Architecture Walk Dornach and the Goetheanum

9 December 2021

Over the last 100 years, approximately 180 buildings, including numerous private homes and functional structures, have been constructed around the Goetheanum. Their architecture is typical of the Goethean or sculptural-organic building style. The buildings on a hill above the valley of the river Birs share the same architectural features as the Goetheanum and reflect the original … Read more » “Architecture Walk Dornach and the Goetheanum”

Wetting Monastery

8 December 2021

The Cistercian Monastery of Wettingen (Canton of Aargau) was founded in 1227. The Cistercian Order – named after the first foundation in Cîteaux (Burgundy) – built its monasteries in the isolation of nature to be economically independent through farming. The location on the Limmat peninsula in Wettingen was ideal for this reason. The monastery was … Read more » “Wetting Monastery”

Baden, Spanischbrötlibahn, SBB

8 December 2021

The station building in Baden (Canton of Aargau) is the oldest in Switzerland. It was built in 1847. The Spanischbrötlibahn (railway) between Zurich and Baden was the first train connection in Switzerland. This railway was to connect Zurich and Basel. Railway station Baden However, the cantons and private railway companies prevented the realisation of cross-cantonal railways. Only … Read more » “Baden, Spanischbrötlibahn, SBB”

Dorneck Castle

7 December 2021

Dorneck Castle near Dornach (Canton Solothurn) was first mentioned in documents around 1350. The barons of Pfeffingen were probably the builders in the 11th century. The complex later came into the possession of the Counts of Saugener and, from about 1200, of the Counts of Thierstein. The Habsburgs bought the castle in 1384. After the … Read more » “Dorneck Castle”

The Dornach Monastery and the Swabian War

6 December 2021

The monastery in Dornach (Canton Solothurn) was built between 1674 and 1676. Maria Magdalena von Roll (1604-1672) donated the money for its construction through a bequest in 1672. It was the only Capuchin monastery in the Birseck region, located in the Birs River basin, which spans today’s Birseck and Solothurn cantons. The last monks departed … Read more » “The Dornach Monastery and the Swabian War”

The Salzhaus in Brugg

21 November 2021

The Salzhaus (salt storage building) in Brugg (canton of Aargau) closes off the Hofstatt to the south, on a steep slope of the river Limmat. It is the largest square in the old town. On this spot stood the residence of the Habsburgs, who ruled Aargau until 1415. The (eight) Eidgenossen conquered Aargau in 1415, … Read more » “The Salzhaus in Brugg”

The St. Bartholomew Church in Saas-Grund

19 November 2021

The church in Saas-Grund (canton of Valais) was first recorded in 1297. St. Bartholomew was the church for the four villages (Saas-Fee, Saas-Almagell, Saas-Grund and Saas-Balen) of the Saas valley (Saastal).  A new church was built on the old site in 1685 and consecrated on 31 July 1687. On June 1, 1893, Saas-Fee and Saas-Almagell separated … Read more » “The St. Bartholomew Church in Saas-Grund”

The Petersgasse in Basel

19 November 2021

The two central hills in the centre of Basel are a few hundred metres apart. The hill of the Münster has been inhabited and cultivated since Celtic times. The murus gallus and archaeological site near the Münster Cathedral are a reminder. In the fifth century, the bishop relocated to this site when he left the … Read more » “The Petersgasse in Basel”

The Nothelferkapelle of Däniken

18 November 2021

Available in Dutch and German

The St. Niklaus Chapel in Willisau

11 November 2021

The Counts of Habsburg built the castle of Alt-Willisau in the 12th century. The castle was destroyed in 1386 during the Sempach war (Sempacherkrieg). Only the Romanesque chapel survived. The chapel was renovated in 1655 in the Baroque style. The chapel is primarily known for its frescoes from 1497 to 1660 and its 12th-century bronze … Read more » “The St. Niklaus Chapel in Willisau”