Local history in Switzerland.
20 September 2020
The castles of Colombier and Boudry in the canton of Neuchâtel are a reminder of ancient (Roman and medieval) times. The castle of Colombier The medieval castle of Colombier was built on the foundations of a Roman villa dating back to the 1st century AD. The estate of around 500 m2 was situated on the … Read more » “The Castles of Colombier and Boudry”
20 September 2020
Cressier is a village of approximately 1,900 inhabitants located between the lakes of Neuchâtel and Bienne, on the edge of the Thielle canal. This canal connects both lakes. The village does not distinguish itself from its surrounding villages: viticulture is a significant economic activity. The village has a medieval history closely linked to Le Landeron. The … Read more » “Cressier a Catholic enclave”
10 September 2020
Available in French, German and Dutch
3 September 2020
The town of Solothurn, also the name of the canton, was the seat of the French embassy from 1530 to 1792. In the alliance (Eidgenossenschaft) of the thirteen mainly German-speaking Orte and cantons, French was the language of diplomacy and the elite in the western cantons of Bern, Solothurn and (bilingual) Freiburg. The French-speaking cantons … Read more » “The Riviera of Solothurn”
19 April 2020
Josef Mueller was born in 1887 in Solothurn. He moved to Paris in 1903. He met the famous art dealer, Ambroise Vollard (1866-1939). He acquired paintings of Cézanne, Matisse, Renoir, Picasso, Braque and many other prestigious painters. He was also interested in ancient Roman and Greek art. His son-in-law, Jean-Paul Barbier, was an enthusiastic collector of … Read more » “The Barbier-Mueller Museum in Geneva”
19 February 2020
The four small wooden ferries between the Rhine bridges of Basel have a history of more than 150 years. Until 1879, the Mittlere Brücke (until 1905 a thirteenth-century construction) was the only bridge. That was the reason to maintain the connection between Kleinbasel and Grossbasel with wooden ships of about 9 meters in length. These ferries … Read more » “The Ferries of Basel”
13 February 2020
Field barns are a testament to the ancient agricultural culture in the rural areas of Baselbiet (Canton of Basel-Landschaft). Most of the field barns are in decline because they have lost their purpose. Hay sheds and small barns for cattle were built in large numbers in the 18th century to provide shelter for hay, cattle … Read more » “The Field Barns of Baselbiet”
23 December 2019
Albert Einstein (1879-1955) rented an apartment in Bern from 1903 to 1905. It is furnished in the style of the time. The house shows how he and his family lived and the environment in which he wrote his most important scientific works. (Source and further information: www.einstein-bern.ch).
5 December 2019
There are twelve-panel paintings depicting the legend of the holy Verena (about 250 AD – 4th century) in the Verena church (Verenamünster) in Bad Zurzach. The paintings by Kaspar Letter (1608-1663) date from the 17th century. Verena is the patron saint of the poor, millers, fishermen and sailors. She was born in the Egyptian city … Read more » “The Verena Church in Bad Zurzach”
25 October 2019
