The Church of Curtilles and the cultural diversity of Switzerland

6 June 2024

Switzerland’s linguistic diversity spans many centuries. Today’s French—and German-speaking — borders have been largely defined since the 8th century. The Italian-speaking areas are partly the result of conquests in 1512/13 (Ticino), partly of alliances with the League of the House of God (Poschiavo (1486) and Bergell (1367) or the Grey/Upper League (Misox (1496) and Calanca (1496)). … Read more » “The Church of Curtilles and the cultural diversity of Switzerland”

Lucens, Meiringen and Sherlock Holmes

6 June 2024

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930), the spiritual father of Sherlock Holmes, inhabited Lucens Castle (Canton Waadt) in 1965. Some years later, the writer’s son opened a museum. Today, the Sherlock Holmes Museum (Musée Sherlock Holmes) is housed in the “Maison Rouge”. The castle, or rather two castles, had other illustrious predecessors. The bishop of Lausanne built … Read more » “Lucens, Meiringen and Sherlock Holmes”

The Church and (Roman) History of Saint-Saphorin

3 June 2024

Saint-Saphorin’s (canton of Vaud) history begins in the mid-1st century AD with the construction of a Gallo-Roman villa not far from Vibiscum (present-day Vevey). By the 5th century, the villa was abandoned. One of the rooms, located on the site of the current 16th-century church, was then converted into a mausoleum modelled on Roman catacombs. … Read more » “The Church and (Roman) History of Saint-Saphorin”

La Motta Chapel

2 June 2024

Near the town of La Tour-de-Trême (canton of Fribourg) is a small chapel on a hill. It was built in 1635 and dedicated to St. Roch and St. Sebastian. Both were patrons against infectious diseases and the plague. The chapel owed its existence to an epidemic in 1635. The interesting thing about this chapel is … Read more » “La Motta Chapel”

Vufflens Castle, Vullierens Castle and L’Isle Castle

6 May 2024

Vufflens Castle near Morges (canton of Vaud) is the most impressive example of late medieval castles in western Switzerland (the French-speaking part of the country). Unlike many other medieval castles in this region, it was not built in the Savoyard style, which was the ruling style of the Pays du Vaud at the time. The main … Read more » “Vufflens Castle, Vullierens Castle and L’Isle Castle”

The bridge Sainte-Apolline brug in Villars-sur-Glâne

30 April 2024

The existence of the Pont de Sainte-Apolline in Villars-sur-Glâne near the abbey of Hautrive (canton of Fribourg) was first confirmed in a document in 1243. The first stone bridge was built around 1508 to replace the wooden bridge. The chapel was first mentioned in 1147. Saint Apolline was burned in Alexandria in 248 after her … Read more » “The bridge Sainte-Apolline brug in Villars-sur-Glâne”

The Abbey of Lutry

16 April 2024

The monks of the Benedictine abbey of Savigny-en-Lyonnais (founded in 819 and falling under the archdiocese of Lyon in France) built the Romanesque abbey church of St. Martin in Lutry (canton Vaud) in 1025. The St. Martin monastery developed into one of the most important abbeys in Vaud. The town of Lutry owes its existence … Read more » “The Abbey of Lutry”

The well-kept Christian Heritage of Switzerland

12 March 2024

Even Switzerland, with its many (dissolved or still-functioning) monasteries and monumental (Reformed and Catholic) churches, will not formally be a Christian country in the foreseeable future. In the foreseeable future, most of its citizens will be ‘without religion’. However, in terms of symbolism, a country cannot be more Christian than Switzerland. The Swiss cross in … Read more » “The well-kept Christian Heritage of Switzerland”

The Disentis Monastery

9 March 2024

The monastery of Disentis in the village of Disentis/Munster (Munster means “monastery” in Romansh) was founded around 700. The Saracens destroyed the monastery in 940. Charlemagne (748-814) and German emperors of the Holy Roman Empire travelled to Italy via Disentis on their way to or from the Lukmanier Pass. The monastery’s abbot was one of … Read more » “The Disentis Monastery”

Lenzburg Castle, its history and famous Residents

7 March 2024

In Lenzburg (Canton Aargau), an impressive medieval castle towers high above the town. It is one of the best-preserved Höhenburgen in Switzerland. The town of Lenzburg has an even older history. The remains of the Roman Amphitheatre, which could hold 4,000 spectators, indicate an important settlement in Roman times. However, the Roman name has yet … Read more » “Lenzburg Castle, its history and famous Residents”