Annecy Castle

25 March 2022

Available in French and Dutch

The Priory of Corcelles

13 March 2022

The Priory of Corcelles was founded in 1092. The church became a temple in 1530 and is a national monument. The history of Corcelles (canton of Neuchâtel) begins with the words in a charter: “In the year 1092, a certain Humbert founded the Priory of Corcelles” (En l’an 1092, un certain Humbert fonda le prieuré … Read more » “The Priory of Corcelles”

Stockalper Castle in Brig

5 March 2022

Kaspar Stockalper von Thurm (1609-1691) built this castle in 1658-1678, next to his residence in Brig (canton of Valais). He was the wealthiest banker, merchant and entrepreneur in Valais. He controlled the postal services and trade over the Simplon Pass and became the Valais’s most influential politician and diplomat. He was also called the Fugger … Read more » “Stockalper Castle in Brig”

The Saint-Pierre in Engollon

13 February 2022

Switzerland’s well-preserved cultural heritage, which is also maintained, offers many surprises. So too in the small village of Engollon in the Val-de-Ruz (canton of Neuchâtel). The church of Saint-Pierre (Saint Peter) first appears in a document from 1228. However, recent archaeological excavations have revealed the foundations of a church from earlier centuries. Guillaume of Aarberg … Read more » “The Saint-Pierre in Engollon”

The Monastery St. Martin near Hermetschwil

30 January 2022

The Benedictine nunnery of St. Martin is located in the Freiamt Bremgarten on the banks of the Reuss and north of the village of Hermetschwil (Canton of Aargau). The monastery was founded in 1082 and is one of the most impressive cultural sites in the region. The beginnings of the abbey date back to the … Read more » “The Monastery St. Martin near Hermetschwil”

The Collégiale of Valangin

24 January 2022

Valangin was a seigneurie in the Middle Ages. The town was surrounded by a city A wooden drawbridge led to roads from the seigneurie, Neuchâtel and the Swiss Plateau. Valangin was chosen by Claude d’Arberg, lord of Valangin, to build the Collégiale St. Pierre. It was consecrated in 1505. The presence of a church with … Read more » “The Collégiale of Valangin”

The Hirsch Pavilion in Neuchâtel

21 January 2022

The Hirsch Pavilion (Pavillon Hirsch) in Neuchâtel was built and inaugurated in 1912. The pavilion features an entrance hall decorated by the Art Nouveau artist Charles L’Eplattenier (1874-1946) and the Ateliers d’art réunis between 1910 and 1911. Stylised elements evoke the Style Sapin. This style is a regionalist variant of Art Nouveau developed in the … Read more » “The Hirsch Pavilion in Neuchâtel”

Angenstein Castle

6 January 2022

Angenstein Castle (Duggingen, Canton of Basel-Landschaft) was strategically important for the Prince-Bishop of Basel to control his territories in the Jura region (roughly the area of today’s Canton of Jura, the Birseck in Basel-Landschaft and French-speaking areas of Canton Bern). The site is located southwest of Basel in the Birs basin. Angenstein was inhabited in … Read more » “Angenstein Castle”

The Big Ben in Zurich

22 December 2021

The St. Peter Church (St. Peter Kirche) is the oldest in Zurich. Its visible foundations date back to the ninth century. The originally Carolingian church was renovated in the Romanesque style from the 10th to the 13th centuries. The church played a crucial role in the Reformation in Zurich. The pastor Leo Jud (1482-1542) supported … Read more » “The Big Ben in Zurich”

Arlesheim, Birseck and Reichenstein