Diplomatic corps excursion to Lucerne and Entlebuch
Bern, 18.06.2025 — At the invitation of President Karin Keller-Sutter, the diplomatic corps visited the canton of Lucerne on Wednesday 18 June for its annual excursion. The programme included Lucerne's KKL culture and convention centre and the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Entlebuch.
The itinerary combined an urban centre of high culture with a region characterised by tradition and agriculture, fostering dialogue on contrasting aspects of Switzerland and current international issues. The event began with diplomats attending a dress rehearsal by the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra at the KKL. The orchestra performed Benjamin Britten's Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 15, written by the British composer in the late 1930s and strongly influenced of the turbulent circumstances of the time.
In Entlebuch, a region committed to sustainable tourism, the group visited the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Highlights included the Seelensteg footbridge in Heiligkreuz, built from timber salvaged from Storm Lothar, and demonstrations of local cheese and ice cream production. The diplomatic corps excursion is a regular fixture in the diplomatic calendar, with foreign ambassadors accredited to and resident in Switzerland invited to attend.