Dog Leads Police on Highway Chase
A dog led the police on a wild chase on the A1 highway between Winterthur Töss and Wülflingen, evading capture despite a large police deployment.
A1 highway · Winterthur ·
Absurd, comical and surprisingly humorous stories from across Switzerland. Browsing 80 curated facts.
A dog led the police on a wild chase on the A1 highway between Winterthur Töss and Wülflingen, evading capture despite a large police deployment.
A1 highway · Winterthur ·
At the Winterthur City Council, Aurelia Favre's departure in 2000 was marked by a tumultuous and disputed by-election, with the winner, Pearl Pedergnana, securing her seat by just one vote.
Winterthur City Council · Winterthur ·
The Bäumli restaurant had a rather eventful past, with a notable incident where the patrons, helped by people from Vitoduran, managed to flood the ground floor with beer. The restaurant eventually cl…
Bäumli · Winterthur ·
The 'Wasserkipper' sculpture by Bendicht Fivian, installed in 1990, was removed in 2004 due to complaints about the noise it made, and its planned reinstallation in 2010 was canceled due to financial…
Kantonsschule Rychenberg · Winterthur ·
A historic fountain in Wülflingen was replaced in 2016, causing controversy among locals who argued it was a valuable witness to the area's rural past. The original fountain had a unique secondary tr…
Wülflingen · Winterthur ·
The police used to drop off drunk people at the Gamser hill, forcing them to walk back to town on their own, a method known as 'Gamserle'. This practice was abandoned in the 1980s.
Gamser · Winterthur ·
Eduard Bühler-Egg, a textile industrialist, would often drive his horse carriage at high speeds through the streets of Winterthur, using a loud whistle to clear the way for his vehicle.
Winterthur streets · Winterthur ·
The residents of Seen were so excited about their new electricity plant that they left their lights on day and night, prompting the staff to go on a 'light-hunting' mission to curb the excessive ener…
Seen · Winterthur ·
Ernst Züllig, a famous handball player, was bitten by an opponent during a match against Germany in 1975, resulting in a tooth getting stuck in his shoulder.
Pfadi Winterthur · Winterthur ·
In 1977, two boys used a school satchel as a makeshift sled to slide down the snowy stairs of the Stadthaus, likely damaging their schoolbooks and earning a scolding at home.
Stadthaus · Winterthur ·
The first football result board in Winterthur, installed in 1943 at the Restaurant Gotthard, was so popular that the police wanted to relocate it due to the crowds it attracted.
Restaurant Gotthard · Winterthur ·
Göpf Egg's gaffe in one of the first episodes of 'Stöck, Wyss, Stich' caused the phone lines to melt down, as the audience called in to point out his mistake. This incident helped increase the show's…
SRF Studio · Winterthur ·
Hans Rüegg, the former president of Winterthur, had to have the city clerk repeat everything loudly in his ear due to his severe hearing loss, leading to some comical scenes in the city council.
Winterthur City Hall · Winterthur ·
The Barockhäuschen was initially intended to be demolished, but it was saved by the need for a public toilet facility in the nearby Stadtgarten. The building's cellar was repurposed as a toilet, and…
Barockhäuschen · Winterthur ·
To save the interior of Schloss Wülflingen, Hedy Hahnloser-Bühler came up with a creative idea: she turned the castle into a 'Kinder-Spiel' (children's game) and sold it as part of a charity bazaar.
Schloss Wülflingen · Winterthur
The wooden giant 'Holidi' was a popular climbing object in the upper Graben from 1986 to 2015, but its nudity sparked controversy, earning it the nickname 'Schnäbelimaa' or 'Pimmelmann'.
Obere Graben · Winterthur ·
During the Albanifest in Winterthur, a photograph from the 1970s shows a man mooning the camera, possibly as a form of protest or jest, in the midst of festivities.
Winterthurer Altstadt · Winterthur ·
Jürg Altwegg, a former Winterthur city councilor, made headlines in 2017 by ordering the removal of arsenic-contaminated stuffed animals from all schools in Winterthur on his first day in office.
Winterthur Schools · Winterthur ·
A 4-meter-high fence made of rusty reinforcement grids was installed at the KVA Werkhof, costing 380,000 francs, which sparked intense criticism and little understanding.
