In autumn 1632, the cantons of Bern and Solothurn clashed between Oensingen and Balsthal. Illustration by Marco Heer
The Klus affair

In the autumn of 1632, Solothurn and Bern came within a whisker of going to war. A last-minute trade-off averted an escalation. A bloody tale from the Thirty Years’ War.

Greek refugees of the Ypsilantis troop, watercolour lithograph, 1823.
The odyssey of the Greek freedom fighters

In 1823 around 160 Greek revolutionaries ended up in Switzerland, having been defeated and persecuted by the Ottomans. They escaped on foot on a route that took them via Odessa, Bessarabia, Poland and through German states to the border in Schaffhausen.

Powered by water, driven by ambition

Jonas Sandoz acquired the concession to operate mills in the caves of Col-des-Roches thanks to his political acumen. It was a successful venture – until he ran into financial difficulties.

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How the Swiss were encouraged to save

Matthias Wiesmann 03.09.2026 “Feed your savings now or starve in old age” and similarly blunt aphorisms were printed on cards issued to Swiss schoolchildren in 1946 in an attempt to motivate them to start saving. Adults were also encouraged, by various means, to set money aside for the future.
A daily reminder to save at home: a man places a five-franc coin into a money box, 1963. Comet Photo AG.

Swiss mercenaries: flag-flying, fearsome fighters

Maël Roumois 01.09.2026 Swiss mercenaries in foreign service, known by names such as Reisläufer (ones who go to war) or Cent-Suisse (‘Hundred Swiss’; soldiers who guarded the French king), were feared throughout Europe. They began bearing regimental flags with flame-like designs from the 17th century while in the service of France. These flags became synonymous with Switzerland’s illustrious military tradition.

Banks in transition: from counters to apps

Andrea Weidemann 27.08.2026 Today, if we want to transfer money or check our custody account we simply reach for our smartphone. This seemingly straightforward procedure is the product of a lengthy evolution. In just a few decades, the everyday financial activities of the Swiss have moved from the physical to the digital realm: from bank counters to a device kept in our trouser pockets.
Formerly an established part of everyday life: being served at a bank counter, here at Zürcher Kantonalbank.

A funeral for the Spanish Republic

Sébastien Farré 25.08.2026 In early December 1936, the Spanish anarchist Ramón Mateo was laid to rest in Geneva. His funeral procession also became a public demonstration in support of the Spanish Republic.
In December 1936, large crowds gathered in Geneva to mourn the Spanish anarchist Ramón Mateo.
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Switzerland’s love affair with its iconic military bike

Thomas Bochet 30.07.2026 Few items of military equipment are as renowned for their longevity as the ‘Ordonnanzrad 05’ bicycle. It was a staple of military and civilian life for almost a century. In fact, its extensive use within and outside the military plus its legendary indestructibility have made it part of the country’s DNA.
A bicycle troop negotiating a hill in full battle gear, 1981.

Hot porridge all the way from Zurich to Strasbourg: an oat-standing achievement

Christophe Droesch 13.08.2026 In 1456, a pot of millet porridge was transported by boat from Zurich to Strasbourg in a single day. It was still warm on arrival. The trip was repeated in 1576 and feted as a great achievement, but it mainly served to solidify the alliance between the two cities in a politically and religiously charged period.
Full speed ahead to Strasbourg! The ‘Hirsebreifahrt’, 1797.

Adolf Walter – national traitor turned liberal industrialist

Rolf Löffler 11.08.2026 Adolf Walter fled Switzerland for the Third Reich in 1939, a fugitive from justice. On returning, he was convicted of treason and served a prison sentence. But that did not stop him from setting up in business and living life as a normal citizen.
A staunch supporter of the Nazi regime: toolmaker Adolf Walter. Illustration by Marco Heer.

Sexuality in the Middle Ages

Valérie Lüthi 13.06.2024 If we hazard a look at the medieval era, we discover a history of sexuality that is far more multilayered than we might at first have imagined. While the Christian church sought to extend its influence into private bedchambers, ‘lascivious’ attitudes and practices stood in the way of its ambitions.
Detail from The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch, 1490-1500.

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