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DISCOVER SWITZERLAND

Goodbye Edelweiss: Swiss tourism body unveils its new logo

After three decades with the same 'old' logo — the Edelweiss flower — Switzerland’s tourism board has now re-branded itself. What is its new symbol now?

Goodbye Edelweiss: Swiss tourism body unveils its new logo
The new logo is unveiled. Photo: Switzerland Tourism

For nearly three decades, Switzerland Tourism, which promotes the country’s charms abroad,  depended on the Alpine flower to sell ‘Swissness’ to foreign tourists.

Coloured in gold, with a Swiss flag in the middle (perhaps so as to distinguish it from the edelweiss that also grows on Alpine meadows in Austria, France, and Germany), the flower had been part of the organisation’s official logo since 1995.

Image by Switzerland Tourism

 

Crossing its t’s

Now, however, the tourism board is taking its logo to a whole new level — or at least that is how the organisation is referring to the new design it unveiled at a press conference in Geneva on Monday.

And what could be more Swiss, or more emblematic of Switzerland, than… the country’s flag (you may argue that the iconic Matterhorn would be a good choice as well, now that it is no longer featured on the Toblerone chocolate).

The new logo features the word ‘Switzerland’ (in English), with the letter ‘t’ replaced by the flag.

With this new image, the tourism board “is now spreading its new identity throughout the world,” Switzerland Tourism said.

Another Swiss icon: Roger

Whatever you may think of the new logo, and even if you don’t think about it at all, the fact remains that Switzerland Tourism has had some clever ideas up its sleeve to ‘sell’ the country to foreign visitors.

Over the past few years, it has teamed up with retired tennis champ Roger Federer (who, in turn, had teamed up with other high-profile individuals) to promote Switzerland worldwide.

This is one example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXcBGfXXL4w&t=13s

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DISCOVER SWITZERLAND

Where are the best places in Switzerland for the spectacular white daffodil season?

For a brief period in May and June, Swiss hillsides blossom with a carpet of beautiful white daffodils - so where's the best places to see them?

Where are the best places in Switzerland for the spectacular white daffodil season?

More than just a pretty flower, the white daffodils, or Narcissus, have been used for healing in Switzerland for hundreds of years.

While the plant is poisonous, extracts from it can be used to treat both respiratory infections and sore joints. 

Such is its popularity, that organisations have been set up to protect the flower from tourists picking or trampling it. 

While this year’s bloom is unseasonably late, thanks to inclement weather, now’s the time to enjoy the annual display. 

Read more: IN PICS: Ten stunning images of Switzerland in spring

If you’re looking for the best place to take in the spectacle, Les Pleaides in the canton of Vaud is said to be unmissable. 

The 1,361-metre mountain, which overlooks Lake Geneva, is the country’s most popular destination for Narcissus lovers. 

From the town of Vevey, a cog railway takes passengers up to the summit, via the small community of Blonay. 

From the top, vast swathes of flowers blanket the mountainside, framed in the distance by several mountains such as Mont Blanc. 

There’s also a restaurant and a bar for a bite to eat and a drink after enjoying the flowers. However, it’s important to stay on signposted travels during your visit. The white daffodils are delicate and fragile, and significant efforts are being made to protect them from too much foot traffic.

If you’re looking to enjoy the flowers this year, car parking is available in both the town of Vevey and Blonay – roughly an hour and a half from Geneva via the motorway.

From both Vevey and Blonay, there are trails up the mountain if you’re feeling adventurous, in addition to the cog railway. 

A second place to take in the flowery views, but no less gorgeous, are the fields above the village of Seewis im Prattigäu, in the canton of Graubünden. 

A 3.5 km trail loop through the fields will take you between three and five hours to complete. 

Seewis im Prattigäu can be reached by train, via the Seewis-Pradisla train station. It is also around a 80 minute drive from Zurich.

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