The Cathedral Notre-Dame du Glarier and the St. Theodor Church in Sion

4 November 2021

The first building was a Carolingian church (8th century), rebuilt in the 11th century in the Romanesque style. The church (Cathedral Our Lady Glarier) was destroyed by Count Amédée VI of Savoy (1334-1383) and in 1418 by Guichard of Raron (1360-1425) and rebuilt in the fifteenth century by the bishops Walter Supersaxo (1457-1482), Jost de … Read more » “The Cathedral Notre-Dame du Glarier and the St. Theodor Church in Sion”

Interior of the Saint-Nicolas Church in Hérémence

1 November 2021

The fiftieth anniversary of St. Nicholas Church’s dedication in Hérémence (canton of Valais) occurred on 31 October 2021. The interior’s remarkable architecture meets liturgical requirements while also accommodating modern furnishings and boasting good acoustics. The use of concrete and the sculptural design, the combination of wood and light, and the many medieval and (early) modern … Read more » “Interior of the Saint-Nicolas Church in Hérémence”

Roman Villa of Orbe-Boscéaz

22 October 2021

The villa was built in the first century and completed in the second century. The owners leave the complex around 250-290 due to invasions by German tribes. The entire complex was abandoned in the fifth century after the departure of the Romans and the arrival of Germanic tribes. The Gallo-Roman villa had huge dimensions, 230 … Read more » “Roman Villa of Orbe-Boscéaz”

Landvogteischloss and Wooden Bridge Baden

21 October 2021

The castle was built in the first half of the 13th century as the seat of the Knights of Baden (Kanton Aargau). It was expanded at the beginning of the 14th century. They added the stepped gable and the fresco with the coats of arms of the eight old Orte (cantons) of the Confederation in … Read more » “Landvogteischloss and Wooden Bridge Baden”

Les Clées and the castle

21 October 2021

The founding date of Les Clées (canton of Vaud) is unknown. The place was already mentioned in 814. The bridge was mentioned in 1050. The first fortress was built and then destroyed before 1137, when Pope Innocent II (pope from 1122-1143) prohibited the rebuilding of the destroyed fortress for a time to sanction unlawful tolls … Read more » “Les Clées and the castle”

The Monumental Houses of Elm

14 October 2021

The picturesque village of Elm is located in the canton of Glarus in the Sernftal valley. In the eighth century, the Säckingen (Germany) abbey acquired the Glarus region. Saint Fridolin was the patron saint of this abbey and the canton of Glarus, as evidenced by the canton’s flag. The Habsburgs ruled Glarus and Elm until … Read more » “The Monumental Houses of Elm”

The Church and Priory of Baulmes

11 October 2021

Available in French and Dutch.

Kaiserstuhl, Rötelen Castle and the Chapel of Kaiserstuhl

26 September 2021

The small town of Kaiserstuhl (Canton Aargau) is one of those surprisingly well-preserved medieval towns in Switzerland. Situated on the Rhine, it has a history of Celts, Romans, Alemanni, Franks, the Holy Roman Empire, the Habsburgs, the bishopric of Constance (Konstanz), the Eidgenossen, the short-lived Helvetische Republik (1798-1803) and finally the Canton of Aargau and … Read more » “Kaiserstuhl, Rötelen Castle and the Chapel of Kaiserstuhl”

Michael’s Chapel in Ligerz

21 September 2021

The Michael’s Chapel in Ligerz is one of the most remarkable churches in the canton of Bern. 1261 is the first documented mention of a church in Ligerz. The increasing number of pilgrims in the Middle Ages necessitated larger church buildings. Between 1522 and 1526, the church adjacent to the tower was built in the … Read more » “Michael’s Chapel in Ligerz”

600 years Cathedral of Bern

16 September 2021

Construction of the cathedral in Bern began in 1421. The master builder was Matthäus Ensinger (1390-1463) from Strasbourg. The Reformation interrupted the construction in 1528. The interior (altars, statues and organs) was removed.  The building was resumed in 1571. The cathedral was completed in 1588. However, it took three more centuries to finish the tower construction … Read more » “600 years Cathedral of Bern”