KVA Werkhof · Winterthur ·
The construction of Kindergarten Gerzler was plagued by delays due to a particularly harsh winter and a long period of rain, causing water damage and requiring the replacement of materials. The condi…
Kindergarten Gerzler · Winterthur ·
In 1993, the Kindergarten Zinzikon building sparked heated discussions and a crisis meeting in the construction department due to its colorful and unusual design.
Kindergarten Zinzikon · Winterthur ·
Fritz Gubler was known for his love of cycling and could often be seen riding his military bike around Winterthur, waving at people he knew.
Winterthur · Winterthur
The Ornithologische Gesellschaft Winterthur's pigeon loft in the Lindengut-Park, also known as 'Vögelipark', was burglarized, and the pigeons were stolen while waiting for their daily feeding.
Lindengut-Park · Winterthur ·
In 1973, the police had to physically lift and remove cars from the Neumarkt square to make way for a marching band demonstration by the Romanian Military Music, as some drivers refused to move their…
Neumarkt · Winterthur ·
In the 2001 election, Pearl Pedergnana won by just one vote after a recount, due in part to voters' struggles to spell her name correctly on the ballot.
Winterthur City Hall · Winterthur ·
In 1886, the Velocipedists of Winterthur rode their high-wheel bicycles to the first federal festival in Zurich, taking 2.5 hours to get there and 4 hours to return, partly due to hostile farmers and…
Winterthur to Zurich · Winterthur ·
René Isler, a former police officer and politician, sparked controversy in 2013 by comparing Winterthur's financial situation to that of Greece, earning the city the nickname 'Griechenland des Kanton…
Winterthur · Winterthur ·
Under the guidance of coach Willy Sommer, the Restaurant Goldenberg became a lucky charm for the FC Winterthur team. Sommer would order the team's meal at the restaurant before each home game, and th…
Restaurant Goldenberg · Winterthur ·
The residents of Reutlingen were so loyal to the Konsumverein that they refused to shop at the VOLG store that replaced it in 1927, ultimately forcing VOLG to close down.
Reutlingen · Winterthur ·
The Hallenbad Geiselweid was officially opened in 1974 by Stadtrat Othmar Hüssy, who jumped into the pool in his street clothes to mark the occasion.
Hallenbad Geiselweid · Winterthur ·
The Verein zur Hebung der Volksgesundheit, the organization behind the Schwimmbad Wolfensberg, initially built an 'alkoholfreies Restaurant' that failed to attract visitors, leading to a series of fi…
Schwimmbad Wolfensberg · Winterthur ·
Sibyll Kindlimann, a pioneering politician, fought for women's rights in Winterthur and became the first female president of the city council in 1987. She also played a crucial role in bringing the J…
Steinberggasse · Winterthur ·
In a bizarre move, the city of Winterthur removed 40 benches in a single night in 2017, sparking outrage among residents. The benches were later partially replaced, with two new ones installed above…
Schenkelwiese · Winterthur ·
The pig farm at Schloss Wülflingen was not without controversy. As the pigs grew in number, they began to disturb the visitors and restaurant guests at the nearby castle, with their odor being descri…
Schloss Wülflingen · Winterthur ·
The Theater Winterthur was almost demolished and replaced with a new congress center, but a petition with 6600 signatures saved it from destruction in 2016.
Theater Winterthur · Winterthur ·
The former industrial site of Sidi-Areal in Winterthur was repurposed into a residential area, but not before being used as a temporary home for an erotic market and an Otto-Restpostenmarkt.
Sidi-Areal · Winterthur ·
Despite warnings, the Verein für Volksgesundheit opened a restaurant called 'Zum Wolfensberg' in 1928, which turned out to be a costly and troublesome venture that failed to attract more visitors to…
Wolfensberg · Winterthur ·
The idea of creating a artificial lake in Winterthur inspired a group of Fasnächtler to build a pirate ship and parade it through the old town, sparking both amusement and controversy.
Winterthur Old Town · Winterthur ·
The Rösslitram, a horse-drawn tram, was launched in Winterthur in 1968 as a marketing campaign for local shops and became a beloved annual Christmas tradition, with over 150,000 children and adults h…
Winterthur · Winterthur ·
In 2009, the city of Zürich introduced a new Christmas lighting concept called 'Lucy', which was met with mixed reactions, prompting a Winterthur newspaper to jokingly announce that part of 'Lucy' wo…
Winterthur · Winterthur ·
The first Winterthur Marathon in 1999 faced numerous problems, including safety concerns, inaccurate course length, and difficulties with private property passages.
