The Celtic Sanctuary of the Mormont

Le Mormont, au pied du Jura. Photo/Foto: W. Dusan (red.), Le Mormont. Un sanctuaire des Helvètes en terre vaudoise vers 100 avant J.-C., Lausanne 2009).

22 November 2019

The Swiss cement manufacturer Holcim has been doing what it has been doing for decades: making cement from lime by extracting it from mountains and hills. In 2006, excavations were in full swing on the Mormont hill, between the villages of Éclépens and La Sarraz (canton of Vaud). On this occasion, one of the most … Read more » “The Celtic Sanctuary of the Mormont”

Bibracte and Swiss History

The Archaeological Museum Bibracte. Photo: TES.

16 November 2019

One of the crucial events in Switzerland’s history occurred in 58 BC, at the Celtic or Gallic oppidum of Bibracte on the Beuvray mountain in Burgundy, near Autun. Cesar stopped the migration or advance of the Helvetians (Helvetii) and some other Celtic tribes from northern Switzerland. This battle between the Roman and Celtic tribes is mentioned … Read more » “Bibracte and Swiss History”

The Murus Gallicus of Basilia

Basel, Münsterhügel, Murus Gallicus. Foto/Photo: TES.

22 September 2019

More than 2,000 years ago, the Celts (the tribe of the Rauraci) built the first fortification of Basilia, known as the murus gallicus. Around 80 B.C., the Celtic population sought shelter behind fortified buildings, likely due to the arrival of Germanic tribes. Along the Rhine, fortified centres were built at strategic points, such as on … Read more » “The Murus Gallicus of Basilia”

Celtic Culture in the Alpine Region

Replica of a Celtic village. Photo: www.heuneburg.de

19 September 2019

Switzerland and its rivers, roads and mountain passes have always been at the crossroads of European trade, ideas, culture and communication. Several Celtic tribes inhabited this area long before the Roman invasion (c. 15-13 B.C.). These tribes were ruled by aristocracies and kings who derived their prestige from warfare and a clientage system. The Romans referred … Read more » “Celtic Culture in the Alpine Region”

The Holy Oaks of La Tène

La Tène, canton de Neuchatel, le parc de chênes. Bild/Photo: TES.

9 September 2019

The Celts were a group of tribes that inhabited Central and Southern Europe from approximately 1300 BC, including the area of present-day Switzerland. The Celts have never formed a unified political entity. Not much is known about the Celtic language either. The language disappeared after the Roman occupation and the Romanisation, a process that spanned … Read more » “The Holy Oaks of La Tène”

Dolmen Graves in Switzerland

12 August 2019

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