Author: Maarten Koning

The New Swiss National Sport

Swiss roads and public transport have been considerably less crowded since the pandemic’s start in the winter of 2020.

The same cannot be said for the snow-covered slopes of the Jura in the cantons of Neuchâtel, Jura, Bern and Vaud. In these cantons lies Switzerland’s oldest mountain range, formed between 205 and 135 million years ago.

Although the highest peaks do not exceed 1750 metres, the area is relatively snow certain due to geographical and climatic conditions.

La Chaux-de-Fonds (Canton of Neuchâtel), the highest town in the country, is located at an altitude of almost 1 000 metres and is covered in snow practically all winter. La Brévine (canton of Neuchâtel), a village at 1 082 metres, is even the coldest place below the tree line (- 41.8 measured).

The possibilities for cross-country skiing and snow hiking are practically unlimited in the winter due to the many valleys and hundreds of kilometres of prepared cross-country skiing and snowshoe hiking trails. The skiing possibilities are, of course, more limited but still present.

For the youngest (school-age) children, it is even an excellent area to get familiar with skiing, among others in Les Bugnenets (canton of Neuchâtel), Les Genevez (canton of Jura), La Chasseral (canton of Bern) or La Vallée de Joux (canton of Vaud).

Due to the pandemic, snow hiking (Scheeschuhlaufen in German or raquette in French ) is Switzerland’s fastest-growing winter sport. You can always find a snowy valley within a short distance, with no restrictions. Switzerland is already a hiking country, nowadays also a snow hiking country.

Along the way, these hikers do not only encounter colleagues or cross-country skiers but, for example, in the Franches-Montagnes (canton of Jura), also husky- or horse-drawn sleighs, horse riders, and many horses outside the characteristic farmhouses of the Franches-Montagnes.

The Hirsch Pavilion in Neuchâtel

The Hirsch Pavilion (Pavillon Hirsch) in Neuchâtel was built and inaugurated in 1912. The pavilion features an entrance hall decorated by the Art Nouveau artist Charles L’Eplattenier (1874-1946) and the Ateliers d’art réunis between 1910 and 1911.

Stylised elements evoke the Style Sapin. This style is a regionalist variant of Art Nouveau developed in the early 20th century by Charles L’Eplattenier’s teaching at the School of Applied Arts in La Chaud-de-Fonds.

The ceiling decoration represents the sky, filled with lightning, clouds, or birds. The middle floor is covered with a mosaic.

The Orangery of the Botanical Gardens will treat the Hirsch Pavilion to a life-size reproduction of its 12 doors. The pavilion’s vestibule is one of the few Style Sapin windows in Neuchâtel.

(Source: www.csem.ch).

The Bridges of Mellingen

The medieval town of Mellingen (Canton of Aargau) is located on the left bank of the Reuss. The village dates back to Alemannic times, but it was on the right bank for centuries. The Counts of Lenzburg possessed the town in the High Middle Ages.

In the 11th century, they built a church on the left bank of the Reuss. Mellingen passed to the Kyburgs in the 12th century. Around 1230, the Kyburgers founded the town on the left bank and built a ring wall.

A bridge has spanned the river since 1253, and several new bridges have been constructed over the centuries. The last wooden bridge was built in 1794. The wooden bridge was replaced by an iron structure in 1928.

The Habsburgs, the rulers from 1273 onwards, granted city rights in 1296. In 1415, the Eidgenossen conquered Aargau. Mellingen became part of the county of Baden but retained its market rights, jurisdiction and political autonomy.

Catholic Mellingen was the scene of conflicts with the Reformed towns of Bern and Zurich and was occupied twelve times between 1528 and 1712.

After the Second Villmerger War in 1712, Mellingen was ruled by the reformed towns of Zurich, Bern and Glarus. The municipality is part of the canton of Aargau today.

(Source: www.mellingen.ch).

Zwingli and the Reformation in Switzerland

Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) preached his religious ideas from the pulpit of the Grossmünster in Zurich 500 years ago. The Reformation profoundly influenced the city, the canton of Zurich, the (ancient) Confederation and Europe.

The break with Catholic tradition occurred in 1522 when a sausage meal was consumed in violation of the fasting commandment. Zwingli’s remarks aroused the anger of Pope Hadrianus VI, who demanded that Zwingli be punished.

However, Zurich’s City Council (der Grosse Rat) discussed his ideas instead. Contrary to the Pope’s instructions, the city adopted Zwingli’s position and introduced his reforms. Hence, Zurich is a protestant city.

