This section contains an overview of the most relevant monuments in Switzerland.
12 July 2021
The tower (Spalentor) was built in 1398 on the third extension of the city. It was reinforced with a front gate due to conflicts with Burgundy during the Burgundian Wars (1474-1477). The three console figures, a Madonna and two prophets, date from approximately 1400 to 1420. It is one of the three city gates that … Read more » “The Spalentor in Basel”
7 July 2021
The monastery was officially incorporated into the Carthusian order in 1407. Construction of the church and other monastic buildings began in 1408. The Basel Council (1431-1449) was a (cultural) heyday for the order and other Basel monasteries. Numerous council participants and other visitors made their presence felt with donations. Subsequently, large donations were made towards … Read more » “The Carthusian Monastery of Basel”
2 July 2021
The castle was built in 1559 by Blaise Junod, tax collector of the Seigneurie of Valangin. At that time, the county of Neuchâtel belonged to the (royal) French family d’Orléans-Longueville. The county was, therefore, a principality. Unsurprisingly, the new owner, Jean-Jacques Tribolet, served in the army of Henri de Navarre, later Henri IV, King of France. … Read more » “Auvernier Castle”
1 July 2021
The early Christian burial church (in Sion, canton of Valais) from the fifth century is one of the best preserved in Europe. It was built in the style of a Roman basilica. The church remained in use until the 10th century. The shape of the church of Sous-le-Scex is a response to the concerns of … Read more » “Burial Church Sous-le-Scex”
30 June 2021
The DuPeyrou Palace (L’Hôtel DuPeyrou) in Neuchâtel dates back to 1771. It bears the name of its first owner, Pierre-Alexandre DuPeyrou (1729-1794). He was a friend of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778), who lived in the Neuchâtel area in 1762. After the author’s death, he published the first complete edition of his works in Geneva in 1788. … Read more » “DuPeyrou Palace in Neuchâtel”
29 June 2021
The town hall (Hôtel de Ville) was built between 1784 and 1790 thanks to the fortune of David de Pury (1709-1786). The building was inaugurated in 1790. It was the project of superlatives for a city of 4,000 inhabitants. The building was designed by architect Pierre-Adrien Paris (1745-1819); the quality of the materials and the … Read more » “The Town Hall of Neuchâtel”
25 June 2021
The painter Albert Anker was born in this house (Albert Anker Haus) in Ins (Canton Bern) in 1831 and died here in 1910. The house was built in 1803 by his grandfather, Rudolf Anker, a veterinarian, in the style of the Seeland farmhouses. The house layout, furnishings and inventory still essentially correspond to the condition … Read more » “Albert Anker House”
24 June 2021
The era of the Grand Hotels also led to over-ambitious or never-realised projects. An example is the Grand Palace in Riom (Canton of Graubünden). Other complexes were built but soon suffered financial setbacks. A well-known example is the Maloja Palace in Graubünden. The Hôtel-Kursaal de la Maloja, the original name, stands between Bergell and Oberengadin … Read more » “The Maloja Palace”
21 June 2021
The church in Vinelz, in French Fenis (Canton of Bern), is of Romanesque origin. It was first mentioned in 1228. The present choir was built as an extension of a smaller one in the 14th century. There are still fragments of late Gothic windows made of sandstone and stone from Neuchâtel. The baptismal font in … Read more » “The Church of Vinelz”
19 June 2021
The church of Sutz (Canton Bern) is situated on the historical hiking trail Geschichtenweg, which the Reformed churches in the Seeland district have established between the former Gottstatt monastery and the church of Erlach. The church of Sutz is situated on the edge of a slope near Lake Biel. The first church was built around … Read more » “The church of Sutz”