Winterthur · Winterthur ·
In 2006, the Böögg effigy was abducted by leftist 'revolutionaries' just days before the Sechseläuten festival, prompting the guilds to keep spare Bööggs in reserve.
Sechseläuten Square · Zurich ·
The famous Confiserie Sprüngli moved to Paradeplatz in 1859, under the mistaken assumption that the new train station would be built directly on the square. Instead, the Bahnhofstrasse was constructe…
Paradeplatz · Zurich ·
The Grossmünster's twin towers were mocked by Richard Wagner, who compared them to two pepper dispensers. This criticism came despite the towers being a iconic landmark in Zurich. The towers were ori…
Grossmünster · Zurich ·
The Heimplatz was almost renamed Max-Frisch-Platz in the 1990s, but the proposal was rejected due to concerns that the public would still call it 'Pfauen' anyway.
Heimplatz · Zurich ·
The Schwellistrasse was almost named 'Amorstrasse' due to the high number of couples living in the area. However, the name 'Schwellistrasse' was chosen instead in 1952.
Schwellistrasse · Zurich ·
The Möcklistrasse in Witikon was named after Heinrich Möckli, a generous blacksmith who donated 10,000 francs to the community, which was used to build a gymnasium instead of a planned mortuary.
Möcklistrasse · Zurich ·
The Rumpumpsteig street in Zurich has a rather unusual name, which is believed to have originated from a house or tavern with loud and rowdy patrons. The name 'Rumpump' is thought to be derived from…
Rumpumpsteig · Zurich ·
The Rosenhofbrunnen, also known as the Max-Frisch-Brunnen, features an abstract sculpture with inscriptions that sarcastically dedicate the fountain to various individuals and groups, making it a hum…
Rosenhof · Zurich ·
In 1980, two activists, Herr and Frau Müller, appeared on a Swiss talk show, pretending to be concerned citizens and calling for more repressive measures against activists, causing a scandal and outr…
Zurich · Zurich ·
A overzealous bible thumper appeared at the St. Alban-Tor, denouncing debauchery and starting a witch hunt. However, just as he was about to condemn an innocent woman, the ghost of Elvis appeared, di…
St. Alban-Tor · Basel ·
The son of the mill's owner, Andreas, was accused of delivering poor-quality flour to a widow in Inzlingen, so bad that even dogs wouldn't eat it. He later became a Catholic, donned a Waldbruder habi…
Kammradmühle · Basel ·
The Zunftmeister Raoul I. Furlano gave a speech from the edge of the Dreizackbrunnen, and then took a bold leap onto the wet asphalt, which was witnessed by a doctor, Felix Eymann, who was ready to p…
Dreizackbrunnen · Basel ·
During the 2009 Aadringgete celebration at the Dreizackbrunnen, the current Zunftmeister Raoul I. Furlano experienced a wardrobe malfunction when his pant leg slipped up while climbing the fountain,…
Dreizackbrunnen · Basel ·
In 1846, a group of dissatisfied butchers in Basel were fined for protesting against the monopolization of the meat trade. As a form of protest, they decorated a wagon with sausages, hams, and other…
Old town · Basel ·
In the 18th century, the 'Schafeck' was involved in a dispute over a washtub, with the owner, a gerber named Wernhard Glaser, being sued by his neighbors, including a kupferschmied named Andreas Faes…
Schafeck · Basel ·
In 1690, the Stadtschreiber Simon Battier complained about the neighbors of the Bichtigerhuus, including the Hufschmied Matthis Simon, who were directing their wastewater onto the street. This led to…
Bichtigerhuus im Klingental · Basel ·
The Helm restaurant was known for its lively atmosphere, with patrons often throwing glasses and plates on the floor when the wine served did not meet their expectations. This chaotic behavior was es…
Helm restaurant · Basel ·
A local farmer, Seppi Emmenegger, would often ride his horse directly into the Kopfstübli, a tavern where the Helm's owner, Louise Meili, used to work, causing great amusement among the patrons.
Kopfstübli · Basel ·
The Revue de Genève is a satirical spectacle that has been poking fun at Geneva's politics and society since 1892.
