The old bishopstown Leuk, the Pfynwald and the Pfyn-Finges Nature Park

28 May 2025

Leuk (Loèche in French), Susten, Erschmatt, and a few small villages comprise the municipality of Leuk, with a population of around 4,000. The municipality of Leuk was one of seven Zehnden/Dizains or municipalities that administered the Haut-Valais for centuries, with the Bas-Valais as their subject area. The city lies between Haut-Valais and Bas-Valais, which are … Read more » “The old bishopstown Leuk, the Pfynwald and the Pfyn-Finges Nature Park”

Thun, Brahms, Thun-Panorama and the Middle Bridge in Basel

20 May 2025

Almost every village and town in Switzerland harbours cultural and historical surprises. Thun (canton of Bern) is no exception. The city not only gives its name to Lake Thun (Thunersee) but is also the subject of one of the best-preserved panoramic paintings in the world. In Switzerland, three other panoramas can be seen in Einsiedeln, … Read more » “Thun, Brahms, Thun-Panorama and the Middle Bridge in Basel”

The princely City and the canton of Neuchâtel

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”

Zofingen: from Helvetian, Roman, Frohburger, Habsburger, Berner to Swiss citizens from Aargau

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”

Charmey, Cerniat and Broc, small villages with a great past and present

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”

Visp, Thomas Platter, The Matterhorn and the Rhone

16 March 2025

Available in French, Dutch and German

The Bishop of Basel in Istein and Schliengen

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”

Interlaken, Inter lacus Monastery, Unterseen and the virgin

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”

Oberwangen, small village, interesting history

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”

Impressions of Mühlheim

10 October 2024

Impressions of Mühlheim The Markgräfler Museum