Discover: Schwingen (Swiss wrestling)

My awareness of the significance of Schwingen – or Swiss wrestling – truly dawned on me at the Unspunnen festival in Interlaken in 2017.

I spent the afternoon in the packed stands of a sports arena, watching muscular men in jute shorts try to toss each other to the ground in one-on-one matches held in a sawdust-covered ring. The rules were puzzling, the crowd was captivated, and it all concluded with the winner receiving a prize bull named Gottlieb. I couldn't help but wonder, what had I just witnessed?

Later, I was invited to the press lounge of one of the festival's major sponsors, a well-known watch brand, to meet a former national champion, or Schwingerkönig (king wrestler). Matthias Sempach, a well-built, 194cm-tall thirty-something, was brought over by the PR person of the brand he represented after signing autographs and posing for photos. That’s when I realized: Schwingen isn't merely a quirky Swiss tradition, like Morris dancing in the UK; it's a contemporary, immensely popular sport, and its champions are treated like media stars.

Schwingen in Switzerland: essential tips before you watch

Schwingen originated in farming communities throughout the alpine regions, though the exact timeline remains a mystery, as is often the case with rural traditions. A 13th-century carving in the Lausanne cathedral may depict Swiss wrestling, but experts debate whether it truly represents that or regular wrestling. Records from the later Middle Ages indicate that the sport was already thriving by then, as towns and cities developed a taste for alpine culture and began hosting Schwingen competitions at fairs and festivals.

In 1805, the sport became a focal point of the inaugural Unspunnen festival (named for its location near the ruins of Unspunnen castle close to Interlaken), which celebrated Swiss alpine culture in an effort to bridge the divide between urban and rural communities and to make a statement against the French following Napoleon’s brutal invasion.

By the late 19th century, the first national championships were established under the Eidgenössisches Schwing und Älplerfest (Federal Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival), now the sport's largest event, occurring every three years. Around this time, the Eidgenössischer Schwingerverband (ESV, or Federal Wrestling Federation) was formed as well.

Where to catch Schwingen competitions

You won't find many Schwingen clubs or events in the French- or Italian-speaking regions of Switzerland, but in the German-speaking areas, Hosenlupf, or 'breeches lifting,' is a staple of the sporting calendar, with major events drawing in thousands of fans.

Numerous Schwingen competitions occur in towns and villages throughout the year, including youth tournaments and regional festivals (check out the ESV’s agenda for options), but to experience the sport at its peak, try to secure tickets to one of the larger events, as they tend to sell out quickly.

Top competitors are quite famous in this sphere; although the sport remains amateur, they manage to land lucrative sponsorship deals that even tennis superstar Roger Federer would envy.

Understanding the rules of the game

Shorts are essential in the sport. Each competitor wears Schwingerhosen, which are wrestling shorts made from jute and secured by a leather belt, over their trousers. During a match, lasting around five minutes, both wrestlers must grip the back of their opponent’s shorts while employing a variety of techniques—over 100 available—to try and throw them to the ground. A bout concludes when one wrestler's shoulders touch the sawdust inside the ring.

Points are awarded for each match, overseen by a referee and two additional judges who also determine matchups. The wrestler accumulating the most points wins, and at major events, the prize is often a Muni (a young bull) that proudly poses for photos before being returned to the pasture.

Are women involved in Schwingen?

Women’s Schwingen was established in 1980, and there is now a vibrant circuit for women and girls, organized by the Eidgenössischer Frauenschwingverband (Women’s Schwingen Association). However, the sport remains largely male-dominated, featuring towering athletes with impressive physiques. The current national champion, Joel Wicki, stands at 1.83m (6ft), considered on the smaller side. The top competitors are known as Die Bösen (the bad boys), and their accomplishments are documented annually in the ESV’s official yearbook and a pin-up calendar.

