Barrel-organ music, the smell of roasted almonds and fairy lights at dusk: the Chilbi is as much a part of the Swiss late summer as the föhn wind is to the mountains. We look behind the scenes of a tradition that's older than you'd think.
What sparks us.
Stories, gadgets & good reasons from Lucerne.
11/08/2026
Flamingo: How an Inflatable Bird Invented the Instagram Summer — and Why Not a Single Float Is Left
Between 2016 and 2019 the flamingo stood in every pool and on every second party table. The story of a trend built on rubber, Millennial Pink and Instagram — and why the pool floats were the first to go.
New lunch box, freshly sharpened pencils, and a backpack that still smells brand new: across Switzerland, the new school year is starting these weeks – and in every canton, at a slightly different time.
Every August the Perseids turn the Swiss night sky into a sea of shooting stars. Where they come from, why we make a wish — and where you can see them best.
Between 2016 and 2019 the sloth hung from every keyring. The story of a trend between a Disney civil servant, the burnout debate and carnival — and why the costume was the first thing to die.
Record-low water levels, record water temperatures: what Switzerland's 2026 water shortage means for swimming the Aare and Rhine – and how to get in safely and considerately.
Why the 1st of August has only been a day off since 1994, what mountain bonfires have to do with ancient warning fires – and where to check whether a fire ban applies in your region.
A twelve-kilometre queue before the Gotthard, and from the back seat the question of all questions: „Are we nearly there?" How to turn the long summer journey into an adventure – with games, little surprises and a relaxed view of time.
Between 2016 and 2020, the cactus was everywhere: on cushions, mugs, socks and Instagram. The story of a trend between urban jungle, plant-parent culture and desert romance — and what's still alive in our warehouse.