Switzerland, Churchill, Bowring, Toblerones and the European Union

1 November 2026

British aristocrats were the first mountaineers in Switzerland and introduced winter sports (through a bet with the founder of the Kulm Hotel in St Moritz). Such was the enthusiasm that the world’s first Alpine Club was founded in London in 1857, followed in 1863 by the Schweizer Alpen Club (SAC)/Club alpine suisse (CAS). Churchill and … Read more » “Switzerland, Churchill, Bowring, Toblerones and the European Union”

EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, Badischer Bahnhof and Paris-Basel

12 October 2026

Just a few months after the end of the Second World War, they built the first temporary runway near Mulhouse (Alsace) in a short time. On 2 May 1946, the first civil aircraft landed, and the airport officially opened a few days later, on 8 May 1946.  The connection Basel-Mulhouse-Paris And on 7 October 2026, … Read more » “EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, Badischer Bahnhof and Paris-Basel”

The Minor Basilica of Mariastein Celebrates its Centenary

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”

The Swimming Pool Weggis – from a Disgrace to the Lido-Hallenbad

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”

Sinfonieorchester Basel and Stadtcasino Basel 1826-2026

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”

Boundaries between cantons and municipalities in the Confederation.

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.”

The Bank for International Settlements in Basel

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”

The first French-speaking Reformed territory of the Confederation

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”

140 Years of Rowing with the Société Nautique de Neuchâtel

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”

750 years of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Lausanne

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”