her climbing trousers became a public talking pointAnnie Smith Peck climbed the Matterhorn in 1895 wearing a tunic, climbing boots and knickerbocker trousers. H…
• A jacquemart makes the clock’s action visibleA jacquemart is a mechanised wooden or metal figure that strikes a bell with a hammer. Often positioned on a…
• Bell also climbed in the AlpsGertrude Bell, known for Middle Eastern travel and archaeology, was also a mountaineer. After she and guides…
• A street crossing became news of successIn 1928, Morris Frank trained with guide dog Buddy in Switzerland and returned to New York. He crossed busy s…
• A burning snowman is used to foretell summer weatherAt Zurich’s spring festival Sechseläuten, an effigy called the Böögg represents winter and is burned. Its hea…
• Burrs caught in fur inspired a reusable fastenerAfter an outing with his dog, Swiss engineer George de Mestral examined the burdock burrs stuck to his clothi…