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Contact | General information on and further addresses: Verwaltung des Kantons Thurgau | Thurgau Regierungsgebäude | CH-8510 | Schweiz | Tel. +41 52 724 11 11 | Fax +41 52 724 29 93 | Internet: www.tg.ch | E-Mail: [email protected] The information brochure of Thurgau canton Impressum Publishers: The state chancellery of Thurgau canton | Executive Manager: 2 | 3 Introduction & Contents Walter Hofstetter, information office | Text: departments, information office, VetschCom | Editor, Realization: Hanspeter Vetsch, VetschCom, Frauenfeld | 4 | 5 Geography & Location Graphical Design: Barbara Ziltener, Visuelle Gestaltung, Frauenfeld | Photos: 6 | 7 Landscape & Residents Susann Basler, Müllheim | Translation: Betty Fahrni-Jones | Proofreader: 8 | 9 Life & Mobility Brigitte Ackermann, Maienfeld | Print and Lithography: Sonderegger Druck, 10 | 11 Economics & Work | Source of Supply: Informationsdienst Kanton Thurgau, 12 | 13 Education & Research Regierungs­gebäude, 8510 Frauenfeld, Tel. +41 52 724 25 16, [email protected] 14 | 15 Culture & Leisure 16 | 17 State & Politics 18 | 19 History & Impressum The orchard of Thurgau canton is the number one fruit-growing area in Switzer­land. Every third apple is from here and is either for the table or for apple We are Thurgau – and we are proud of it. We explain why on the following pages. juice and cider. In Rogg­ there is Concise, colourful and with affection we present our canton to you. Take your time, an orchard containing trees with 300 different sorts of apples. The because Thurgau is often perceived on the second look, and then you get the drift. origin of all these various brands The gentle beauty of the softly rolling landscape with the lovely is an of apples is said to be the wild crab apple which was on the menu invitation to live, to work, to relax and to enjoy just being here. here in Thurgau 5700 years ago.

Come and have a look at Thurgau. First in this brochure and then in reality. This brochure shall be your invitation and animation to come and see for yourself and to discover unknown facts and characteristics of Thurgau canton.

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| www.obstsortensammlung.ch | www.hr-schweizer.ch/ obstsortensammlung

Photos from left to right: At the chapel in Klingenzell looking towards and Untersee | Frauenfeld in twilight | At Aspenrüti near Neukirch an der and , are on the outer edge of the canton, so the centre is the canton itself – the countryside, the hills and the waters. Location | Thurgau canton nestles between | www.thurgau-tourismus.ch the Lake Constance and the foothills of the

Geography & Location on the border of Switzerland but in the Travel | Thurgau has very good connections centre of the Lake Constance region. From to the surrounding areas by road and rail. The the heights of the gently rolling hills you can national highways link Thurgau to the Swiss see the landscapes of , , network of motorways. The German and St. Gallen and and to the north Ger- Austrian motorways are reached just across On the border and in the centre: Thurgau many and , united and separated by the the border. Two express railway lines com- canton is situated in the north-east of waters of Lake Constance, Untersee and the ing from Zurich traverse the canton. Between river . The author, Jochen Kelter, wrote: Weinfelden and Zurich there is an express Switzerland, on the borders to and «Here I find strength. Because I have a clear train every half hour. The southern part of the Austria. It is however in the centre of the range of vision over hills and borders without canton is joined in Wil (St. Gallen canton) to thriving Lake Constance region. Many paths knowing exactly where they are», and thus the ICE town-joining fast rail network. The rail he explains his love of Thurgau and the views services Zurich– and Zurich– lead here – welcome! over distances. The largest towns, Frauenfeld, are easily reached from Schaffhausen and

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Photos from left to right: at the Untersee | Roundabout at the railway station in Kreuzlingen | View looking towards the monastery in Schaffhausen

