Advertisement

Living in Switzerland For Members

REVEALED: What is included in this Swiss city’s time capsule?

Helena Bachmann
Helena Bachmann - [email protected]
REVEALED: What is included in this Swiss city’s time capsule?
Some of the 'treasures' buried in Lausanne's time capsule. Photo: Mathilde Imesch, Ville de Lausanne

Lausanne officials have buried “treasure” under a bridge, to give future generations a glimpse into life in this Swiss city at the beginning of the 2020s. What do they want future generations to know?

Advertisement

The ‘Lausannois’ living in 2122 will be able to learn about their city’s past not just from whatever search engine will replace Google, but by a far more traditional method. 

To make sure no stone is left unturned (literally and figuratively), Lausanne authorities saw the renovation of the city’s Grand-Pont bridge as an apt opportunity to bury a time capsule whose contents symbolise what the early 2020s are all about in Vaud’s capital city.

The “burial service” took place on Thursday, when a municipal delegation placed a metal box in a specially dug hole.

The burial is about to begin. Photo: Mathilde Imesch, Ville de Lausanne

READ MORE: Swiss town ranked the ‘world’s best small city’

Advertisement

“The objects and documents found there are intended for future generations, who will discover them during the next renovation of the bridge a hundred years from now”, Lausanne mayor Grégoire Junod  in a press release.

The box contains items that are representative of the modern-day life in Lausanne; all were selected by city officials, as well residents:

  • Map of Lausanne
  • Photos of the renovation of the Grand-Pont
  • Covid auto-test with instructions
  • Mobile phone with charger
  • A bottle of water from Lake Geneva
  • A stamp showing the cathedral’s watchtower
  • A recording of the city noises on USB key
  • Aerial photos of the city
  • Bus ticket and map of the public transport network
  • 5-franc coin
  • An issue of Lausanne daily newspaper, “24 Heures”
  • A copy of the city's legislative projects from 2021 to 2026

“These objects are intended to be both symbolic and representative of the times in which we live, with its legacy, challenges, and hopes for the future”, Junod said.

READ MORE: After 600 years of night watchmen, Lausanne gets first watchwoman

 

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also