Ten Swiss traditions from UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage
UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage aims to safeguard the living traditions and expertise of communities worldwide. Ten Swiss traditions have achieved this recognition: the winegrowers' festival in Vevey was the first, while the art of dry-stone construction was the most recent in 2024.
2016: The winegrowers' festival in Vevey is inscribed on the list
Organised by the Confrérie des Vignerons (Vevey Brotherhood of Winegrowers), this gathering provides a dramatic showcase for an integral part of the region's cultural heritage – its winemaking. The festival takes place only once a generation, most recently in 2019. The celebrations lasted only a day back in 1797, but recent editions have gone on for two weeks!
2017: Basel Carnival
The origins of this traditional and highly ritualised event stretch back to the Middle Ages. At four in the morning on the first Monday after Ash Wednesday, the Morgestraich marks the start of the festivities. Decked out in costumes and masks and carrying lanterns, the carnival associations take to the streets while Basel is still shrouded in darkness. Beyond the musical festivities, the carnival also provides an opportunity to poke fun at topical events of the past year, as Schnitzelbank groups recite satirical poems in the city's cellars and restaurants.
2018: Avalanche risk management
People around the world associate Switzerland with snow and the mountains. Over the centuries, the country has had to manage the risks of this high-altitude environment in order for alpine tourism to flourish. The expertise it has gleaned from observing nature has allowed it to assess risks and then mitigate them by building protective infrastructure and artificially triggering avalanches.
2019: Holy Week processions in Mendrisio
The Ticinese commune of Mendrisio has hosted religious processions in Holy Week for 350 years. On Maundy Thursday, the village turns off its lights and replaces them with striking illuminated panels illustrated with scenes from the Bible. During the processions on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, more than 600 costumed figures recreate the Passion of Jesus as they proceed through the town's streets.
Alpinism is the art of high-altitude mountain climbing. It is practised year-round on rocky or icy terrain, and requires physical, technical and intellectual abilities as well as specialised equipment. It is based on a shared heritage of environmental, historical and technical expertise, as well as values such as respect for nature and mutual assistance among climbers. Alpine clubs play a key role in promoting this culture in excursions, publications and international exchanges.
2020: Craftsmanship of mechanical watchmaking and ‘Bauhütten’ cathedral workshops
Swiss watches are among the objects most associated with the country. Watchmaking expertise is a key part of regional identity in some areas, and the standards of craftsmanship in the industry have perpetuated techniques and knowledge which must be preserved. Swiss mechanical engineering is also exemplified by the artisanal music boxes and automatons produced in Sainte-Croix.
The term ‘Bauhütten’ refers to cathedral workshops which began to appear in the Middle Ages, bringing together a range of trades related to the construction or restoration of buildings. Organised as cross-regional networks, the Bauhütten preserve oral and written expertise, customs and rituals. Since their reemergence in the 19th and 20th centuries, the workshops have focused on preserving, transmitting and developing traditional techniques. They work with stakeholders from the fields of politics, religion, culture and science, and provide an example of in-situ management and training that can be applied to other areas of the construction and maintenance sector.
2023: Swiss Alpine pasture season and traditional irrigation
Every summer, farmers lead their herds to the mountain pastures, a way of life that requires a wide range of skills. Despite the increasing mechanisation of agriculture, the owners still use traditional, ancestral techniques to raise their livestock and maintain their meadows. The events and festivals that accompany this rural way of life are a fascinating reminder of the power of traditions in Switzerland.
Traditional irrigation uses gravity and artisanal infrastructure to channel water from natural sources to the fields. This requires an intricate knowledge of the landscape, water flows and climatic conditions, as well as cooperation between farmers, landowners and cooperatives. The tradition, which is passed on informally or through institutions, involves social gatherings and festivals and even has its own specific vocabulary. As well as being a marker of identity, it is a source of valuable expertise that can be applied to other areas of community life.
2024: The art of dry-stone construction
The art of dry-stone construction involves the careful interlocking of stones without the use of mortar, ensuring they are stable and adapted to the terrain and climate. It requires a mastery of geometry and physics and a skilful use of materials. As well as being a key part of regional identity that enhances the local landscape, the structures are also a social undertaking that strengthens cohesion through cooperation and intergenerational knowledge-sharing.