(Source and further information:www.musee-reforme.ch; www.zref500.ch; www.zwingli.ch).

Dutch glory and the shipping route between the Rhine and the Rhone

Élie Gouret (1586-1656) was a Huguenot who lived in the Dutch Republic, also known as the Republic of the Seven United Provinces.

In 1636, he submitted a project to the government (Der Grosse Rat) of the canton Bern to connect the Rhine, the River Aare, Lake Biel, and Lake Neuchâtel to Lake Geneva. He wanted to achieve his goal by connecting Yverdon with Morges (in the canton of Vaud), thus linking the Rhine with the Rhone.

He also wanted to make the Rhone navigable between Geneva and Lyon by digging a side channel to the Mediterranean Sea. In this way, he intended to connect the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

The Republic, especially cities in the province of Holland, was interested in this project. These ships could avoid the dangerous sea route (storms, pirates, and hostile countries).

Moreover, the Rhine flows through friendly (i.e. Protestant) regions of German principalities and Swiss areas (the cantons of Bern (including Vaud) and Basel, the sovereign city of Geneva and the (French, but Protestant) principality of Neuchâtel). The Rhone Valley and the south of France were predominantly protestant before the Edict of Nantes was lifted in 1685.

The budget of the Société du Canal comprised 19% Dutch, 10% French, 16% Geneva, and 55% Bernese capital. On 10 February 1637, the Bern government authorised the construction and exploitation of the Entreroches Canal (le canal d’Entreroches).

Dutch engineers developed the project. The work began in 1638, and two years later, on 12 April 1640, the first part, between Yverdon and Orny (canton Vaud), was completed.

The second part, from Orny to Eclépens, was completed in 1648, and Cossonay was reached in 1656. There remained 12.5 km to Morges, but this part of the canal was never completed, and transport to Lake Geneva was carried out by road.

The 25 km unfinished canal, running from Yverdon to Cossonay, was successfully operated for almost 190 years. Dutch-designed ships were manufactured in Thun (canton of Bern) and Yverdon. Horses pulled them.

Thousands of ships carrying tons of freight moved through the canal until 1829. The canal had a positive impact on Switzerland’s economic development and trade with the Netherlands.

The canal’s exploitation stopped in 1829, and since then, large parts have dried up. However, the track can still be followed between Orny and Éclepens, and stones and foundations of locks mark the canal’s route.

(Source: documentary: Pierre-André Vuitel, La fabuleuse avonture du canal d’Entreroches, 2014; Lexicon Historique de la Suisse, Le Canal d’Entreroches (hls-dhs-dss.ch).

Baulmes and its abbey

Baulmes originates from Baulmes/Balmensis, Balma, and Baume, which translates to a cavity under the rock. Scientists have not solved the presence of the ‘l’ in the word.

The place was already inhabited in prehistoric times, around 12,000 BC. It is one of the oldest settlements in the canton of Vaud. Many unique finds have been discovered.

There has been a church on this site since the 4th century AD. The priory dated back to the tenth century and was in close contact with the abbeys in Payerne, Romainmôtier, and Montcherand, all of which belonged to the Abbey of Cluny.

Nothing remained of the monastery after the Reformation in 1536 and the occupation by Bern. The church still stands proudly on the hill, and the rock Aiguilles of 1559 still dominates the north side of the village. The village still breathes the old glory of the past, and the landscape is already worth a visit.

(Source: www.baulmes.ch).

Empress Irene on the Julier Pass

Empress Irene of Byzantium (752-803) is the protagonist of the new musical theatre in the Julier Tower (Julierturm) on the Julier Pass in the canton of Grisons.

She was one of the most enigmatic and powerful female rulers of the early Middle Ages. With intrigue, diplomatic skills and a sense of power, she remained on the Byzantine throne for decades. Many legends have grown up around this empress.

Giovanni Netzer’s new play searches for the person behind the empress and the myth. It questions power and tells the story of a remarkable woman. An interdisciplinary company of actors, soloists from the Hamburg Ballet and singers from the Origen Ensemble are on stage.

Performances are on 8, 9, 18, 19, 25, 26 and 27 February in the Julierturm on the Julier Pass.

The musical winter programme offers recitals and concert series at the Clavadeira in Riom. Maximilian Vogler, Marian Dijkhuizen and Alena Sojer will perform the chamber music evenings.

The performances are on 4, 12, 13, 15, 22 and 23 February.

Brahms’ “German Requiem” is scheduled for early April.

Pre-sales for the performances will begin on Thursday 13 January.

(Further information: www.origen.ch).