Local history in Switzerland.
8 August 2023
The glacier in Lucerne was discovered in 1872 and is one of the city’s major attractions. The history of this glacier began 20 million years ago when Lucernce was situated on the beaches of the sea. Climate change occurred, and the glacier formed during the last ice age, approximately 20,000-10,000 years ago. The complex contains … Read more » “The Glacier Garden in Lucerne”
31 July 2023
You pass them so quickly, all those beautiful villages, towns and nature in Switzerland. Some have a well-known tourist attraction or another reason to stop, such as Maienfeld (canton of Graubünden), located at the foot of the Heidi village. Heidi, who doesn’t know her? The writer Johanna Spyri (1827-1901) created her and her village in … Read more » “Maienfeld, Heididorp and Walser”
24 July 2023
Fürstenau (Farschno in Romansh, canton of Graubünden) in Domleschg, along the Hinterrhein, is a medieval town with around 300 inhabitants. It is considered the smallest city in Switzerland, and possibly in the world. Fürstenau appeared after the Bishop of Chur became Prince of the Holy Roman Empire. A bishop with the title of prince is … Read more » “Fürstenau and Ortenstein”
20 July 2023
Altstätten (Canton of St. Gallen) has a rich history. The many beautiful medieval and baroque houses, as well as the Placidus chapel, bear witness to this past. In 853, Altstätten was first mentioned in a document as “villa nominata altsteti” (villa named old place). The Monastery of St. Gallen owned numerous properties in Altstätten (the … Read more » “Altstätten”
13 July 2023
The village of Susch (Canton Graubünden) lies at the foot of the Flüela Pass, at the entrance to the Vereina Tunnel and on the River Inn. The towers of La Tuor and La Praschun, along with the steeple of the Gothic church of St. John, characterise the village. The name was first mentioned in a … Read more » “Susch, Flüela Pass, Muzeum Susch and Jörg Jenatsch”
10 July 2023
Available in German and Dutch
4 July 2023
Available in German and Dutch
29 June 2023
The Rigi, located along Lake Lucerne, is one of the most famous Swiss mountains. Unlike, say, the Gotthard massif, Zermatt or the Jungfrau, it is not its altitude (1 798 m above sea level) but its location and history that have earned Rigi the name “Queen of the Mountains” (Königin der Berge). Albrecht von Bonstetten (1443-1504), the first … Read more » “The Rigi-Region”
20 June 2023
Blacksmiths were already utilising iron ore found in the Pied-du-Jura 350 years before Christ. From the 12th century, several documents indicate that the iron industry revived in the Jura. In Vallorbe, the first factories, the forerunners of the current industries, date from the last quarter of the 13th century. There was water from the River … Read more » “The iron industry and Iron Museum of the City of Iron Vallorbe”
20 June 2023
Available in German and Dutch
