This section contains an overview of the most relevant monuments in Switzerland.
26 July 2021
According to tradition, the (first) monastery was founded in 720. Around the year 1000, the construction of the present church began. This place (Chorherrenstift Beromünster) has grown into an impressive religious and cultural site. The canons do not belong to any order but are world priests. Until 1806, they were mainly nobility or patricians. The … Read more » “St. Michael Abbey Beromünster”
26 July 2021
One building was erected in 1497 as a two-storey ossuary. On the upper floor, known as the St. Martin’s Chapel, there is a decorated ceiling from 1497 by the Basel carpenter Ulrich Bruder (c. 1470-1519) and a Baroque altar by Hans Wilhelm Tüfel (1631-1695) from Sursee. The cellar, which was formerly used as a storage … Read more » “The St. George Chapel in Sursee”
26 July 2021
The moated castle (Wasserschloss) Wyher is located outside the village of Ettiswiler (canton of Lucerne) on the road leading to the Rottal. The castle was first mentioned in a document from 1304. Several noble families of lower rank owned the castle during the High Middle Ages. Wyher Castle and farm were owned for over 350 … Read more » “Moated Castle Wyher”
26 July 2021
The chapel dedicated to St. Blasius (Alberswil, canton of Lucerne) was the first place of worship on the Burgrain. The chapel was built in the 13th century. The patronage of the chapel belonged to the monastery of Disentis (now Canton Graubünden) until 1330. It passed to the Cistercian monastery of St. Urban (now in the canton … Read more » “St. Blasius Chapel on Burgrain”
26 July 2021
The Belvedere Castle (Schloss Belvedere) was built by the Belgian Count de Renesse in 1884. After his bankruptcy, it was abandoned. Giovanni Segantini proposed to rent it in 1898. After he died in 1899, the castle became a hotel called “Nuovo Albergo Castello” and then the institute for boys and girls (Hochalpines Knaben- und Mädchen-Institut) “Kasteel … Read more » “Belvedere Castle Maloja”
26 July 2021
The church was first mentioned around 1100. Bishop Burkard von Fenis (ca 1040-1107) donated St. Theodor (Kleinbasel) to the monastery of St. Alban (Grossbasel). At that time, the area on the right bank of the Rhine (Kleinbasel) belonged to the diocese of Constance. However, the bishop of Basel owned St. Theodor in the 11th/12th centuries. … Read more » “St. Theodor in Basel”
24 July 2021
The Pfäfers Abbey (St. Gallen) was the most important cultural centre in the region in the Middle Ages. It was founded around 740 and owned properties and rights in Liechtenstein, the Sarganserland and Graubünden. A major crisis occurred during the Reformation. However, the monastery gradually succeeded in bringing about a first and second golden age … Read more » “Pfäfers Abbey”
22 July 2021
The first church of St. Mauritius in Appenzell (Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden) was likely built between 1068 and 1071. The second church was built in the same place around 1291-1300. Between 1488 and 1513, the third church was constructed, featuring a lower church and a mighty tower, with the late Gothic choir still standing today. … Read more » “The St. Mauritius Church in Appenzell”
20 July 2021
Jachen Andri Dorta founded the first printing press in the Engadine in 1660, in this house. Many Romansh books and other writings appeared, and in 1679 the “Holy Bible” in the Romansh language (Bibla da Scuol), translated by Jacob Dorta and Jachen Tönet Vulpius. La Gazetta ordinaria da Scuol, printed by the printing house, was … Read more » “First Printing Press in Engadine”
15 July 2021
In 1747, in memory of his friend and colleague Johannes Grynaeus (1705-1744), Johann Frey (1684-1759) founded the organisation for the study and promotion of theology and related sciences (das Frey- Grynäische Institut zur Förderung von Theologie und benachbarter Wissenschaften). The collection comprises thousands of books and manuscripts spanning from the 15th century, when printing began, … Read more » “The Frey-Grynaeus Institute and its historical Library”
