7 September 2022
Why Switzerland is the title of Jonathan Steinberg’s book (Cambridge, third edition, 2015). The book is a detailed study of seven centuries of history, politics, religion, culture, economy and values that have shaped the country and its cantons and made them what they are: not an island but an oasis in the middle of Europe, … Read more » “Why Switzerland ?”
17 April 2022
Nothing is forever, not even in Switzerland. The creation of the new canton of Jura in 1979, the choice of Moutier (canton of Bern) by referendum in 2021 to join the canton of Jura in 2026 or, for example, the mergers of municipalities. Switzerland is also the outcome of centuries-long processes, as the new publication … Read more » “Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft”
31 March 2022
History The Landsgemeinde’s origins date back to the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The first Landsgemeinde was mentioned in a document in Schwyz in 1294, and the first mention in Glarus dates back to 1387. It is no coincidence that this institution arose during the time that the Orte (the name ‘canton’ dates from the sixteenth … Read more » “The Landsgemeinde of Glarus”
5 March 2022
The old Confederation (Eidgenossenschaft) of thirteen cantons or Orte (situation 1513) did not yet have a Constitution but was a loose confederation of cantons. Its members were: Appenzell, Basel, Bern, Freiburg, Glarus, Lucerne, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Unterwalden, Uri, Zug and Zurich. The Confederation 1291-1515 The Confederation, or Eidgenossenschaft, was based on mutual treaties concluded between two … Read more » “A Short History of the Constitution”
1 March 2022
Switzerland did not have an official national anthem until 1961. The decision was preceded by almost a century of searching, including competitions to find a suitable melody and text. Until the end of the 1950s, the tunes most commonly played at official events in Switzerland were Rufst Du mein Vaterland (“When my Fatherland calls”) and the … Read more » “The Swiss National Anthem”
10 February 2022
The hilly and mountainous landscape of the two Appenzell cantons is as beautiful as their origins are typically Swiss and unique. The area of these cantons covers 420 km². The northern part of Canton Appenzell Ausserrhoden (AR) consists of hills and is almost bordered by Lake Constance. In the southern region, Canton Appenzell Innerrhoden (AI), the … Read more » “The History of the Appenzeller Cantons”
2 February 2022
Unterwalden (comprising Obwalden and Nidwalden) first appeared in documents in the 13th century. Unterwalden means “in the forest” or “inter silvas”. King Henry (Heinrich) VII (1273-1313) granted the status of a free imperial city (Reichsunmittelbarket) to villages in this region in 1309. It was highly unusual to give this right to a village of peasants. … Read more » “Canton of Nidwalden”
31 January 2022
The canton of Valais (Wallis in German) became a member of the Swiss Confederation of twenty-two cantons in 1815. Until the French invasion in January 1798, the Republic of the Seven Tithings (Republik der Sieben Zenden or Zehnden, Républik des sept Dizains) in the Upper Valais (Haut-Valais, Oberwallis) ruled the territory. From 1476 onwards, this Republic … Read more » “Canton of Valais”
27 July 2021
The canton of Nidwalden repeatedly chose its way to remain independent. In 1798, Nidwalden rejected the Helvetic Republic (1798-1803) imposed by the French occupiers. The canton even waged war against Napoleon. The battle of 9 September 1798 claimed more than 400 Nidwaldner lives and caused long-term trauma. In 1815, troops of the Swiss Confederation entered … Read more » “Nidwalden in the twentieth Century”
28 April 2021
In the Middle Ages, the cantons of Obwalden (capital: Sarnen) and Nidwalden were collectively referred to as Unterwalden. Although small, the canton lies on the spur of Lake Lucerne and is one of the founders of today’s Swiss Confederation. Celts, Romans, Burgundian kingdom, Holy Roman Empire The Alemanni came to the area after the Celts, Romans, … Read more » “Canton Obwalden”