Diessenhofen Q Kreuzlingen Statistics Thurgau canton ▶ Population: ca. 241 000 ▶ Capital: Frauenfeld, population 22 500 Singen (Germany) and from and ▶ 80 towns and villages ▶ St. Gallen. From Constance (Germany) the Weinfelden Area: 991 square kilometres ▶ Highest altitude 991 metres Black Forest rail service runs to Offenburg Frauenfeld Bürglen above sea level – Hörnli area and Karlsruhe. The car ferry across the lake ▶ Lowest altitude 370 metres leaves Romanshorn for Friedrichshafen in Arbon above sea level – the river Germany every hour, joining the roads in the Thur near Fahrhof

Rorschach Q direction of Ulm. The airports Zurich-Kloten, Winterthur Altenrhein ▶ North-south distance Münchwilen St. Gallen-Altenrhein and Friedrichshafen 35 kilometres Wil (Germany) are within easy distance by road ▶ East-west distance or rail. | www.thurgaumobil.tg.ch Q Kloten 61 kilometres | www.ovt.tg.ch | www.tiefbauamt.tg.ch St. Gallen | www.statistik.tg.ch

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Frankfurt Key to map Q Germany Q water Mannheim national border

Saarbrücken Q Nürnberg Karlsruhe main road Stuttgart motorway Strassburg Q Ulm railway München Q airport Q Konstanz Müllhausen Austria Reproduziert mit Bewilligung des Amtes für St. Gallen Geoinformation des Kantons Thurgau vom Dijon 50 Luzern 28. April 2009. Code 8510/V 100 Switzerland 150 Genf 200

250 Mailand Verona Turin 300 km Land & Residents Landscape | The people who live here and the visitors, all love the gentle beauty of the landscape. Towns, villages, farmland and countryside are attractive contrasts. A shore- line of 62 kilometres stretches along Lake Constance and the river Rhine in Thurgau. The difference in altitudes is 600 metres. In «I felt a great silent amazement when Thurgau canton has a picture-book country- the south of the canton are the wooded foot- contemplating the landscape of Thurgau. side. The towns and villages have grown hills of the Alps. In the central region, where The feeling never left me during all the the river Thur flows, the countryside is flatter, years when I made it my home. So much naturally over the past centuries and the living and here are the main roads and railway lines space and light and clear vision in all is good. If there is a need for the big cities, leading from west to east. To the north is directions.» be it for work or for pleasure, they are not far the thinly populated idylic landscape of the Seerücken, giving spectacular views of the Walter Kessler, Thurgau writer, away. Alps and the lake. 1904–1972

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Photos from left to right: Residential area in Bottig­hofen | Rapeseed field near | The harbour and marinas of Romanshorn | The old town of Bischofszell | On the Nollen Thurgauer Hymn (1st. Verse) O Thurgau, du Heimat, wie bist du so schön, wie bist du so schön. Dir schmücket der Sommer Security | To make everyone feel safe in die Täler und Höhn! Thurgau, there is a cantonal police force of O Thurgau, du Heimat, about 400. Police patrols are on duty day and wie bist du so hold, The settlement structure | Thurgau is night, and there are 25 police stations where dir tauchet der Sommer surrounded by important cities such as Zurich, Residence | The greater part of the canton the public finds assistance. The criminal po- die Fluren in Gold. Winterthur, St. Gallen, Schaffhausen and is made up of small towns, villages and ham- lice, traffic control and security police operate la, la, la, ... Constance. There are many regional centres lets set in rural and unspoiled countryside. from the command centre in Frauenfeld. The Dir tauchet der Sommer and a network of villages, becoming denser Wherever you are, you can be out in the green lake police have their headquarters in Kreuz­ die Fluren in Gold. from west to east. The construction of the rail- very quickly. However, the regional centres are lingen, with 62 kilometres of lakeside and Composer: Johannes Wepf ways furthered the development of the settle- easily reached either by public transport or by river shores to patrol. 5000 firemen are on (1810–1890) ments, especially in the valley of the river Thur car. Residential areas are mostly quiet, often call from 70 fire stations. Under the leadership Lyrics: Johann Ulrich Bornhauser to Romanshorn. Over the last decades the with fine views of the Alps and of Lake Con- of the centre for protection of the population, (1825–1848) building of the motorways A1 and A7 have stance. Thurgau offers a good quality of living, the police, the fire brigade, the rescue service, influenced the growth of the settlements. and housing prices are moderate. the home guard and the public utilities work | www.de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ | www.raumplanung.tg.ch | www.wifoe.tg.ch | www.wifoe.tg.ch closely together. | www.kapo.tg.ch Thurgauerlied

