Industrialisation, Catholics, Protestants and Monasteries in St. Gallen

20 June 2024

The city, canton and abbey of St. Gallen have been a symbol of division and conflict of interests in the Swiss Confederation for centuries, before the Reformation in 1526 and afterwards. The relationship between the governments of the cities of Chur, Constance, Basel and Geneva and their bishops is similar. Until the Reformation, these divisions … Read more » “Industrialisation, Catholics, Protestants and Monasteries in St. Gallen”

Chaplin’s World on the shores of Lake Leman

7 June 2024

6 June 1944 (D-Day) was not only a day of deliverance for citizens of occupied countries in Western Europe. It was also a moment of hope for actor and film director Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977). Although he was only four days older than the German dictator, he outlived him by over 32 years. They never met … Read more » “Chaplin’s World on the shores of Lake Leman”

Bilingual Biel/Bienne

17 May 2024

After the Celtic and Roman times, Seeland was situated at the edge of the (first) Burgundian Kingdom (443-534). The Three Lakes region (the lakes of Biel/ Bienne, Morat/Murten and Neuenburg/ Neuchâtel) was still populated by Gallo-Roman people. The German-speaking Alemanni immigrated to this region in the fifth and sixth centuries.  However, it was not until … Read more » “Bilingual Biel/Bienne”