Modern Age Archive - Swiss National Museum

31. July 2019

The Rütli fan

Ludwig II, King of Bavaria, was a fan of William Tell. In the 19th century, he even wanted to buy the Rütli and build a castle on it.

28. June 2019

These days, the refrigerator is as much a part of our lives as running water or toothpaste. But that hasn’t always been the case. In earlier times, blocks of ice or cold water were used to keep food chilled.

26. June 2019

Modern Age | War/battle

de en fr

The First Peace of Kappel

by Andrej Abplanalp

490 years ago, on 26 June 1529, the First Peace of Kappel was agreed. Catholics and Protestants laid down their arms at the last minute and ate soup together. But the peace didn’t last long. Two years later, the parties were facing off against each other yet again.

29. May 2019

Modern Age | Economy

de en fr

A one-track life

by Karl Lüönd

At the end of the 19th century, the world was gripped by ‘railway fever’. Swiss expertise was in high demand. Jakob Müller left Lucerne to move to present-day Turkey, where he eventually became the director of the Orient Express.