![Hornussen festival in Studen, Bern, 1985.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/hornussen-titel-300x225.jpg)
Hornussen – the “invention” of a national sport
Along with Schwingen and Steinstossen, Hornussen is one of Switzerland’s national sports. Many people think of Hornussen as an ancient and typically Swiss game. Hornussen is indeed very old, but it’s only since the 19th century that it’s been considered a Swiss national game.
![Federal Councillor Rudolf Minger saw Hornussen as an ancient and quintessentially Swiss sport.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/bundesrat-minger-247x300.jpg)
![17th century edict issued by Bern banning Spielen, Schwingen and Hornussen.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/verordnung-bern-300x106.jpg)
![The legendary Unspunnenstein flies through the air – here in 1993.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/steinstossen-199x300.jpg)
![The Alphorn as a national trademark: Swiss delegation at the World Exhibition in New York, 1964.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/Alphorn-1-200x300.jpg)
![The “national sport” of Hornussen is the perfect vehicle for bringing together, in one flag-waving patriotic package, the domains of sport and tradition, rivalry and cohesion, urban and rural.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/Abschlag-Hornussen-300x225.jpg)
![The “national sport” of Hornussen is the perfect vehicle for bringing together, in one flag-waving patriotic package, the domains of sport and tradition, rivalry and cohesion, urban and rural.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/Schweizer-Hornusser-300x195.jpg)
The “national sport” of Hornussen is the perfect vehicle for bringing together, in one flag-waving patriotic package, the domains of sport and tradition, rivalry and cohesion, urban and rural. Dukas / RDB
![Frederick V of the Palatinate, playing “pell-mell” in The Hague. Watercolour by Adriaen van de Venne, 1626.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/mailspiel-300x196.jpg)
Report on the sport of Hornussen. Trans World Sport
Swiss Sports History
![](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/swisssportshistory-300x225.jpg)
This text was produced in collaboration with Swiss Sports History, the portal for the history of sports in Switzerland. The portal focuses on education in schools and information for the media, researchers and the general public. Find out more at sportshistory.ch