_{40 Years of Filidor}_{– A History on the Rock}

Forty years ago, Filidor published its first climbing guidebook. It all began with a simple idea: to document the most beautiful rock routes and share this data and the joy of climbing with others. What started as a personal project by Jürg von Känel has, over the years, become an integral part of the Swiss climbing scene.

With great passion, patience, and an exceptional eye for detail, Jürg explored new areas, surveyed routes, and drew topos—often with great effort and always with the goal of providing climbers with reliable and inspiring guidebooks. His many books have accompanied generations of climbers to the crags: in their backpacks on long approaches, at the base of the wall while studying the line, or in the evenings while planning the next day of climbing.

Filidor has always been more than just a publishing house. It was—and still is—a labor of love.

Today, Sandro von Känel carries on this work. He grew up with the climbing guides and learned early on just how much passion, time, and care go into each guidebook. Filidor has since become part of his own life journey—and often part of his family’s daily routine as well. His family regularly heads out to the crags together. In this way, the connection to the rock lives on not only in the books but also, quite naturally, from generation to generation.

We are celebrating our 40th anniversary with a special publication: a completely revised new edition of Plaisir Ost will be released in early May 2026. To mark the occasion, the guidebook will feature a special anniversary cover. The painting of Val Forno was created by artist and climber Rhiannon Klee, making this edition a special collector’s item.

Four decades of Filidor represents countless hours spent on the rock, climbing and data gathering of countless new areas and climbs, as well as exploring Switzerland’s ever growing climbing landscape together. None of this would be possible, however, without the many people who shape and advance the sport of climbing: the route developers who create new routes through vision, hard work, and perseverance; the local experts who share their knowledge; and the countless climbers who experience these routes time and again.

We owe a huge thank you to all of you.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey over the years—and who continues to hit the rocks with a Filidor climbing guide in their backpack.

Here’s to many more pitches.

Team Filidor

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To our customers from outside Switzerland, we suggest ordering books directly from tmms Publishing in Germany or Cordee Books in UK.