A sport built on respect

Attending a Schwingfest (wrestling festival) reveals the deep respect this sport holds among both competitors and spectators. The atmosphere is lively and family-friendly, reminiscent of a passionate Liverpool fan experience, yet participants take the competition seriously. Fans flock to support their local clubs, often rooting for wrestlers who have dedicated extensive training to compete.

Competition etiquette is strictly observed: wrestlers shake hands before their match, and the victor always brushes the sawdust off their opponent's back as a gesture of respect.

Witness the national champion crowned at the federal festival

The Federal Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival crowns the national champion known as the Schwingerkönig and takes place in a different location every three years. It's a grand event—during the last festival in Pratteln in 2022, a specially constructed arena with 50,000 seats welcomed around 400,000 attendees over two days. While Schwingen is the main attraction, the festival also features two other traditional Swiss sports: Steinstossen (stone-throwing), akin to Swiss shot-put, and Hornussen, a unique blend of golf, lacrosse, and cricket that’s best understood through experience. The festivities are rounded out by Alpenhorn players, yodellers, and flag wavers. If you've attended Highland Games in Scotland, think of it as a Swiss twist on that.

Unspunnen is the premier Schwingen celebration

Dubbed the Olympics of alpine sports, Unspunnen (or the Swiss Wrestling, National Costume and Alpine Herdsmen’s Festival) occurs only once every 12 years in Interlaken. Featuring a grand opening parade of individuals in traditional attire, the festival dedicates each day to a different alpine sport, including Schwingen, culminating in a ceremonial closing about ten days later.

The festival is symbolized by the Unspunnen stone, a hefty boulder weighing 8 kg, which serves as the centerpiece for the stone-throwing competition. This isn’t the original stone, which remains lost after its second theft in 2005. Before the last festival in 2017, organizers made a courteous request for its return, promising a fine bottle of wine to whoever brought it back.

Schwingen across the nation

If waiting 12 years seems excessive, the Unspunnen organizers host another Schwingen competition every six years called the Unspunnen-Schwinget. This event, along with the Kilchberger Schwinget, boasts a rich history, appealing primarily to dedicated fans, as tickets are mostly reserved for Schwingen club members. If you lack connections, consider attending the Schwing & Älplerfest Schwarzsee, located near the bilingual town of Fribourg on the Röstigraben language border, which is the only official Schwingfest in south-west Switzerland.

Ticketing details: How to secure your spot

Due to significant ticket allocations for club members of the Federal Wrestling Federation at major events, the remaining tickets for the general public tend to sell out quickly. So, if you aim to witness Schwingen at the next federal festival in Glarus in 2025 or at Unspunnen in 2029, mark the on-sale dates in your calendar and act with the urgency of a Glastonbury ticket hunter. However, if you miss out on arena tickets, attending the festival for its atmosphere and watching the action on large screens outside is still worthwhile. Alternatively, you can catch the events on television, as they are broadcasted by Swiss national broadcaster SRF/RTS.

Bring a piece of the Alps home: snag an alpine shirt

To embrace the alpine spirit, grab a classic blue shirt adorned with alpine flowers, originally crafted by the Jenni brand in the 1970s and now available at various shops across the country. These shirts are a staple at Swiss alpine festivals and are even worn by some wrestlers during competitions, symbolizing pride in rural heritage and farming traditions. Pair it with a glass of Swiss wine and a selection of Älpkase (alpine cheese) for the complete experience.

Prepare yourself: visit the sports shorts museum

Karl Meli, a two-time Schwingerkönig, is remembered as one of the most accomplished Swiss wrestlers of the 20th century. His daughter, Irene Bodenmann-Meli, who also wrestled, established a small museum in Winterthur dedicated to her father's legacy. Following her passing in 2019, the collection was donated to the Swiss Open-Air Museum in Ballenberg, where it now forms the centerpiece of a special exhibition titled: ‘Who wears the trousers? Schwingen – the Swiss wrestling tradition’. This exhibition explores the history and cultural impact of Schwingen through various artifacts, including trophies, wreaths, and the iconic Schwingerhösen.