The Swiss Yodelling Festival Unites Nations and Continents.

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.”

Art Basel and Lorin’s Promenade Through Art Basel 26

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”

Federal musicality at a local level

30 April 2026

More than 40 mountain peaks over 4,000 metres, some 1,500 lakes, large and small, thousands of rivers and streams, and perhaps the highest number of herb gardens per square kilometre in Europe. The per-capita musicality is also substantial, in both quality and quantity. It is estimated that in the city of Basel (around 185,000 inhabitants) … Read more » “Federal musicality at a local level”

Yodelling Unites City, Countryside, and Switzerland 1924–2026

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”

500 years Literary Romansh texts

12 January 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. The anniversary will be celebrated with an open-air play, themed walks in the Romansh-speaking valleys and events in … Read more » “500 years Literary Romansh texts”

Silent Night, Holy Night, the Basler Liedertafel and the Münster

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”

Belle and Isabelle again in Palais DuPeyrou in Neuchâtel

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”

The Jewish Museum of Switzerland has reopened its doors

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”

The Relevance of the Council of Nicaea

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”

A Special Day for the Verein Elsass-Freunde Basel in Ungersheim

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”