Nature in Switzerland.
1 April 2021
The Royal Rigi (Canton Lucerne) is a holiday and excursion paradise nowadays. It is known, among other things, for the world’s first cogwheel railway (21 May 1871) and today’s mountain railways and aerial cable cars. The Rigi (1,800 metres) owes its title to Albrecht von Bonstetten (1443-1504). He described the mountain in 1479 as “Regina … Read more » “The Royal Rigi”
14 March 2021
The vineyards of St. Peter’s Island, the communes of Erlach (Cerlier), Tschugg, Gampelen (Champion) and Anet (Ins) and of the villages on the northern shores of Lake Biel (Bielersee/lac de Bienne, canton of Bern) already existed more than 1000 years ago. In the Middle Ages, abbeys and monasteries cultivated the vineyards. The Bernese patrician families … Read more » “The Vineyards of Lake Biel”
3 March 2021
Bishop Burkhard von Fenis (1040-1107) founded the city’s first monastery in the St. Alban Valley (St. Albantal) in 1083. The monks built mills next to the monastery. The water from a branch of the Birs was redirected to the mills. The St. Albanteich (Dalbedyych in the local Basler dialect) was created. For centuries, it remained … Read more » “The St. Alban Canal in Basel”
27 February 2021
Available in French.
17 February 2021
The Rhône glacier deposited morainal material on the molasse and pudding stone, creating what is now Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) and fertile soil on the surrounding hills. The first people settled in Lavaux five thousand years ago. Wine growing began in Roman times. Monks cleared the steepest slopes to build terraces in the twelfth and … Read more » “Lavaux, the Alps and the Viticulture”
4 February 2021
The Lake of Taillères (Lac des Taillères) is situated at an altitude of 1039 metres in the ‘Siberia of Switzerland’ in the Valley of La Brévine (canton of Neuchâtel). In winter, the lake and its surroundings are a snow and ice paradise, as the name ‘Siberia’ suggests. The coldest temperature in the inhabited world of … Read more » “Valley of La Brévine”
3 February 2021
The organisation Les Chemins chouettes is dedicated to hiking trails in the natural and cultural heritage of the Val-de-Ruz (canton of Neuchâtel). There are seven walks: around the Seyon River, towards Chasseral, the Boviducs, the Lisière, the Rincieure, the Crêtes, and the south-western part of the valley. The word Boviduc appeared towards the end of … Read more » “Boviducs of the Val de Ruz”
17 January 2021
Jambolina was kept in Ukraine as a circus bear before she was allowed to start a new life in Arosa (Canton Graubünden). The bear enjoys the rest of her life in Arosa Bärenland. After Napa († 4.11.2020), Amelia and Meimo, she is the fourth resident in this bear paradise. After arriving by plane, Jambolina first had … Read more » “Jambolina in Arosa”
12 January 2021
Winter sports are not often associated with the mountains of the Jura. Even in German-speaking Switzerland, it is an unknown destination. Yet, this region offers many possibilities, including skiing on smaller slopes, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or enjoying the many beautiful and well-maintained villages and towns. The mountains have an altitude of up to 1,700 metres, … Read more » “Winter sports in the Jura”
7 December 2020
Via Urschweiz (Kulturwanderweg) is a hiking trail that spans the cantons of Uri and Nidwalden in the heart of Switzerland. It connects Lake Uri with the so-called Waldstätterweg on Lake Lucerne, crossing nature reserves and places of historical significance. The route is part of the regional hiking trail network (Hiking Trail No. 599). The trail is … Read more » “The ViaUrschweiz”
