Zürichtal was renamed Zolotoe Pole – the golden field – in 1945.
Two Swiss villages on the Black Sea

Ukrainians are fleeing westwards into the unknown, with some also heading to Switzerland. More than 200 years ago, Swiss settlers migrated east to Ukraine and established two Helvetic colonies: Zürichtal in Crimea. And Shabo near Odessa.

In 1868 Rudolf Heer, his wife, Rosina, and their daughters, Barbara and Maria, emigrated from Glarus to America. Illustration by Marco Heer.
Easy come, easy go

In 1868, Rudolf Heer and his family emigrated to America. In five letters home to his mother he described his life in the New World, allowing us a glimpse into the life of an emigrant.

La première femme auteur de livres de cuisine en Suisse s'appelait Anna Wecker et était originaire de Bâle. Illustration : Marco Heer
The almost-pioneer from Basel

Anna Wecker from Basel is Switzerland’s first known cookbook author. She infiltrated this male-dominated sphere in 1598.

Latest posts

Map of eastern Lake Zurich at the time of the First War of Villmergen, 1656 (detail).
André Perler 01.07.2022

“Rüti” and “Schwand” indicate historical clear-felling of forests

The forests of Switzerland have been managed since time immemorial – and for centuries, they were also cleared on a large scale. The complex relationship between humans and the forest is immortalised in the names of towns and localities.
Anne Frank wrote what is probably the most famous diary in the world.
Andrej Abplanalp 29.06.2022

Anne Frank and the Basel connection

From Basel and later from Birsfelden, Anne Frank’s father, Otto, worked to ensure that what is probably the most famous diary in history was read all over the world.
The square in the “Grosse Bäder” of Baden im Aargau, ca. 1780. On the left is the public outdoor pool; on the right, the legendary St Verenabad.
Andrea Schaer 27.06.2022

Bathing in the open air

Up to the mid-19th century, the mineral hot baths in Baden im Aargau were known for their open-air thermal pools.
Advertisement for Swiss beer, by the Swiss Brewers’ Association.
Nemo Krüger 24.06.2022

Beer as a mirror

With the fall of the beer cartel, Switzerland’s breweries entered a new era. The way was clear for foreign corporations, alternative business models and smaller competitors. This phenomenon reflects the history of an entire national economy.
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Popular posts

Julius Caesar parleys with Divico. Painting by Karl Jauslin for the publication «Schweizergeschichte in Bildern» (Swiss history in pictures), 1885.
Katrin Brunner 13.06.2022

Divico – a forgotten national hero

Around 200 years ago, just when there was a shortage of heroes, the myth of Divico was born. As the chief of the Tigurini people of Helvetia, he made history on account of his brave deeds and the often disrespectful way he talked to Julius Caesar.
In June 1712 the “Klostervogt” of Magdenau was executed. He had certainly aggravated the conflict between the denominations. Illustration by Marco Heer.
Andrej Abplanalp 09.06.2022

Off with his head!

On 9 June 1712, Christoph Lieber lost his head. A prominent Catholic Klostervogt (abbey bailiff), Lieber was one of the reasons why the conflict between the Swiss denominations flared up again at the beginning of the 18th century.
A Swiss mercenary holds the best hand vis-à-vis the great European rulers in the "Game for Milan". Woodcut by Hans Rüegger, 1514 (detail).
James Blake Wiener 03.06.2022

Zenith of Swiss Power: The Battle of Novara

The Battle of Novara on 6 June 1513 was the last great military victory of the Old Swiss Confederation and marked the peak of its power in Europe.
The nose of the rocket could be swivelled – allowing the Spitlight to project images both vertically and horizontally.
Dominik Landwehr 26.03.2021

A ‘light-spitter’ lights up the skies

It caused a sensation in 1955 – the Spitlight, a light beam device that could project images onto cliff faces and clouds. But the futuristic device brought no joy for its inventor.

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