https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Three people died on Wednesday after a small single-engine aeroplane crashed in the Alps in southwest Switzerland, the cantonal police said. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260916/plane-crash-kills-three-in-swiss-alps Wed, 16 Sep 2026 17:32:38 +0200 plane-crash-kills-three-in-swiss-alps Authorities have issued access and travel bans for certain areas of Switzerland’s Säntis mountain due to an ‘unstable rock face.’ https://www.thelocal.ch/20260904/parts-of-famous-swiss-mountain-under-threat-of-a-major-collapse Fri, 04 Sep 2026 13:00:09 +0200 parts-of-famous-swiss-mountain-under-threat-of-a-major-collapse As a Valais glacier is breaking off piece by piece, with debris hanging precariously over a town below, you may be wondering whether other Swiss glaciers could collapse as well. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260827/explained-what-are-the-risks-of-glaciers-collapsing-in-switzerland Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:51:34 +0200 explained-what-are-the-risks-of-glaciers-collapsing-in-switzerland Switzerland’s Weisshorn glacier, located at an altitude of 4,505 metres near Zermatt in Valais, is breaking off piece by piece, which could fall down into the town below. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260826/swiss-glacier-near-zermatt-under-threat-of-imminent-collapse Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:49:31 +0200 swiss-glacier-near-zermatt-under-threat-of-imminent-collapse The bodies of two Belgian climbers who disappeared in the Swiss Alps 34 years ago have been found, freed from the melting Trift Glacier, local police said. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260819/bodies-of-belgian-climbers-who-vanished-in-1992-found-in-swiss-alps Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:08:28 +0200 bodies-of-belgian-climbers-who-vanished-in-1992-found-in-swiss-alps If you think your money and other valuables are not safe enough in a traditional Swiss bank, you can safeguard them in an Alpine vault – but only if you're ultra-rich. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260811/a-giant-vault-for-the-super-wealthy-is-being-carved-into-the-swiss-alps Tue, 11 Aug 2026 12:49:48 +0200 a-giant-vault-for-the-super-wealthy-is-being-carved-into-the-swiss-alps Peak travel season in the Swiss Alps usually falls between December and March, when tourists visit for the winter sports. But record-breaking heatwaves mean this year is different. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260803/this-summer-switzerlands-hills-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-tourists Mon, 03 Aug 2026 11:11:19 +0200 this-summer-switzerlands-hills-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-tourists During heatwaves, there is nothing more refreshing than plunging into the (relatively) cool waters of Switzerland’s lakes. But is swimming in Alpine lakes allowed — and if so, under what conditions? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250623/what-are-the-rules-for-swimming-in-swiss-mountain-lakes Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:47:36 +0200 what-are-the-rules-for-swimming-in-swiss-mountain-lakes As the chairlift nears the Grand Chamossaire peak at the Villars ski resort in the Swiss Alps, screams of terror and delight suddenly pierce the air. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260723/giant-swing-on-swiss-peak-aims-to-boost-tourism-as-alps-warm Thu, 23 Jul 2026 09:35:12 +0200 giant-swing-on-swiss-peak-aims-to-boost-tourism-as-alps-warm Swiss people love their mountains and each summer, mountain climbing – or just hiking along Alpine routes – is a popular activity. But current conditions make it risky, experts say. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260721/rockfalls-and-glaciers-how-hot-weather-makes-climbing-swiss-alps-extremely-dangerous Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:10:20 +0200 rockfalls-and-glaciers-how-hot-weather-makes-climbing-swiss-alps-extremely-dangerous Swiss glaciers have been melting at an alarming rate due to global warming for decades, and the most recent heatwave is accelerating this process. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260625/400-cubic-metres-of-water-per-second-melting-swiss-glaciers-face-worse-case-scenario Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:25:25 +0200 400-cubic-metres-of-water-per-second-melting-swiss-glaciers-face-worse-case-scenario There are some great one day hikes within easy reach of the Swiss city of Geneva but some are easier than others, writes Monty Pierce Jones. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240411/the-seven-best-hikes-around-geneva Thu, 11 Apr 2024 16:32:24 +0200 the-seven-best-hikes-around-geneva A former fire safety official in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana remained silent when questioned Wednesday by prosecutors investigating a deadly New Year blaze, his lawyer said. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260408/suspect-remains-silent-in-swiss-bar-fire-probe Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:59:09 +0200 suspect-remains-silent-in-swiss-bar-fire-probe A fatal cable car crash at a Swiss ski resort, which saw the cabin fall from the cable and tumble down a mountainside was likely caused by a faulty clamp. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260319/deadly-swiss-cable-car-crash-blamed-on-faulty-clamp Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:49:27 +0100 deadly-swiss-cable-car-crash-blamed-on-faulty-clamp A cable car lift crashed to the ground in the Swiss resort of Engelberg, in the canton of Obwalden, on Wednesday as gale-force winds swept through the area. At least one person was reported to have died. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260318/breaking-one-dead-after-cable-car-crashes-onto-mountain-in-swiss-alps Wed, 18 Mar 2026 13:57:15 +0100 breaking-one-dead-after-cable-car-crashes-onto-mountain-in-swiss-alps If you are planning to travel to the Swiss Alps in the coming days, know that some railway lines and roads are currently closed. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260218/where-in-switzerland-is-rail-and-road-traffic-disrupted-due-to-snow Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:07:33 +0100 where-in-switzerland-is-rail-and-road-traffic-disrupted-due-to-snow The Swiss government put part of the Swiss Alps on the highest avalanche alert level on Tuesday after more heavy snow hit the Valais region. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260216/significant-avalanche-danger-declared-in-the-swiss-alps Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:28:59 +0100 significant-avalanche-danger-declared-in-the-swiss-alps The local fire chief for a Swiss ski resort where a New Year's fire broke out in a bar, claiming 41 lives, was questioned for the first time on Monday by Swiss investigating prosecutors. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260217/local-fire-chief-questioned-in-swiss-ski-resort-blaze-investigation Tue, 17 Feb 2026 09:15:32 +0100 local-fire-chief-questioned-in-swiss-ski-resort-blaze-investigation February is a traditional ‘family ski’ month in Switzerland, when children get a week off from school and families head to mountain resorts to enjoy skiing and other winter sports. There are a few things to keep in mind before you hit the slopes. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240201/what-should-you-know-about-skiing-in-the-swiss-alps-this-winter Thu, 01 Feb 2024 13:37:42 +0100 what-should-you-know-about-skiing-in-the-swiss-alps-this-winter In a number of Switzerland’s resorts, a ski pass can cost you less or more — depending on the time of day you buy it. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240102/why-do-some-swiss-ski-resorts-change-their-prices-several-times-a-day Tue, 02 Jan 2024 15:42:51 +0100 why-do-some-swiss-ski-resorts-change-their-prices-several-times-a-day