| 7 Life & Mobility Infrastructure | Well organized and modern: The infrastructure of Thurgau is up-to-date. Thurgau was the first canton to organize its hospitals as a public holding company, retain­ Traffic | The quality of the road network in this ing 100% of the shares itself. The cantonal particularly finely structured area is of great hospitals in Frauenfeld and Münsterlingen, importance. 800 kilometres of well constructed the rehabilitation clinic St. Katharinental in and maintained national and cantonal roads and the psychiatric clinic in run through the canton, connecting regions, Münsterlingen with its services belong to the towns and villages. A further 2200 kilometres Thurgau canton has the ambition to be among company. The public transport system and of community roads serve local traffic to resi­ the very best in the fields of public health, the roads are above average. The range of dential areas and places of work. There is a schooling stretches from to uni- public bus service and excellent cycling paths. education, road and rail networks as well as civil versity (see pages 12/13). The cantonal civil The road network is continually adjusted to the service. This means paying attention to details service has 3000 employees, providing effi- changing requirements, thus providing reliable and nevertheless making quick administrative cient administration. It has been among the transport for both goods and private traffic. most economical in Switzerland for years. | www.tiefbauamt.tg.ch decisions. Come and test us. | www.stgag.ch | www.dek.tg.ch | www.raumplanung.tg.ch

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Photos from left to right: Shopping arcade in Frauenfeld | Motorway access Frauenfeld | Express train in the valley of the river Thur | The hospital chemist in Münsterlingen | Shipping Company Unter­see- Rhein with the harbour St. Katharinental near Diessen­ hofen Public Transport | In recent years the canton and the communities have increased Thurbo-Thurgau their supply of rail and bus services, working Mobility in Thurgau is closely together with private transport firms. 700 kilo- linked to the names Thurbo and metres of rail and bus services with 900 stops Stadler Rail. Thurbo is a dynamic, offer mobility all over the canton. The back- hour. The rail/bus tariff union between the market oriented and customer bone of the public transport are the express Ostwind and the Z-Pass Zurich make travelling friendly regional rail service, with railway services Romanshorn–Zurich –Berne by rail or bus easy. | www.thurgaumobil.tg.ch its head office in Kreuzlingen. The regular rail services and modern (Inter City) and Constance–Kreuz­lingen– | www.ovt.tg.ch trains have set standards in public Zurich–Biel (Inter Regio). The regional trains transport. The Thurbo carriages are modern and well equipped with air con­ Taxes | The fiscal conditions in Thurgau are are manufactured in Thurgau by ditioning and run every half hour throughout very competitive with moderate income tax and Stadler Rail, an international firm most of the day. All railway lines have late capital tax rates. The taxation laws are gener- with headquarters in . night trains and connecting bus services at ous towards families. Direct heirs are free of the weekend. 50 regional bus services are inheritance tax and gift tax. Well trained tax avai­lable to the outlying districts. Thanks to the office clerks are on hand to advise tax-payers good rail and bus services in Frauenfeld and and to find solutions. Complicated cases can Kreuz­lingen, two thirds of the population in be submitted for an advance estimate. Thurgau are within reach of Zurich every half | www.steuerverwaltung.tg.ch

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Stadler Rail does business world- wide and has accomplished an enormous growth with an annual turnover of over one billion Swiss francs. | www..ch | www.stadlerrail.ch Business structure | The economy in Thur- is supported by many small and middle- sized businesses. This structure is the basis for the economical flexibility in Thurgau. There are,

