This section contains an overview of the most relevant monuments in Switzerland.
13 May 2021
The Romanesque church of Saint-Pierre-de-Clages (canton of Valais) is located between the Great St. Bernard Pass and the Simplon Pass, connecting the south and the north of Europe. The church was built in the first half of the 12th century. A document from Pope Eugenius III (1088-1153) mentions the church in 1153. It is a … Read more » “Saint-Pierre-de Clages”
7 May 2021
The small town of Diessenhofen (Thurgau Canton) is located between Schaffhausen and Stein am Rhein, on one of the most beautiful river landscapes in Europe. Bosco Gurin (Ticino Canton) is the highest village in the canton and lies in an alpine basin at an altitude of 1,500 metres. The mountain village of Albinen in Upper … Read more » “New Members and the Book”
2 May 2021
The Abbey of St. Johann in Alt St. Johann, founded around the middle of the 12th century, was severely damaged by a fire on 8 February 1626. The Abbot of St. Gall decided to rebuild the building and church about ten kilometres down the valley. In 1629, the construction of the new priory building was … Read more » “Johanneum in Neu St. Johann”
2 May 2021
The church in Obstalden (Canton of Glarus) was built in 1300 as a church of the monastery of Schänis and belonged to the Diocese of Chur. Between 1260 (Matt in Sernftal) and 1349 (Schwanden), four new churches were built in Glarus: Mollis, Obstalden, Linthal and Betschwanden. The construction and furnishing of these churches coincided with the … Read more » “Obstalden Church”
20 April 2021
Besides renowned architects from Basel, numerous other Swiss and international architects, such as Mario Botta, Renzo Piano, and Frank O. Gehry, have left their mark on the cityscape and surroundings. This worldwide respected diversity of remarkable buildings has been made possible by the appreciation of the public and a quality policy that focuses on competitive … Read more » “Contemporary architecture in Basel”
19 April 2021
The Grand Hotel Giessbach is near the famous Giessbach-waterfalls between the mountains and the Lake of Brienz. Many visitors were rowed across the lake to the waterfalls around 1800 by the famous Brienz women rowers. The Giessbach-waterfalls were lit in the evening from 1840. The Grand-Hotel Giessbach was renovated by the architect Horace Edouard Davinet’s … Read more » “Grand-Hotel Giessbach”
16 April 2021
The originally Romanesque church of St. Leonhard towers high above the Barfüsserplatz in the centre of Basel. The first construction of the parish church dates from around 1080. Nearby buildings housed the Augustinian monks. The church bells determined the rhythm of life. Only the crypt of the Romanesque building has been preserved. The earthquake of … Read more » “The St. Leonard Church Basel”
12 April 2021
The picturesque village of Allschwil (canton of Basel-Landschaft) and its half-timbered houses do not deny their proximity to Alsace. The French-Swiss border has, therefore, run right through the area since 1815, as it does in the towns of Basel and St. Louis (French border) and Basel and Weil am Rhein (Germany) (and the Rhine in … Read more » “The Church of Allschwil”
4 April 2021
After Napoleon had occupied the Confederation in 1798 and proclaimed the Helvetic Republic (1798-1803), Austrian and Russian troops (the so-called Second Coalition) invaded this area. After these troops had been defeated near Zurich (25-26 September 1799), the Russian General Alexander Suvorov (1730-1800) led his troops over seven mountain passes back to Austria and from there … Read more » “General Alexander Suworow in Pigniu”
2 April 2021
The neo-romantic castle in Sils Maria on Lake Silvaplana was built in 1906 by Wilhelm, Prince zu Schaumburg-Lippe (1834-1906), a German general. It is one of the most important examples of late historical architecture in Graubünden. The castle is privately owned and is not open to the public. The name means “stone castle” (Romansh: Putèr … Read more » “Chasté crap da sass”
