The first Carthusian Monastery in Switzerland

26 January 2025

Switzerland is not only the land of the reformers Johannes Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, Guillaume Farel, and Johannes Oekolampad. This region had many monasteries of the various monastic orders until the Reformation. Although most monasteries were abolished just after the Reformation (first half of the 16th century) or in the following centuries and sometimes disappeared completely, … Read more » “The first Carthusian Monastery in Switzerland”

The former Rheinau Monastery, the Museum and Music Isle

10 November 2024

The Celts inhabited the Rheinau peninsula (Canton of Zurich) on the Rhine River centuries before Roman rule began (in 13 BCE). Its location on the left bank of the Rhine and the peninsula offered good defences against the Germanic tribes on the right bank. The walls of the settlement (oppidum in Latin) stood upright until … Read more » “The former Rheinau Monastery, the Museum and Music Isle”

Monastery on St. Peter Island and Jean-Jacques Rousseau

20 October 2024

The first monastery on St. Peter Island (St. Peterinsel/île de Saint-Pierre) in Lake Biel (Bielersee/lac de Bienne, Canton of Bern) was built during the Merovingian period (7th and 8th centuries). This Benedictine building was later extended with a rectangular choir. The church (built around 1120) on the left was destroyed during the Reformation. On the right … Read more » “Monastery on St. Peter Island and Jean-Jacques Rousseau”

The moated castle Binningen and the Anabaptist David Joris

4 October 2024

The moated castle (Weiherschloss) Binningen was first mentioned in 1299. Its owner is unknown, but the Basler citizen Heinrich von Zeise is likely to have built it. Johann von Brügge alias David Joris and Joachim van Berchem bought the castle, the St Margarethen estate and the Holeeschlösschen in 1545. In 1574, Nikolaus von Hatstatt took over … Read more » “The moated castle Binningen and the Anabaptist David Joris”

A Family from Basel and Centuries of Regional Relationships

2 October 2024

The moated castle (Wasserschloss) of Inzlingen (Baden-Württemberg) is the only one in this region preserved in its original state. In the immediate vicinity, only the moated castles (Weiherschloss) in Binningen and Bottmingen remain in the Canton of Basel-Landschaft. The history of the Inzlingen moated castle near Basel, Bettingen and Riehen is closely linked to that of the Basler … Read more » “A Family from Basel and Centuries of Regional Relationships”

The Waltensburg Church and Gothic in Canton Graubünden

10 September 2024

The church in Waltensburg, also known as Vuorz in Romansh (Canton Graubünden), was built in the 12th century—the frescoes on the interior and exterior walls date from four distinct periods. The oldest paintings (ca. 1330) were made by an artist known as the Waltensburger Master. He decorated churches and at least one secular building (Brandis … Read more » “The Waltensburg Church and Gothic in Canton Graubünden”

The Restoration of the paintings in Zillis has been completed

7 September 2024

The Carolingian church in Zillis (canton of Grisons) was built around 800. The church is famous for its Romanesque ceiling paintings from 1109 to 1114 and the monumental fresco of Christoforus by the Waltensburger Meister, dating from around 1320 to 1340. The frescoes on the ceiling comprise 153 images from the Bible. Although Zillis converted to the Protestant faith … Read more » “The Restoration of the paintings in Zillis has been completed”

Le Corbusier, das Mundaneum and Switzerland

14 July 2024

One of Switzerland’s most famous architects, Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, started his career at the School of Art in La Chaux-de-Fonds. He adopted the pseudonym Le Corbusier in 1920 and was born in 1887 in La Chaux-de-Fonds (Canton Neuchâtel). He died in 1965. The Pavillon Le Corbusier in Zurich (www.pavillon-le-corbusier.ch) and the Maison Blanche in La Chaux-de-Fonds … Read more » “Le Corbusier, das Mundaneum and Switzerland”

Maria-Rickenbach Monastery, pilgrims and America

19 June 2024

Rickenbach (Commune of Niederrickenbach) in the canton of Nidwalden was first mentioned in 1314. The late Gothic statue of Mary with the infant Jesus dates from the period (around 1350). According to legend, the statue was rescued in 1528 during the iconoclasm of the Reformation in the Bernese Oberland and brought to Rickenbach, where the … Read more » “Maria-Rickenbach Monastery, pilgrims and America”

Nestlé, the Fork and the Alimentarium in Vevey

11 June 2024

The Fork in Vevey has held the Guinness World Record for the world’s tallest fork since 2014. The visual artist Jean-Pierre Zaugg (1928-2012) designed La Fourchette (The Fork), a work commissioned to celebrate the Alimentarium’s 10th anniversary in 1995. A steelwork contractor made the statue in 450 kg of stainless steel. The Alimentarium and Charlie … Read more » “Nestlé, the Fork and the Alimentarium in Vevey”