Wil, the Abt, St. Gall and the Confederation
23 September 2023
Available in Dutch and German
Arbon und Rorschach am Bodensee
18 September 2023
Available in German and Dutch
Four Castles for Refugees
14 September 2023
What do Arenenberg Castle (Salenstein, Canton Thurgau), Wartegg Castle (Rorschacherberg, Canton St. Gallen), Coppet Castle and Prangins Castle (Canton Vaud) have in common? These four castles served as places of refuge for monarchs in exile or for exiles from their respective regimes. Coppet Castle, located in the municipality of the same name, was the place … Read more » “Four Castles for Refugees”
Laufen, a portrait through History
6 September 2023
In Roman times (15 B.C.-410 A.D.), a road ran from Val Terbi (canton of Jura) via Laufen and the Platten Pass to the Rhine Bend (Rheinknie) bei Basel and Augusta Raurica. The excavation of a large Roman villa revealed valuable artefacts. The construction of the first St. Martin church is dated to the time of Frankish … Read more » “Laufen, a portrait through History”
Habsburg Castle and the new Worldpower
1 September 2023
One of the most informative sources on the early Habsburgs is the Acta Murensia on the foundation of the monastery of Muri in 1027. The Habsburgs descended from a family from Alsace. (See also the last Habsburger in Basel) The Habsburg castle was built around 1030. The Acta Murensia mention the Habsburg Radbot and the … Read more » “Habsburg Castle and the new Worldpower”
The Swiss Textile Industry
31 August 2023
For a long time, Eastern Switzerland was one of the world’s most significant and largest exporters of textile products. Around 1910, more than half of the world’s embroidery production came from Eastern Switzerland. Embroidery was also the largest export sector of the Swiss economy, accounting for around one-fifth of the total. The First World War … Read more » “The Swiss Textile Industry”
Altenrhein, Alter Rhein and Hundertwasser
28 August 2023
Altenrhein is a border village located in the municipality of Thal, in the canton of St. Gallen, adjacent to Austria. Altenrhein lies at the end of a headland between arms of the (Alter Rhein) old Rhine delta. In 983, the village was mentioned as Rinisgemünde, in 1402 as zum vornchtigen Rhin. Since the 17th century, … Read more » “Altenrhein, Alter Rhein and Hundertwasser”
Teufen and the Textile Industrie
23 August 2023
Teufen was first mentioned in 1272 as “Tiuffen”. The hamlet was a district of the abbey of St Gallen. In 1377, several villages of Appenzell (Urnäsch, Teufen and Gais) joined the Schwäbischen Städtebund (‘Swabian League of Cities’) or the Bund der Bodenseestädte with the permission of the abbot of the abbey. From 1429, Teufen was … Read more » “Teufen and the Textile Industrie”
Susauna, Willem Jan Holsboer and silver fox breeding
12 August 2023
Susauna (Oberengadin, Canton Graubünden) is part of the municipality of S-chanf. S-chanf was first mentioned in 1139. The Bishopric of Chur acquired sovereign rights and land in the Oberengadin from the Counts of Gamertingen. The hamlet of Susauna is located at the entrance to Val Susauna on the Vallember stream. Today, Susauna has about 20 … Read more » “Susauna, Willem Jan Holsboer and silver fox breeding”
Lucelle and the Landskron, a regional history of European Dimensions
9 August 2023
France and Switzerland, the cantons of Jura and Basel-Landschaft and the Department of Haut-Rhin meet in the village of (Grand-) Lucelle (Lützel). The Cistercian abbey was founded around 1123/1124 along the little river La Lucelle (die Lützel). Today, the river borders the Swiss canton of Jura and the French department of Haut-Rhin. In the 13th … Read more » “Lucelle and the Landskron, a regional history of European Dimensions”