The Ambassador of Switzerland to France is the representative of the Government of Switzerland in France and thus responsible for maintaining diplomatic relations between Switzerland and France.
First permanent Swiss diplomatic representation in France The worldwide first ever permanent Swiss diplomatic representation was opened in Paris in April 1798, at the time of the Helvetic Republic. On 28 April 1798, the Helvetic Directorate officially appointed the first envoy, Peter Josef Zeltner. However, Zeltner's posting to Paris had already taken place the previous day; thus, at the time of his appointment, he was already en route to Paris. Today the Embassy of the Swiss Confederation as well as the residence of the Swiss ambassador are housed in the Hôtel de Besenval in Paris.Claude Altermatt: Zwei Jahrhunderte Schweizer Aussenvertretungen (1798–1998), Jubiläumsbroschüre 200-Jahre-Eröffnung der ersten Schweizer Gesandtschaft in Paris 1798, Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten (EDA), Vorwort Bundesrat Flavio Cotti, 1998, pp. 6, 7
The early years: The era of the gentlemen diplomats
The beginnings of Swiss professional diplomacy in the last quarter of the 19th century were modest and accompanied by a certain skepticism. The focus of criticism was the associated costs. However, this attitude was not new. As early as 1731, the question of costs meant that the idea of establishing a permanent Swiss mission in Paris was not realised.Rolf Stücheli: Die diplomatischen Beziehungen zu den Grossmächten, Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS), Version vom 14.07.2011, online, 2025
The noble and the wealthy The question of costs came into focus again almost 150 years later when the first steps towards professionalising the diplomatic service were taken, which was mainly due to the initiative of Federal Councillor Numa Droz. The issue of costs was also reflected in the requirements for recruiting diplomats. Anyone interested in becoming a diplomat in the early years was advised that – in addition to a degree in law, knowledge of modern history as well as language skills in the Swiss national languages (French and German spoken and written, knowledge of Italian advantageous) and English (advantageous) – they should have above all one thing at their disposal: Their own assets.
The Swiss Confederation expressly pointed out that a diplomat's salary – even if he is head of mission – will not be enough to cover his living costs. Furthermore, until the regulations for the diplomatic service were revised in 1904, it was even demanded that young gentlemen who wished to become diplomats had to be prepared to serve for two to three years without any financial compensation. These years were essentially regarded as unpaid apprenticeship years. Accordingly, the first Swiss diplomats came from wealthy, mostly industrial and patrician families, who viewed their profession as an appointment rather than a job, in the sense of an honorary post. Hence, the young diplomats were effectively co-opted by the old boy network, which also helps explain the diplomatic corps' once-elite reputation. This only changed with the adjustment of salaries and the introduction of an admission competition, the concours diplomatique, which was developed in 1955 under the leadership of Walter Stucki and finally introduced in 1956. This process is also known as the democratisation of the diplomatic service. It was the beginning of the end of the era of the gentlemen diplomats.Florian Keller: Botschafterporträts – Schweizer Botschafter in den « Zentren der Macht » zwischen 1945 und 1975, Chronos Verlag, Zürich, 2018, pp. 43 (with reference to an official document from 1892), 51, 52, 53Claude Altermatt / Anja Lindner: Einbindung ins internationale diplomatische System, Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS), Version vom 14.07.2011, online, 2025Edgar Bonjour / Konrad Stamm: Walter Stucki, Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS), Version vom 21.01.2014, online, 2025
The last years of the gentlemen diplomats in post-war Paris
It is noteworthy that, from the end of World War II until the 1980s, Switzerland's representation in Paris was largely entrusted to gentlemen with no prior ambassadorial experience, yet who enjoyed considerable personal and professional prestige. They typically remained at their posts for extended periods, sometimes as long as ten years. Surprisingly, most of them did not come from the Romandy. Among the most illustrious of these diplomats were Agostino Giorgio Soldati and Carl J. Burckhardt.Florian Keller: Botschafterporträts – Schweizer Botschafter in den « Zentren der Macht » zwischen 1945 und 1975, Chronos Verlag, Zürich, 2018, p. 54
Ambassador François de Ziegler was the last ambassador in Paris to join the diplomatic service before the introduction of the admission competition, the concours diplomatique. He had joined the diplomatic service in 1945 and served in France from 1977 to 1987. Hence, he was the last gentleman ambassador to France.
