Latest news in Switzerland.
12 August 2026
In 2027, the Romansh language will celebrate 500 years since the first literary Romansh text was written. The Zuoz lawyer, politician and diplomat Gian Travers (1483-1563) wrote the ‘Chianzun dalla guerra dagl Chiastè da Müs’ in 1527. Through his mediation, Philipp Gallicus preached in the Roman language at the Church of Santa Chatrigna (St Catherine) … Read more » “500 years Literary Romansh texts”
29 June 2026
It is not easy to describe a music festival in words, but words combined with illustrations can speak for themselves. This is particularly true of vocal (yodelling) and instrumental (Alphorn) music, which form part of Switzerland’s and UNESCO’s cultural heritage. Moreover, the Eidgenössische Jodlerfestival, recently held in Basel (26–28 June), also features a non-musical element: … Read more » “The Swiss Yodelling Festival Unites Nations and Continents.”
16 June 2026
Art Basel (18 – 21 June) presents art from the 20th and 21st centuries and is the leading world fair for the international art market. More than 290 galleries and 4,000 artists from all over the globe make Basel a museum of modern and contemporary art. Art Basel has already taken place in Hong Kong … Read more » “Art Basel and Lorin’s Promenade Through Art Basel 26”
5 February 2026
The current issue of NZZ-Geschichte (No. 62, February 2026) provides an in-depth look at the economic, social, and political development of farmers in Switzerland. In the 19th century, half of the population still worked in this sector, but they were not politically represented. Fasnacht 2026 In this context, the nearly forgotten (contrary to a similar … Read more » “Yodelling Unites City, Countryside, and Switzerland 1924–2026”
15 December 2025
The eruption of the Tambora volcano in Indonesia in April 1815 caused a significant cooling of the Earth. It was the largest recorded eruption, killing 90,000 people and sending about 150 cubic kilometres of dust and ash thirty kilometres into the atmosphere. The force was equal to 170,000′ Hiroshima bombs’. The cooling was also felt … Read more » “Silent Night, Holy Night, the Basler Liedertafel and the Münster”
7 December 2025
Belle van Zuylen (1740–1805) was once again the central figure in the Palais du Peyrou in Neuchâtel. The latest edition of the Nouvelle Revue neuchâteloise is entirely dedicated to Belle, who, after her marriage in 1771, lived in Colombier and called herself Isabelle de Charrière, the name of her husband Charles-Emmanuel de Charrière de Penthaz (1735–1808). … Read more » “Belle and Isabelle again in Palais DuPeyrou in Neuchâtel”
30 November 2025
The Jewish Museum of Switzerland (Jüdisches Museum der Schweiz) has found a new home in a lavishly renovated wooden building in Basel, which opened on 30 November 2025. The former tobacco warehouse on Vesalgasse, which borders the medieval Jewish cemetery, combines Jewish history with contemporary architecture. Opening speech by Naomi Lubrich, director of the Jewish Museum … Read more » “The Jewish Museum of Switzerland has reopened its doors”
19 November 2025
It has received little attention, but this event is still relevant today: the first Council of the Christian Church in 325, held in Nicaea (today Iznik, Turkey). For centuries, the emperors of the Roman Empire ruled over large parts of Europe, Asia and Africa, including present-day Turkey and Switzerland. In the early centuries, Christianity spread … Read more » “The Relevance of the Council of Nicaea”
30 September 2025
Alsace, Baden, and the Basel and Northwestern Switzerland region have maintained close economic, social, cultural, and political ties for centuries. This history has been covered in various previous articles. Despite national borders, various cross-border organisations and projects have emerged since 1945. It is no exaggeration to say that this Upper Rhine region even serves as … Read more » “A Special Day for the Verein Elsass-Freunde Basel in Ungersheim”
16 September 2025
The origin of the name Basel, Basilia, likely comes from the Celtic tribe of the Rauraci, who inhabited the area at the time and had a small settlement near the Münster and the old gas factory. However, this does not alter the fact that the Romans, along with the Greek goddess Athena (equivalent to Minerva … Read more » “Experience the Adventures of Greek Heroes in Basel with Athena”
