'Make Us Laugh': Nathalie Devantay Unimpressed by Van Life

A group of Roma from France has set up camp on a municipal meadow in Oberwinterthur. The move was necessary after their caravans were dangerously close to a high-voltage power line. They had previously left a field near Stadel. A hailstorm caused about one million francs in damage to uninsured travelers.

Several families in the Swiss canton of Ticino have been defrauded by a camper dealer who disappeared after taking payments. Some buyers received vehicles without registration papers, while another client was not fully paid for a camper sold on their behalf.

Demand for motorhomes in Switzerland has normalized after the boom, with buyers comparing more carefully on condition and price. Owners who rarely use their vehicle should consider whether ongoing costs for parking, insurance, and maintenance are justified. Well-maintained models with popular layouts remain in demand, while vehicles with repair issues may lose value.

Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn seeks to ban vehicles over 3.05 m through the Furka tunnel from Nov 1. Affects RVs and buses. Decision pending.

Travelers in motorhomes continued their route from Germany to Switzerland, visiting the Rhine Falls near Neuhausen and the city of Lucerne. The falls, about 150 meters wide and 23 meters high, are among the most powerful in Europe by water volume. In Lucerne, they saw the Chapel Bridge, a 14th-century wooden bridge 204 meters long, rebuilt after a fire in 1993. The travelers left their motorhomes at a campsite near Mount Pilatus and used public transport.

In the canton of Lucerne, Switzerland, farmer Max Mangold rented his field until the end of September for 10,000 Swiss francs, believing it would be used for hot air balloon launches. Instead, on Sunday evening, about 50 caravans from Switzerland, France, and Belgium moved in. The farmer chose not to demand their eviction, stating he does not depend financially on the money. Police arrived but did not evacuate. Local residents are concerned about makeshift showers and potential soil contamination, as well as the deception used to secure the lease.