In the spotlight
Habsburg heritage, humanism and UNESCO World Heritage in Alsace
The Habsburgs were the longest-serving imperial dynasty in Europe until 1918. Members of the family were uninterrupted emperors of the Holy Roman Empire from 1438 (apart from Wittelsbacher Charles VII Albert (1697-1745, the emperor from 1742-1745), the Empire of Austria from 1806 and the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary from 1867 to 1918. Archduke Maximilian (1832-1867) … Read more » “Habsburg heritage, humanism and UNESCO World Heritage in Alsace”
In the spotlight
Rudolf Steiner, Ita Wegman, the Goetheanum, the Ita Wegman-Klinik and Anthroposophy
Arlesheim (Canton Basel-Landschaft) has been showing its monumental cathedral and palaces of the former chapter of the Diocese of Basel since 1678 and the famous Hermitage since 1785. Nothing indicated after 1913 that this village and the nearby village of Dornach (Canton Solothurn) would once again make history. Dornach had already been in the spotlight … Read more » “Rudolf Steiner, Ita Wegman, the Goetheanum, the Ita Wegman-Klinik and Anthroposophy”
Events
The Romansh Cultural Festival FESTIVALET
The Romansh language (Romontsch or Rumantsch in Graubünden, Romanisch for the rest of German-speaking Switzerland, le Romanche in French-speaking Switzerland, il Romancio in Italian) is spoken in Switzerland only in the canton of Graubünden. The term Bündnerromanisch is often used. Origin Romansh originates in the language of the tribes of the Raetians (they inhabited the … Read more » “The Romansh Cultural Festival FESTIVALET”
Commemorations
The Swiss Federal Court celebrates its 150th anniversary
The Federal Court (Tribunal fédéral, Bundesgericht, Tribunale federale, Tribunal federal) celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025. The 1848 Constitution already established a Supreme Court, but its powers were modest. It was only with the 1874 Constitution, which came into force in 1875, that the Federal Court became a permanent court. As the highest judicial authority … Read more » “The Swiss Federal Court celebrates its 150th anniversary”
Monuments
Ins, Albert Anker, Monuments and Climate Change
Ins (Anet in French, canton of Bern, Three-Lakes-Region/Seeland) is the village of the (birth) house, studio, and museum of the painter Albert-Anker (1831-1910). The medieval village was an important regional centre with more inhabitants than the town of Erlach (Cerlier in French). Erlach was the seat of the governors (Landvogt) of Bern after the conquest … Read more » “Ins, Albert Anker, Monuments and Climate Change”
Latest news
Translation Program for the Romansh Language
22 April 2025
Lia Rumantscha has entered into a long-term collaboration with the computational linguistics department of the University of Zurich. The first project from this cooperation is developing a translation program that supports all five idioms, Rumantsch Grischun and German. In March of this year, Lia Rumantscha published its strategy for digital transformation. The strategy’s goal is … Read more » “Translation Program for the Romansh Language”
Agenda
Félix Vallotton and Modernism in Winterthur
5 May 2025
Félix Vallotton (1865–1925) is one of the most important figures of French modernism at the turn of the century. Over 150 works from all creative periods, genres, and techniques are shown at two venues, including numerous masterpieces, such as the iconic work La Blanche et la Noire. The exhibition titled Illusions perdues (Lost Illusions), was inspired by … Read more » “Félix Vallotton and Modernism in Winterthur”
Constitution, Democracy, cantons
Direct Democracy, Citizens and Federal Government in Switzerland
24 March 2025
It has wholly escaped the attention of foreign countries. Still, on March 12, 2025, the United Chambers (Vereinigte Bundesversammlung, l’Assemblée fédérale, chambre réunies) of the Swiss parliament (the Nationalrat/Conseil national and the Ständerat/Conseil d’États) elected a new member of the national government (Bundesrat/Conseil fédéral) based on the Zauberformul/formule magique. Martin Pfister from Die Mitte/Le Centre … Read more » “Direct Democracy, Citizens and Federal Government in Switzerland”
Local history
The princely City and the canton of Neuchâtel
11 May 2025
Not much is known about the habitation of the area of the city of Neuchâtel until the year thousand. The first counts of Neuchâtel date back to the ‘second’ Kingdom of Burgundy (888-1032). The last King, Rudolf III (970-1032), built a castle on the rock—the beginning of today’s Neuchâtel. In the years 1185-1190 followed the … Read more » “The princely City and the canton of Neuchâtel”
Nature and Tourism
Switzerland is the Herb Garden of Europe
1 May 2025
In preparation. Available in German, French and Dutch