Economics & Work A place for business, trade and industry | of course, several well-known large scale, in- Firms find excellent conditions in Thurgau. The ternationally active enterprises. The number of central location in Europe, nearby internation- people employed in service companies has al airports and first-rate road and rail networks increased in recent years, and in the meantime guarantee efficient business transactions. The more than half of the workforce is employed in border location gives easy access to the Euro­ these fields of business. Although agriculture pean labour market. The canton is also sur- and forestry have an important standing and Work is not life but it is an important part of it. rounded by national and international colleges are among the most modern in Switzerland, A wide variety of jobs are on offer in Thurgau. and universities, providing qualified workforce. it is the manufacturing and processing sector An efficient civil service helps to keep taxes that has the outstanding position. The metal Employers find qualified workers and low taxes. low. Further plus points are the moderate real industry and engineering are the strongest Living in Thurgau and working in the near estate prices and the availability of property. fields of industry. Other important industrial cities is easy due to excellent road, rail and bus These ideal conditions support firms in their fields are the traditional nutrition and beverage efforts to achieve a high level of productivity. industry as well as electronics and precision services. | www.wifoe.tg.ch engineering. Business and research work hand

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Photos from left to right: Apple processing in the Seeobst AG in Güttingen | Sia Abrasives in Frauenfeld | In the workshops of Stadler Rail in Bussnang | The Strellson Company-build- ing in Kreuzlingen | Production in the Forster Kitchen and Refrigeration Technics in Arbon Some top firms

Sigg, Frauenfeld

to find qualified personnel thanks to good Lista, business relations with the surrounding national and international colleges and universities. This in hand to achieve a high standard of techno­ leads to a high level of innovation. Bernina, Steckborn logy in Thurgau. Projects in the field of re­new­ | www.wifoe.tg.ch able energy have a priority standing. | www.ihk-thurgau.ch | www.tgv.ch Corporate Taxation | The corporate tax Model, Weinfelden | www.wifoe.tg.ch code of Thurgau is tailored to today’s needs. Corporate profits tax is proportional and Labour Market | Although Thurgau canton cumulatively tied to capital tax rates. The eco- Bioforce, Roggwil has undergone great structural changes in nomic burden of double taxation is countered recent years, the employment rate has always with privileged taxation of both deemed and offers favourable tax solutions in case of self ISA, Amriswil remained above the Swiss average thanks to distributed profits. Conciliary rates are applied employment being finally wound up after the the diversity of business. Many firms provide to holding and management companies as age of 55, or if caused by injury, in which case a good choice of employment to Swiss and well as to mixed corporate structures. For newly liquidation proceeds are taxed at privileged Bischofszell Nahrungs- foreign workers. The location on the borders to arrived companies or in case of substantial rates. Under certain circumstances temporary mittel AG, Bischofszell Germany and Austria give easy access to the changes to a company’s economic activities tax breaks are considered for succession solu- European labour market, and Thurgau has a tax breaks can be arranged under considera- tions in the form of leasehold transactions or great number of German immigrants. It is easy tion of certain circumstances. Thurgau also inheritance. | www.steuerverwaltung.tg.ch AFG Arbonia-Forster- Holding AG, Arbon | 11

Stadler Rail, Bussnang

Strellson, Kreuzlingen

Rausch, Kreuzlingen

Sia, Frauenfeld State Schools | Thurgau’s state schools provide two years of kindergarten, six years of High schools and colleges | Thurgau elementary school and three years of second- canton has a good range of higher education ary school for all children. As in all the cantons available in all regions. In Frauenfeld, Kreuz­ in the east of Switzerland, learning a foreign lingen and Romanshorn there are canto­n­al

Education & Research language begins in the third grade of elemen- Schools for Higher Secondary Edu­cation lead- tary school with English, followed by French ing to matriculation. In addition, Frauenfeld in the fifth grade. The secondary schools are has a college-level commercial school and a organized on a streaming system. This allows school of computer science, and in Kreuzlingen pupils to learn in classes at a pace and level a peda­gogic high school prepares students according to their abilities. The streaming is for tea­cher training university. Pupils living in Schooling ranging from kindergarten to practised for all three secondary school years. southern Thurgau can attend college in Wil Each of the 90 school districts have their own (St. Gallen canton) in regional cooperation with university is available in Thurgau canton. teaching curriculum. For example five high Thurgau canton for this purpose. In coopera- Research institutions show how acquired schools offer special tutoring for talented pu- tion with Schaffhausen canton there is a gram- knowledge can be put to the test to find pils in sport or music, planning a timetable that mar school for adults in Frau­enfeld, leading to leaves enough time for intensive training and matriculation. | www.amh.tg.ch the best solutions. practice. | www.av.tg.ch | www.dek.tg.ch | www.dek.tg.ch

