10 February 2022
The hilly and mountainous landscape of the two Appenzell cantons is as beautiful as their origins are typically Swiss and unique. The area of these cantons covers 420 km2. The northern part of Canton Appenzell Ausserrhoden (AR) consists of hills and almost borders Lake Constance. In the southern region, canton Appenzell Innerrhoden (AI), the mountains … Read more » “The History of the Appenzeller Cantons”
2 February 2022
Unterwalden, Obwalden and Nidwalden already appeared in documents in the 13th century. Unterwalden means “in the forest” or “inter silvas”. King Henry (Heinrich) VII (1273-1313) granted the status of a free imperial city (Reichsunmittelbarket) to villages in this region in 1309. It was highly unusual to give this right to a village of peasants. The … Read more » “Canton of Nidwalden”
31 January 2022
The canton of Valais (Wallis in German) became a member of the Swiss Confederation of twenty-two cantons in 1815. Until the French invasion in January 1798, the Republic of the Seven Tithings (Republik der Sieben Zenden or Zehnden, Républik des sept Dizains) in the Upper Valais (Haut-Valais, Oberwallis) ruled the territory. From 1476 onwards, this Republic … Read more » “Canton of Valais”
