Author: Maarten Koning

Rhine Gorge Experience train

Ruinaulta is the name given to the monumental Rhine Gorge between Ilanz and Reichenau (Canton Graubünden) in the local Romansh (Surselvan) dialect.

Rare birds, white rock faces, Rhine isles, woods, meadows and bizarre geological formations give the Swiss Grand Canyon its reputation.

What started with the Flims Rockslide ten thousand years ago is now a unique natural backdrop. The Rhine (Vorderrhein) has pushed through the rock between Ilanz and Reichenau.

The result is the present-day gorge. The Rhine Gorge Experience train (Vagun Panoramic) cleaves its way through the geological formations, surrounded by old pine trees.

The train runs from Landquart and Chur to Reichenau, Trin, Versam-Safien, Valendas, Castrisch, and Illanz, and vice versa. 

(Source and further information: www.rhb.ch/erlebniszug).

Sgraffito

Villages and houses in the Engadine (Canton of Graubünden) can be recognised by the decorations on the house fronts.

The old technique is called Sgraffito (graffiti). Instead of painting with a brush, the decoration is done by scratching into the white lime plaster.

After being applied to the wall, this lime remains wet for about two hours. The scratching takes place within these two hours. After that, the lime becomes as hard as a stone, and the grooves remain. These are then usually grey, the material under the lime. They also colour the tracks.

As the name Sgraffito already suggests, this technique originates from Italy. The method developed in Florence and Rome during the Renaissance and spread throughout Italy. Italian master builders then introduced it to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, mainly to Graubünden and the Engadin region.

Perhaps the residents of this region, who had emigrated to Italy, took the technique with them when they returned to their villages. It is probably also the reason for depicting sea motifs, such as fish, mermaids and shells. The technique has not changed since the fifteenth century.

Over the last thirty years, in particular, Sgraffito has been restored to its former glory in many villages in the Engadine, including Zuoz, Guarda, Beaver, Ardez, Sent, and Scuol.

Switzerland-European Union

The Thinktank Metrobasel organised a meeting on 25 August on the Swiss-European Union relationship and, in particular, the so-called Institutional Treaty (Rahmenabkommen/accord cadre).

The fresco in the main chamber of the city hall (symbolically) commemorates the accession of the canton of Basel to the Confederation (Eidgenossenschaft) in 1501.

The European Union’s Ambassador, Petros Mavromichalis, stated that there was little room for concessions from the EU. The internal market, and especially the free movement of persons, are inalienable principles.

However, the Bundesrat (minister) Ignazio Cassis believed that the so-called Citizenship Directive (Unionsbürgerrichtlinie) and the transfer of sovereignty to the Court of Justice of the European Union were unacceptable.

Since 2004, the Citizenship Directive (Directive 2004/38/EC) has regulated the free movement and residence of European Union citizens.

There is disagreement about the applicability of social security for European Union citizens who are not working or have worked for a short period. 

In addition, Switzerland has problems recognising the Court of Justice of the European Union as the highest legal authority. The country is not isolated from this perspective either.

The (former) presidents of the German Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) in Karlsruhe also share concerns about the functioning of this Court: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (08.09.2008), Roman Herzog, Stoppt den europäischen Gerichtshof, idem Paul Kirchhof (30.06.2021) and Andreas Vosskuhle in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 22.06.2021. 

Cassis stated that Switzerland is a sovereign country like the USA, Canada, China or Australia. These countries also have access to the internal market, and students, researchers and stock exchanges from these countries also have access to the EU.

Why should it be different for Switzerland, which always fulfils its (financial) obligations? Why is Switzerland suddenly denied access to several economic (electricity market, stock exchange) and research programmes (Horizont)?

The ambassador, however, believed that Switzerland had only three options: EU membership, the European Economic Area, or the Institutional Treaty (Rahmenabkommen). To be continued.

Textile Country Eastern Switzerland

Eastern Switzerland (Ostschweiz) is a real textile country. It was one of the world’s most significant exporters of embroidery products for a long time.
Around 1910, over half of the world’s production came from Eastern Switzerland. With about one-fifth, the embroidery was the largest export branch of the entire Swiss economy.

The First World War marked the end of the heyday of embroidery in eastern Switzerland, and it subsequently lost its importance. But trade and industry left their mark on eastern Switzerland.

Textiles from the St. Gallen region are more than just functional fabrics; they are works of art. They convince with their quality, creativity and affinity for fashion. Even today, high-quality and innovative textiles continue to be developed and produced in this region.

The highlights in the region are: the Textile Museum St. Gallen (www.textilmuseum.ch), the theme tour in Trogen (www.jahrhundertderzellweger.ch), the Museum Appenzell (www.museum.ai.ch), the regional museum Flawil (www.ortsmuseumflawil.ch), the industrial path Hauptwil-Bischofszell (www.outdooractive.com), the Saurer Museum (www. saurermuseum.ch), the Biedermeier Village Heiden (www.biedermeier.ch), the textile village Rehetobel (www.textildorf.ch).

The St. Gallen Textile Path leads to remarkable textile buildings in the centre of St. Gallen.

(Source and further information: www.textilland.ch).