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Photos from left to right: Students at work | College in Frauen­feld | University of Teacher Education (PHTG) in Kreuz­lingen | Kindergarten pupils in Bürglen | College in K r e u z ­l i n g e n Biotechnology Cancer research is centred at the Biotechnology Institute Thurgau in Higher Education | Thurgau canton has its Research | Research has a long tradition in Kreuzlingen. In particular, the mo- own University of Teacher Education (PHTG) Vocational training | A widely ranged net- Thurgau, for example in archeology, in history bility of cancer cells and the devel- in Kreuzlingen. This institution continues the work of placements for 7000 apprentices (state archives, historical museum, opment of new immune therapies tradition of 175 years of teachers’ training for is available for more than 100 different pro- museum, state library, historical society), in are on the research programme. all grades, from kindergarten teacher to higher fessions. The practical training takes place in natural science (natural science museum, The results are published interna- tionally and circulated world-wide. secondary level teacher. Further to this, there 3100 firms. The complementary theoretical nature research society), in medical research Established in the year 2000 as are ex­cellent universities and higher education schooling is at one of the seven vocational at the hospitals and in psychiatry at the psy- an institute of the University of centres nearby in St. Gallen, Constance and training centres. The advice centre for career chiatric clinic. Several years ago, the canton Constance, it is an excellent exam- Winterthur (Zurich canton). Thurgau canton planning helps school-leavers plan their future set up three scientific research units in coope­ ple of the successful cooperation cooperates with these institutions. The inter­ occupations. They also offer advice to adults ration with the University of Constance. The in the fields of education and national cooperation between the German wishing to change professions or begin a new Biotechnology Institute Thurgau (BITg) and University of Constance and the PHTG is well set of studies. Four bridging schools prepare the Thurgau Institute of Economics (TWI) are established. The International Lake Constance about 450 young people for their start in their in Kreuzlingen and the Institute for Materials University (IBH) combines 27 universities in future studies or apprenticeships. There is also System Technique Thurgau (WITg) is in Täger- the region; its headquarters are in Thurgau. a wide variety of further education and courses . | www.bitg.ch | www.twi-kreuzlingen.ch | www.amh.tg.ch | www.phtg.ch at all the education centres. | www.abb.tg.ch | www.witg.ch

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research between Switzerland and Germany in the border towns of Kreuzlingen and Constance. | www.bitg.ch Culture | For lovers of classical music there are plenty of concerts in all regions. There are regular concerts at the monastery church in Münsterlingen with international solists, youth, Leisure | Lake Constance, its lower basin chamber and symphony orchestras. Nearly Culture & Leisure Culture the Untersee and the river Rhine are great all the towns and villages hold events and con- places for water sports, relaxing or nature certs, and there are international music fes- walks. There are so many leisure-time activi- tivals in the Carthusian Monastery Ittingen in ties on offer. Boat trips on lake and river with Warth and in Kreuzlingen. Rock, pop, hip-hop lovely views of the surrounding countryside. or jazz fans are also catered for by gigs in the Well signposted walking and cycling paths, local pubs, international jazz days «genera- each 1000 kilometres long, take you through tions» in Frauenfeld and big openair concerts It is astonishing that the people in Thurgau are beautiful scenery. One speciality is the Thur- in Frauenfeld and Arbon, bringing sounds for so hard working and busy since so much calls gau round walk in 24 stages, leading through every taste. The theatres of St. Gallen, Con- all the regions. Thurgau is also an Eldorado stance and Zurich are within easy distance. for leisure. Lake Constance invites you to relax for skaters with 200 kilometres of signposted There are numerous amateur dramatic groups, or enjoy walking or cycling in natural country- skating routes. The leisure park Conny-Land staging plays and regular guest performan­ces side. A great number of cultural highlights in in Lipperswil, the Plättli-Zoo in Frauenfeld in the towns. Kreuzlingen has a professional and lakeside parks are popular day trips for Summer theatre and Sirnach stages operettas. the canton and nearby are well worth a visit. families. | www.thurgau-tourismus.ch There are six cantonal museums: the Napoleon

