Local history in Switzerland.
11 May 2025
Not much is known about the habitation of the area of the city of Neuchâtel until the year thousand. The first counts of Neuchâtel date back to the ‘second’ Kingdom of Burgundy (888-1032). The last King, Rudolf III (970-1032), built a castle on the rock—the beginning of today’s Neuchâtel. In the years 1185-1190, the abbey, … Read more » “The princely City and the canton of Neuchâtel”
23 April 2025
Zofingen (canton Aargau) was founded in 1201 by the Counts of Frohburg. However, centuries before, the town was already a relatively large Roman settlement. The remains of a bathhouse, a villa (Gutshof), and other finds are indications. Model and location of the Roman and medieval bathing complex The place was located on the trade route … Read more » “Zofingen: from Helvetian, Roman, Frohburger, Habsburger, Berner to Swiss citizens from Aargau”
15 April 2025
Have you heard of Cerniat? Yet this village in the municipality of Val-de-Charmey (canton of Freiburg) is the seat of Switzerland’s only Chartreuse. The Chartreuse de la Valsainte (le val de tous les saints) was founded in 1924 by Girard de Corbières, Seigneur of the Corbières. Freiburg acquired the Seigneurie in 1553. Apart from the … Read more » “Charmey, Cerniat and Broc, small villages with a great past and present”
16 March 2025
Available in French, Dutch and German
25 February 2025
The prince-bishopric (Furstbistum) of Basel (not to be confused with the diocese (religious power) of the bishopric stretched over areas in present-day France, Switzerland and Germany from the year 1,000 until the French invasion in 1792. It was one of the largest and most powerful bishoprics north of the Alps. Not only the grandeur of … Read more » “The Bishop of Basel in Istein and Schliengen”
18 January 2025
Interlaken means between the lakes, the Brienzersee and the Thunersee. This is well known. Much less known, however, is its namesake: the monastery ‘Inter lacus’. In the 14th century, the double monastery (Doppelkloster) had a men’s and a women’s section, with 300 nuns and 40 monks. Unterseen on the right and the Spielmatte, 18th century. … Read more » “Interlaken, Inter lacus Monastery, Unterseen and the virgin”
18 December 2024
Centuries before and after the beginning of the Roman occupation (15-13 BC), a trade route already ran from the port of Morges-St.-Sulpice (on Lake Geneva) through the Wangental to Oberer Hauenstein. This road through Wangental and today’s Oberwangen (Canton Bern) was a crucial transportation artery. Various manor houses existed in Roman times. The Burgundians, Alemans, … Read more » “Oberwangen, small village, interesting history”
10 October 2024
Impressions of Mühlheim The Markgräfler Museum
5 October 2024
Impressions of Neuf-Brisach Impressions of Breisach Impressions of Freiburg im Breisgau Impressions of Neuenburg am Rhein
24 September 2024
Erlach (also known as Cerlier in French) is first mentioned in the 11th century. Burkhard von Fenis (bishop of Basel 1072-1105) built the castle, and his brother Kuno von Fenis (bishop of Lausanne 1093-1103) founded the abbey St. Johannsen. Count Rudolf von Neuenburg-Nidau (Lake Biel was formerly known as Nidauersee) granted city rights in 1266. … Read more » “The City and the castle of Erlach”
