German Chancellor Angela Merkel has fractured a bone in her pelvis in a cross-country skiing accident in Switzerland, according to her spokesman.

Steffen Seibert said she will have to remain lying down as much as possible in the next three weeks and several visits will be cancelled.

She also suffered severe bruising in the accident, in the Alpine Engadine region of eastern Switzerland.

Ms Merkel was not skiing fast at the time, the spokesman added.

He called the injury "severe bruising linked with a partial fracture on the left, rear part of the pelvis".