The Basel Carnival is also a Serious Affair

10 March 2026

The Basel Carnival (Fasnacht, from Monday, 23 February, 4:00 a.m., until 26 February, 4:00 a.m.)—apart from the three following “Bummelsonntage”  (Bummel Sundays)—has once again come to an end. After the events of the Vorfasnacht (pre-carnival) season and the Carnival Mass (Fasnachtsmesse) in the Elisabethen Church, the annual call “vorwärts, marsch” (forward, march) sounded punctually at … Read more » “The Basel Carnival is also a Serious Affair”

850 Years Rheinfelden

15 February 2026

The town of Rheinfelden (Kanton Aargau) was founded in 1130 by the Dukes of Zähringen. In 1218, the town gained the status of a free imperial city, known as imperial immediacy. Ten towns donated a commemorative plaque in the town hall for the town’s 850th anniversary in 1980. The city was Austrian until 1803. The … Read more » “850 Years Rheinfelden”

A Mandala on the Rhine in Kaiseraugst

9 February 2026

The Museum of Austrialian Aboriginal Art “La grange” in Môtiers (canton Neuchâtel), the Fondation Opale in Lens (canton Valais), the museum Musée cantonal d’archéologie et d’histoire in Palais de Riponne in Lausanne (canton Vaud), Museum Rietberg (canton Zürich), Musée Barbier-Mueller in Geneva (canton Geneva), the Tibet Museum in Gruyères (canton Fribourg), and Europe’s first ethnological museum, … Read more » “A Mandala on the Rhine in Kaiseraugst”

The Ormont Valley, Glacier 3000 and Les Diablerets

25 January 2026

In the 13th century, Val d’Ormont (Canton of Vaud) was divided into several areas belonging to the Count of Savoie, the Abbey of St Maurice, the Lords of Saillon in Valais and other noble families. In 1475, during the Burgundian Wars (1474-1477), Bern acquired the valley. The Bernese rule was apparently tolerable to the inhabitants, … Read more » “The Ormont Valley, Glacier 3000 and Les Diablerets”

Trains and Tunnels in Switzerland

21 January 2026

Switzerland is renowned not only for its visionary public transport policy and commitment to environmental preservation (for example, the transport of goods by train through an extensive network of tunnels, connecting the continent in a climate-friendly way without European Union (EU) subsidies, even in the most inhospitable regions). EU Policies and Swiss Railway Constructions It … Read more » “Trains and Tunnels in Switzerland”

Ftan, the Contredanse française and the Hochalpines Institut

20 January 2026

The village of Ftan is located on the south side of a mountain ridge in the middle of Unterengadin, between Ardez and Scuol. There are two Ftans: Ftan Pitschen (the small Ftan) and Ftan Grond (the big Ftan). The area extends north into the Silvretta region, with the border of Paznaun (Austria), the Futschöl Pass, … Read more » “Ftan, the Contredanse française and the Hochalpines Institut”

Fortyseven in Baden, Bathing in Aquae Helveticae

16 December 2025

Mario Botta (1943), an architect from Tessin, worked on this project for 15 years. The bathing complex Fortyseven along the banks of the Limmat River is 160 metres long and has eleven saunas and eight water pools. Fourteen springs bubbling from the earth provide the water. The complex is not a water theme park. The … Read more » “Fortyseven in Baden, Bathing in Aquae Helveticae”

The Mont Terri Rock Laboratory near Saint-Ursanne

15 December 2025

Switzerland is known for its excellent research institutes, scientific research and universities. The topics and themes range from climate change, glaciers, medicine and pharma, and CO2 reduction to technologies and other fields. The country is one of the world’s champions of innovation and patents. They have one thing in common: they occur at or above … Read more » “The Mont Terri Rock Laboratory near Saint-Ursanne”

Swiss Chocolate has Conquered the World and John Bowring

29 November 2025

How is it that a small mountainous country, without cocoa trees and far from the sea, has been a leading producer of chocolate for two centuries? The primary raw material of chocolate is, in fact, cocoa. Is there a link with the “Zuckerbäcker” from Grisons? In this region, pastry and confectionery were completely unknown in … Read more » “Swiss Chocolate has Conquered the World and John Bowring”

Destination Archeology in Palais de Rumine in Lausanne

27 November 2025

Under preparation. Available in French, German and Dutch