Théâtre de Genève · Geneva ·
The Revue genevoise, a humorous and satirical spectacle, has been mocking Geneva's politicians since 1892. It's a tradition where artists imitate politicians' mannerisms, gestures, and language, maki…
Casino-Théâtre · Geneva ·
The name 'Malombré' comes from a humorous story. In 1853, a banker named David Lenoir built a villa and cut down three plane trees, saddening his wife. She had 'mal ombré' (poor shade) painted on the…
Malombré area · Geneva ·
In the Saint-Jean Charmilles neighborhood, a zoo once existed between 1935 and 1940, where a group of monkeys escaped in July 1935, causing chaos in the area. The zoo eventually closed due to financi…
Saint-Jean Charmilles · Geneva ·
John Kerry shook off journalists by going for a bike ride along the lakeside, a feat that was broadcast around the world.
Lakeside · Lausanne ·
A former student of Mme Frances-E. Liengme, who created brochures for the Œuvre suisse des Lecteurs pour la Jeunesse, had a surprising encounter with her years later at the Police de Lausanne's Group…
Police de Lausanne · Lausanne ·
The 'Banc de la honte' (Bench of Shame) in the Calvaire neighborhood was replaced with a single chair, causing an uproar among locals who used to stop and chat on the old bench. The city eventually a…
Calvaire neighborhood · Lausanne ·
The 'Course des garçons de café' was a traditional race held in the streets of Lausanne, where waiters would run through the city carrying heavy trays.
Place de la Palud · Lausanne ·
The Swiss Customs Museum in Gandria showcases a 'submarine' used to smuggle salami, highlighting the region's notorious history of smuggling. The museum is a unique glimpse into the region's past.
Swiss Customs Museum · Lugano
During the 1973 oil crisis, the Swiss government banned private motorized vehicles on three consecutive Sundays, starting from November 21. This unusual measure, known as the 'three Sundays without c…
Lugano · Lugano ·
It took less than six months to build the Lugano-Stazione funicular in the late 19th century, but it took two years to renovate it from 2014 to 2016.
Lugano-Stazione funicular · Lugano ·
The Nationalbahn's construction led to absurd situations, such as the village of Buchs having two train stations due to the intense competition between railway companies. This bizarre coincidence is…
Buchs · Switzerland ·
A wayside shrine in Switzerland has a humorous inscription that calculates the distance to Jerusalem, stating it's 700 hours away, but if you take the footpath over Mauchen, it's a quarter of an hour…
Gedenkstein Hebel · Switzerland
The 'Steiner Krieg' in 1784 was a bloodless conflict between Stein am Rhein and Zürich over a recruitment site for the Prussian army.
Stein am Rhein · Switzerland ·
The Cercle Montagnard, a liberal organization, was founded in 1873 and had a peculiar tradition of dividing its members into two rival groups: choucroute lovers and roastbeef enthusiasts.
Cercle Montagnard · La Chaux-de-Fonds ·
The café du Linage, a favorite of Hermann, burned down in 1967 after a well-lubricated dinner party with his wife Marie and friend Ernest Kraft in 1938.
Café du Linage · La Chaux-de-Fonds ·
A duck in Köniz was caught speeding at 52 km/h in a 30 km/h zone, not once, but twice, seven years apart, on the same street, Wangentalstrasse.
Wangentalstrasse · Köniz ·
In 2021, the university cafeteria sparked outrage by switching to a vegan and vegetarian-only menu, prompting criticism from farmers, meat industry representatives, and some politicians, who saw it a…
University of Lucerne cafeteria · Lucerne ·
The 1925 Klausenrennen prize ceremony took place in front of the Tell monument in Altdorf, where contestants were awarded for their bravery on the treacherous Klausenpassstrasse. The event was a test…
Tell monument · Altdorf ·
The post office in Appenzell was mocked during the 1904 Fasnacht carnival due to its precarious situation after the telephone exchange was destroyed by a lightning bolt in 1899.
Postplatz · Appenzell ·
The first trolleybus in Montreux, introduced in 1958, had a quirky design flaw that caused it to frequently 'deperch' at a low-hanging bridge, entertaining schoolchildren who rode the bus daily.
Bon-Port · Montreux ·
Hidden stories of Switzerland beneath your feet
Facts are sourced from various open websites and may have been edited. Copyright of original content belongs to their respective owners.
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