This section contains an overview of the most relevant commemorations in Switzerland.
23 August 2026
15 August 1926 was a special day for the centuries-old Benedictine monastery and place of pilgrimage, Mariastein in the canton of Solothurn. On this day, the monastery church was granted the status of Minor Basilica by the Vatican, a higher status within the Catholic Church. has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries, attracting around … Read more » “The Minor Basilica of Mariastein Celebrates its Centenary”
20 July 2026
Following World War I (1914-1918), Switzerland underwent significant changes in its politics, art, and society. For example, the Kurverein of Weggis opened the Weggis Lido open-air swimming pool in 1919. It was the first facility in Switzerland where men and women bathed together on the open beach, i.e., not segregated in their separate areas. The … Read more » “The Swimming Pool Weggis – from a Disgrace to the Lido-Hallenbad”
10 June 2026
The Sinfonieorchester Basel and the Stadtcasino Basel celebrate their centuries-old cooperation and founding in 2026, generations before Paul Sacher (1887-1964) founded the Chamber Orchestra Basel (Kammerorchester Basel) in 1926 (another milestone in Musikstadt Basel in 2026!). The Sinfonieorchester Basel 1876-2026 The Sinfonieorchester Basel we know today is the culmination of a tradition that began more … Read more » “Sinfonieorchester Basel and Stadtcasino Basel 1826-2026”
3 May 2026
The external borders of the Swiss Confederation have remained virtually unchanged since 1815. Napoleon’s intervention had radically altered the external borders, and the Congress of Vienna (1814/1815) confirmed the independence and borders of the new Confederation. Rhäzuns, the last Austrian territory within the Confederation, became part of the canton of Graubünden in 1819. The King … Read more » “Boundaries between cantons and municipalities in the Confederation.”
16 April 2026
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) was established in 1930 to administer Germany’s reparations payments, as stipulated in 1919 (Treaty of Versailles). More than 10 years later, during a period of very high inflation and a stock market crash (1929), it was clear that these reparations were economically unrealistic and politically dangerous for Germany. For … Read more » “The Bank for International Settlements in Basel”
18 January 2026
Aigle is the first French-speaking Reformed territory of the German-speaking Swiss Confederation (only the Catholic Fribourg was also Fribourg). Aigle first appeared in a document around 1140. This document refers to the Priory of St. Maurice of Aigle, founded by the Abbey of Agaune (St. Maurice). The monastery in Aigle no longer exists, as it … Read more » “The first French-speaking Reformed territory of the Confederation”
16 December 2025
The year is coming to an end, but a 140-year-old organisation deserves to be mentioned in 2025. The Société Nautique de Neuchâtel (SNN) was founded in 1885. The SNN was a club for various water sports, especially rowing, shallop outings, and sailing. Today, it is only a rowing club, but the name has remained unchanged. … Read more » “140 Years of Rowing with the Société Nautique de Neuchâtel”
30 October 2025
Several master builders oversaw the construction of Lausanne Cathedral until the mid-13th century. Bishop Landry de Durnes initiated the building around 1170. Collection: Musée Historique Lausanne Construction began with the Romanesque apse, but the rest of the monument quickly adopted a Gothic architectural style and was completed around 1235, with the painted portal on the … Read more » “750 years of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Lausanne”
27 October 2025
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”
13 October 2025
This month marks the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Locarno by France and Germany in Locarno on October 16 2025. The treaty was signed in London on December 1, 1925, and entered into force. Locarno (canton Tessin) was chosen because it was easily accessible for participants, located in neutral Switzerland, Italian-speaking … Read more » “One hundred years of the Treaty of Locarno and good Fatherhood”