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Photos from left to right: Swimming pool in Arbon at Lake Constance | Seeburg in Kreuzlingen | Concert at the monastery church in Münster­ lingen | On tour by bicycle and Thurbo rail | Thurgau strawberries | Openair concert in Frauenfeld Museum near Ermatingen, the historical muse- Napoleon Museum um in the Castle of Frauenfeld, the natural In the small community of science museum and the museum of arche­ Gastronomy | There is a high standard of , is but ology in Frauenfeld, the Ittinger Museum and gastronomy in more than 20 Gault-Millau one of the five castles, but one the Thurgau art collection at the Carthusian villages as do manors and castles on higher establishments and the Gilde restaurants. Fish with a very special history. With Monastery in Warth. Furthermore there are 60 sites. Many churches and monas­teries were restaurants along the lake, traditional inns and a beautiful view over the Lake regional or private museums and collections, built in the style in the 17th and 18th guesthouses also offer excellent quality. Most Constance, Louis Napoleon III, amongst these a school museum in Amriswil, centuries. Good examples of this ornate build- hotels and restaurants cater for their guests the last Emperor of France, grew up here, living with his mother the Seemuseum in Kreuzlingen, the textile ing style are in Fischingen, Kreuzlingen, Kalch­ with seasonal products from the region. Many Hortense de Beauharnais. museum in Hauptwil, the Locorama (railway) rain, Münsterlingen and St. Katharinental. The farmers sell their products directly, and also Hortense was the adopted and a car collection in Romanshorn. Carthusian Monastery Ittingen in Warth with offer «stay on a farm» holidays or «sleep on daughter of Napoleon I and at | www.museen.tg.ch | www.thurgaukultur.ch | the typical lay-out of the buildings, cloisters straw» nights. Good wines grow above the the same time his sister in law. www.kulturamt.tg.ch and monks’ living quarters are really worth a shores of the Untersee and the river Rhine Napoleon III’s wife Eugenie visit. Several important historical relics of the and on the southern facing slopes. Congress, Places of historical interest | Small towns industrial age are on show at the Greuterhof in conference and workshop facilities are on such as Arbon, Bischofszell, Diessenhofen, Islikon, the iron foundry in Frauenfeld, the hand in various castles, monasteries and Steckborn and Weinfelden have kept their paper factory in Bischofszell and the buildings hotels. Hospitality in four star hotels, inns and historical heritage. Open-timbered buildings of the Saurer factory in Arbon. guesthouses complete the picture. remain part of the character in the towns and | www.denkmalpflege.tg.ch | www.thurgau-tourismus.ch

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willed the castle to Thurgau canton, stipulating that it be kept as a museum. Castle Arenenberg, the park and the Napoleon Museum are a harmonious work of art which attracts visitors from all over Europe. | www.napoleonmuseum.tg.ch State & Politics Parliament and government | The canton’s parliament has 130 elected members. It is the legislative of the canton and it passes all can- tonal laws. By right of referenda citizens can make the final decisions. Parliament also con- sents to the budget and the closing account State responsibilities | Among the respon- and it determines the rate of taxation. The sibilities of the canton are the maintaining of canton has an executive government of five Parliament, government, administration: public order and security, the running of social council­lors, also elected by the vo­ters for a Thurgau canton is organized like all the Swiss welfare, the public healthcare, the organization term of office. The government council­lors of obligatory schooling (kindergarten, elemen- represent the canton and lead the civil service. cantons, but with small differences due to short tary school, secondary school, high school), the They present drafts for rules, regulations and official channels. The civil service is efficient furtherance of cultural work, the environmental laws to parliament and put them into force. and its staff is trained to treat the public with protection, building, the public transport system The government councillors also manage the and the supply of water and electricity. canton’s finances. | www.tg.ch the necessary assistance and respect. | www.tg.ch | www.parlament.tg.ch