François de Ziegler was a member of the Institut de France, an honour seldom granted to foreigners, reflecting his successful integration into France's high society and greatly aiding his professional activities. The Swiss Confederation profited from his remarkable network and persuasive eloquence, which proved invaluable in advancing its interests. François de Ziegler was widely recognised as an exceptional networker and a skilled facilitator of high-level contacts.Yann Decorzant: François de Ziegler, Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS), Version vom 29.10.2012, online, 2025
First permanent French diplomatic representation in Switzerland
In the aftermath of the Battle of Marignano, the Paix Perpétuelle (Perpetual Peace) of 1516 and the mercenary alliance of 1521, France had already opened a permanent diplomatic representation in 1522 on Swiss territory, however, without a permanent residence for the ambassador. Instead, the French ambassador travelled with the members of the Tagsatzung to the respective venues. Opened by order of François I, this embassy on Swiss territory was the first permanent French embassy in the world, followed by the establishment of French embassies in London and Venice.Jean-Jacques de Dardel: 1663 : Le Renouvellement de l'Alliance avec le Roi de France – histoire et tapisserie, Labor et Fides, Genève, 2013, p. 36
Solothurn – the City of Ambassadors
It was not until 1530 that the French ambassador moved into permanent residence on Swiss territory, in the city of Solothurn. The ambassador had his seat in the Ambassadorenhof, a building that still exists today. On 19 May 1717, however, a major fire destroyed large parts of the ambassador's residence. In 1725, the residence was rebuilt, according to the plans of the Vorarlberg architect Franz Beer. The first French ambassador to move into the Ambassadorenhof was Louis d'Augerand, Seigneur de Boisrigaut. The presence of the French ambassador significantly increased the importance of Solothurn and unofficially made the city a center of the political, economic and social life of the Old Swiss Confederacy. Therefore, the city of Solothurn is still called the City of Ambassadors today. However, the last French ambassador in Solothurn, Charles-Olivier de Saint-Georges, Marquis de Vérac, left the city in 1792 during the French Revolution. The French ambassador has resided in Bern since 1799.Jean-Jacques Fiechter / Benno Schubiger: L'Ambassade de Suisse à Paris, Ambassade de Suisse, 2ème édition, août 1994, p. 30Embassy of the Swiss Confederation in France, Website, 2023Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Website, 2023André Schluchter: Ambassador, Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (HLS), Website, 2024, Version vom 09.07.2001Stadt Solothurn: Ambassadorensitz, Geschichte der Stadt, Website, 2024André Schluchter: Charles Olivier de Vérac, Dictionnaire Historique de la Suisse (DHS), version du 15.01.2014Revue d'Auvergne: Louis d'Augerand et La Suisse, Société des amis de l'Université de Clermont, (Numéro 288 de la collection), tome 54, Numéro 2, Clermont-Ferrand, Imprimerie Générale, de Bussac, 2, Cours Sablon, p. 43
In the heyday of the 18th century, many personalities visited the French ambassadors in Solothurn. Among the most famous visitors were Voltaire, who visited in 1756 and 1758, and Giacomo Casanova, who stayed in May and June 1760, both hosted by Ambassador Anne-Théodore Chevignard, Chevalier de Chavigny, Comte de Toulongeon et Baron d'Uchon.Felix Nussbaumer, Verena Bider: Casanova in Solothurn – Fakten und Vermutungen, Faktenblatt zur Vorbereitung auf die Ausstellung «Casanova in Solothurn» im Historischen Museum Solothurn, Schloss Blumenstein, 2006, Zentralbibliothek Solothurn, Mai 2006Fränzi Zwahlen-Saner: Giacomo Casanova und das Solothurner Gärtli, Solothurner Zeitung, Literatur, Artikel vom 1. Februar 2015, Archiv, Website, 2024
Monsieur l'Ambassadeur and the Special Relationship
An interesting aspect of Franco-Swiss diplomatic history is that, until 1953, only the French head of mission was permitted to hold the title of Ambassador to Switzerland. It was only from February 1953 that all foreign heads of mission in Switzerland, previously envoys, were allowed to bear the title.Claude Altermatt: Zwei Jahrhunderte Schweizer Aussenvertretungen (1798–1998), Jubiläumsbroschüre 200-Jahre-Eröffnung der ersten Schweizer Gesandtschaft in Paris 1798, Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten (EDA), Vorwort Bundesrat Flavio Cotti, 1998, pp. 38, 39Bundesamt für Bauten und Logistik (BBL): Bundesbauten, Kapitel Ausland – Catherine Courtiau / Jacques Pitteloud: Der Titel des Botschafters, Edition Hochparterre, Zürich, 2016, p. 233
Times had changed. By the end of 1955, the Federal Council recognised that the title of ambassador, due to its widespread use, no longer carried its former prestige. The Swiss Confederation took this as an opportunity to gradually promote its heads of mission from envoys to ambassadors, thereby raising legations to the rank of embassies. The Swiss Legation in Paris was upgraded to an embassy in 1957, and the process was completed in 1964 with the elevation of the last two Swiss legations.
Kings, presidents and ambassadors The Special Relationship between Switzerland and France has deep roots. A turning point was the Battle of Marignano and the subsequent peace treaty, the Paix Perpétuelle (Perpetual Peace) of 1516, followed by the mercenary alliance of 1521 that emerged from these negotiations. The renewal of this mercenary alliance, the Soldallianz von Luzern, on 18 November 1663 in the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, in the presence of King Louis XIV, went down in history as one of the king's most important diplomatic achievements. Its significance is underscored by the Alliance Tapestry, a copy of which is on display in the Hôtel de Besenval.
Mutual appreciation was repeatedly expressed at the highest level, often resulting in personal friendships:
Ambassadors of Switzerland to France
From 1798 until 1957 as the Swiss envoy, called Minister 1798–1800: Peter Josef Zeltner (1765–1830) 1800–1800: Gottlieb Abraham von Jenner (1765–1834) 1800–1803: Philipp Albert Stapfer (1766–1840) 1803–1814: Antoine Constantin de Maillardoz, Marquis de Maillardoz (1765–1832) 1814–1847: Georg von Tschann (1777–1847) 1848–1857: Josef Hyazint Barmann (1800–1885) 1857–1883: Johann Konrad Kern (1808–1888), first Envoy Extraordinary and Minister PlenipotentiaryBundesamt für Bauten und Logistik (BBL): Bundesbauten, Kapitel Ausland – Catherine Courtiau / Jacques Pitteloud: Das Eidgenössische Politische Departement von 1848, Edition Hochparterre, Zürich, 2016, p. 229