Alphorn Afficianados Rejoice; Pharma Drives Record Swiss Exports; Holiday Traffic At Gotthard Reaches 14K; Mountain Passes Closed For Cyclists

News For 24 July 2018

Running until this upcoming Sunday, fans of the Swiss Alphorn can head to Nendaz to enjoy the a festival dedicated to the instrument.  The traditional horn, which was used to call out to herds of cows to return home, can send out a sound that travels over 10 kilometers.  This year, 180 alphorn players are set to compete in the festival, featuring participants from all over the world.

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Swiss Exports rose to a record 55.7 billion francs in the latest quarter of 2018, exceeding previous levels according to the Swiss Federal Customs Administration.  Driving the rise in exports were pharmaceuticals, machinery and watchmaking to China the USA and Germany.  In particular, Basel based Novartis saw its exports and profits rise to record highs in the most recent quarter for which data is available.

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Supermarket chain COOP is sponsoring a series of weekend events where mountain passes throughout Switzerland will be closed to car traffic, allowing the unfettered use of the roads by bicyclists.  The event which started in May, will have select weekends through September see some of Switzerland's most breathtaking mountain roads available closed to motor traffic. The event is free and open to riders of all levels.  A special website is available with information and plenty of kit "upgrades" available for sale.

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For those of you preparing for your holidays in August, take heed.  If you are planning on driving south, last weekend's Saturday traffic at the Gotthard tunnel reached a record queue of 14 kilometers, with peak waiting time of 2 hours and 20 minutes at the north end of the tunnel.