The Cradle of Switzerland

Historically, today’s Switzerland has slowly developed from centuries-old alliances. The federal charter (der Bundesbrief) of 1291 is not the founding document, but it regulated peace and other matters between the participating cities of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden. The Cradle of Switzerland tells this founding story of the Confederation.

The Cradle of Switzerland (die Wiege der Schweiz) is a cultural path in the cantons of Uri and Schwyz along historically significant places: the Tell monument and the Tell Chapel in Altdorf, the Tell village in Bürglen, the Tell Chapel on Tellsplatte, the Hohle Gasse in Küssnacht, the Battle of Morgarten (1315), the Rütli, the Place of the Swiss Abroad in Brunnen and the Schiller stone on Lake Uri.

(Source and further information: www.uri.swiss).

Toggenburg

Toggenburg (canton of Sankt Gallen) is a mosaic of hills, peaks, plains and valleys. The views are magnificent, the long-distance hiking trails adventurous, and the themed routes are diverse.

At 2502 metres, the Säntis is the highest point in the Lake Constance region. Alp Gamplüt lies on the sunny side of the upper Toggenburg, opposite the Churfirsten. The Churfirsten are the Toggenburg landmark par excellence.

The summit of the Chäserrugg overlooks the rocky cliffs of the Churfirsten and offers a panoramic view of over 500 mountain peaks in six countries. There is much more to discover, such as cable cars, lakes, towns, villages and, for example, castles.

(Source and further information: www.toggenburg.swiss).

The Engelberg Land Art Path 2021

Landart is a visual art discipline that seeks a place in nature. It makes no claim of permanence, but instead lives from its inherent transience and the constant changes.

Ten experienced artists from Switzerland and abroad created impressive installations and sculptures of various kinds for this land art exhibition on Gerschnialp in Engelberg.

With its tall trees and humide climate, the Hungerbodenwald area is an ideal location for this special exhibition.

At the centre of the exhibition, organic materials are provided in order from them to do just that.

On show are: Wald-Wandler, Gedeon Regli, Moosknäul, Yvonne Christen Vágner, Gedankenwaldgewächse, Christine Läubli, Leander Locher, Claudia Vogel, Matthias Maeder, Myriam Kachour, Richard Zürcher, Stefano Devoti, Susana Malagon, Daniel Züsli und Reflexionen.

The Photo Festival Alt.+1000

The photo festival Alt.+1000 presents its 6th edition in the mountains of canton Neuchâtel.

For almost four weeks, the work of contemporary Swiss and international photographers will be exhibited, including Yuri Andries, Douglas Mandry, Simone Kappeler, Catherine Leutenegger, Cyril Porchet, Thomas Flechtner, Brigitte Lustenberger and Olga Cafiero.

This new edition is dedicated to nature and spread over three locations between Le Locle and the Vallée de La Brévine. More than 60 artists will present their work.

There are two open-air itineraries in the valley of La Brévine, on the shores of the bucolic Lac des Taillères and on the gentle slopes of a meadow overlooking the village of La Brévine at the place called Chobert.

The third location is the Musée des beaux-arts of Le Locle.

(Source and further information: www.plus1000.ch).

Flüeli, Niklaus von Flüe, Stanser Verkommnis and the Chapels

The village of Flüeli (Canton of Obwalden) is on a high plateau. Niklaus von Flüe (1417-1487) lived in this village. Contemporaries regarded him as a saint.

In 1947, he was indeed or finally canonised. His birthplace is on the estate of the von Flüe family. He built a new house, where he lived for twenty years with his wife, Dorothee Wyss, and their ten children, until he settled as the hermit Bruder Klaus at the cliff’s edge (am Ranft) in 1467.

Friends built him a chapel, the Higher Ranft Chapel (Obere Ranftkapelle), and a simple cell. The chapel and the cell are open to the public in the house where he was born and lived.

Grand Hotel Paxmontana. Photo: Jolanda Bucher

After Brother Klaus’ death, the flow of pilgrims increased, and in 1501, a larger chapel, the Lower Ranft Chapel (Untere Ranftkapelle), was built. This chapel is one of Switzerland’s finest examples of late Gothic architecture. The Mösli Chapel stands on the other side of the Ranft and was built in 1484.

Another beautiful national monument in this small mountain village is the St. Borromäus (St. Borromeo) Chapel, consecrated in 1618.

(Source and further information: www.obwalden-tourismus.ch).

The Via Glaralpina

The Via Glaralpina is a hiking trail of approximately 230 kilometres in 19 stages in the Canton of Glarus. The well-marked white-red-white (weiss-rot-weiss) and white-blue-white (weiss-blau-weiss) hiking trails lead to alpine meadows and (coniferous) trees, mountain landscapes and even glaciers.

The track also passes about 20 relatively easy-to-climb peaks, depending on experience and condition. On the one hand, the Via Glaralpina can be completed as a long-distance hike over several days, and on the other hand, there are numerous opportunities to enter and exit the walk. The stages are easily accessible and can usually be reached completely or at least in part by public transport or Alpine taxis.

The stages have accommodations available for overnight stays, including SAC huts and hotels/pensions. The Via Glaralpina mainly follows white-red-white mountain hiking trails (SAC scale T2 and T3) and the more difficult white-blue-white marked Alpine hiking trails (SAC scale T4).

(Source and further information: www.via-glaralpina.ch).