This section contains an overview of the most relevant monuments in Switzerland.
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”
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”
27 February 2024
Nothing in the world could induce the inhabitants of the Alps to go up a mountain as a leisure activity, let alone climb peaks. For the peasantry, mountains meant mostly danger from nature, as well as demons and fantasy creatures, until the 18th century. However, writers, scientists and what we today call alpinists began to … Read more » “The English Church in Zermatt”
23 January 2024
A Maria chapel, “im Stein” (in stone), was first documented in 1434. However, there was already another chapel, a rock chapel. The Chapel of Grace (Gnadenkapelle) remains a popular destination, attracting around 250,000 pilgrims annually. It is the heart and destination of the Mariastein pilgrimage. Over the centuries, the rocky cave has been converted into … Read more » “Mariastein Abbey, the Gnadenkapelle and the Mirakelbild”
9 January 2024
The first monks came from Hirsau (Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg) around 1100. Centuries before, there was a Celtic sanctuary on this hill. The first abbot was called Esso (he died in 1133). Hirsau was a monastery that introduced reforms, the Consuetudines Hirsaugienses. The Cluny Abbey was the inspiration. Beinwil was founded with financial support from local … Read more » “Beinwil Abbey and the Valley”
18 December 2023
The Pavillon Le Corbusier on the shores of Lake Zurich is an architectural jewel. The idea for the building was initiated in 1961 by Heidi Weber (1928). She encouraged Le Corbusier (1887-1966) to develop his museum and pavilion to express and explain his ideas and achievements. The Pavilion opened its doors on July 15th, 1967. … Read more » “Pavillon Le Corbusier”
11 December 2023
In a deed of 1011, Neuchâtel (Neuenburg, new castle, castellum novum) is described as a royal residence (of Rudolph III (970-1032), the last King of the Kingdom of Burgundy, 888-1032). The first castle was built in the 11th century on an easily defensible rock. As more houses were built around it in the 12th century, … Read more » “Neuchâtel Castle”
8 December 2023
The Cathedral of Basel (das Münster) is over a thousand years old. In 1019, after renovating its early medieval predecessor, the cathedral was consecrated in the presence of Emperor Heinrich II (973-1024) and his wife Kunigunde (975-1040). The copies Henry II (973-1024) and Kunigunde (975-1040), the originals, Museum Kleines Klingental Poster: Stadtgeschichte Basel St. Martin, … Read more » “The Cathedral or Münster of Basel”
5 December 2023
In the Middle Ages, 28 Cistercian monasteries were founded in Switzerland, eight for men and 20 for women. Today, only one men’s monastery (Hauterive, canton of Fribourg) and six women’s monasteries remain (Frauenthal, canton of Zug; La Maigrauge and La Fillle-Dieu, canton of Fribourg; Magdenau and Wurmsbach, canton of St Gallen, and Eschenbach, canton of … Read more » “The Cistercians and St. Urban Monastery”
2 December 2023
From the 11th to the 14th centuries, the area of present-day Switzerland was not a political unity. Several dynasties (a.o. Habsburg, Kyburg, Zähringen, Savoye, Swaben), small local rulers, the German emperor and powerful abbots and bishops (Geneva, Sion, Lausanne, Chur, Basel, and Constance) ruled over smaller or larger areas. These areas lay on the borders … Read more » “Donatyre and Romanesque Art in Switzerland”
