Long-term solutions lacking for campsite and its residents

Winterthur city police are auctioning an ownerless Fiat Ducato 290/14 motorhome (1990) under Art. 721 para. 2 ZGB. The vehicle had been parked on a private lot for about a year; the owner died and the estate was declared bankrupt. The auction begins on July 23, 2026, via Ricardo.ch.

Long-term campers at the 'La Nouvelle Plage' campsite in Estavayer-le-Lac (Fribourg canton) have filed an appeal with the cantonal court against the removal of their seasonal pitches. Operator TCS, which bought the campsite in 2024, plans to reduce the number of seasonal pitches from 108 to 20 and build luxury chalets for tourists (glamping). The campers argue that the new zoning plan was approved without a required detailed development plan. The court has suspended the contested points pending a decision.

Switzerland saw 110,000 registered motorhomes in 2023, a 50% increase since 2020, but only 104 official farm parking spots exist due to strict zoning laws. The Huber family in Birrhard (Aargau) has offered motorhome parking for nearly 20 years, recently obtaining permits for four spots after lengthy procedures. The spot costs 18 francs per night including electricity, contributing 5,000–7,000 francs annually to the farm through shop sales.

The city of Winterthur is extending the lease for the Schützenweiher campsite after voters rejected the TCS replacement project in Rosenberg. The reprieve is temporary: over 60 permanent campers can stay longer, but the site's long-term future remains uncertain.

On the morning of July 13, 2026, a parked camper van caught fire in Collombey-Muraz (Valais, Switzerland), and flames spread to a bus. A gas cylinder explosion intensified the blaze, which was contained by 11:15. No injuries, garage undamaged. The Public Prosecutor's Office of Lower Valais has opened an investigation.

On Sunday, July 12, 2026, a burning motorhome sparked a major fire in Fideris (Graubünden). The blaze destroyed three sheds with vehicles and materials; no injuries were reported.