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Photos from left to right: Civil marriage ceremony in | Parliament debate in Frauenfeld | Central admin- istration building in Frauen­ feld | Filling in the voting forms | Government building in Frauenfeld Parliament A real Thurgau curiosity is the seat of parliament which changes every 6 months. From Weinfelden in winter (top photo) to Frauenfeld in summer (bottom photo). The only other place in the world where this happened was South Africa

Administration | The cantonal administration Communities | The 80 communities are implements the laws, rules and regulations. politically independent. They fulfil the tasks It consists of five departments and the state they choose and those which the law requires chancellery and also the regional authorities. them to. The tasks and council competence Some tasks are passed on to other institutions are laid down by the voters in the community. such as the Kantonalbank, the Thurgau Build- They are authorized to confer citizenship to ing Insurance Company or the University of foreigners and they manage their own council Teacher Education Thurgau. Each department finances in accordance with the constitu­tional is led by a government councillor. The state requirements. The school councils are respon- chancellor leads the state chancellery and is sible for the education in the community. the link between the government and the | www.vtg.ch | www.vtgs.ch parliament. | www.tg.ch

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where, until 2003, parliament sat in Pre­toria and Capetown in turns. Another curiosity is the seating arrangement: The mem- bers of parliament sit at long tables facing each other and not in the usual half-circle. | www.parlament.tg.ch Personalities

1 Helen Dahm (1878 –1968), artist

2 Napoleon III (1808 –1873), Emperor History of France and only honorary citizen of Thurgau canton 744 First written mention of Thurgau as Pagus Durgaugensis 3 (1808 –1888), 1798 Freed as subjects of the Swiss Confed- History & Impressum statesman and founder of the Swiss eration diplomacy 1803 Napoleon’s : Thurgau becomes a member of the Swiss 4 Alfred Huggenberger (1867–1960), Confederation and gains cantonal author independence 1830–1831 The first Thurgau constitution is A long history and outstanding personalities 5 Hermann Müller-Thurgau (1850 –1927), accepted plant physiologist and vine scientist 1849 The Thurgau cantonal constitution is make Thurgau proud of its past. Many old adjusted to the Swiss constitution traditions are still observed but people also 6 Adolf Saurer (1841–1920), industrial 1920 Parliament is elected by proportional work hard and creatively for a life worth engineer and pioneer in lorry construction vote for the first time 1990 The new cantonal constitution of 1987 living, now and in future. 7 (1877–1957), artist becomes valid

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5 6 7 Impressum Publishers: The state chancellery of Thurgau canton | Executive Manager: 2 | 3 Introduction & Contents Walter Hofstetter, information office | Text: departments, information office, VetschCom | Editor, Realization: Hanspeter Vetsch, VetschCom, Frauenfeld | 4 | 5 Geography & Location Graphical Design: Barbara Ziltener, Visuelle Gestaltung, Frauenfeld | Photos: 6 | 7 Landscape & Residents Susann Basler, Müllheim | Translation: Betty Fahrni-Jones | Proofreader: 8 | 9 Life & Mobility Brigitte Ackermann, Maienfeld | Print and Lithography: Sonderegger Druck, 10 | 11 Economics & Work Weinfelden | Source of Supply: Informationsdienst Kanton Thurgau, 12 | 13 Education & Research Regierungs­gebäude, 8510 Frauenfeld, Tel. +41 52 724 25 16, [email protected] 14 | 15 Culture & Leisure 16 | 17 State & Politics 18 | 19 History & Impressum We are

Contact | General information on Thurgau and further addresses: Verwaltung des Kantons Thurgau | Thurgau Regierungsgebäude | CH-8510 Frauenfeld | Schweiz | Tel. +41 52 724 11 11 | Fax +41 52 724 29 93 | Internet: www.tg.ch | E-Mail: [email protected] The information brochure of Thurgau canton