Patrik Süess20.10.2026In July 1876, two inmates broke out of Basel’s ‘Schällemätteli’ prison, killing three guards in the process. Their escape attempt was prompted in part by the dire living conditions in the penitentiary.
James Blake Wiener15.10.2026Hans Holbein the Younger (c. 1497–1543) came of age in an era reshaped by print culture, humanism, and religious turmoil. After settling in Basel, he created works for the city’s Renaissance elites. His years in Switzerland laid the foundation for the international acclaim he later achieved in Tudor England.
Gabriel Heim01.10.2026Milkers and dairy workers from Switzerland were so in demand on German farming estates from the mid-19th century that the term ‘Schweizerei’ came to mean dairy farm, while milkers were known as ‘Schweizer’ or ‘Stallschweizer’.
Barbara Basting10.09.2026The Great St Bernard Pass has always been known as a major alpine crossing point. Napoleon Bonaparte made skilful use of it for propaganda purposes.
Maël Roumois01.09.2026Swiss 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.
Christophe Droesch13.08.2026In 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.
Jasmin Mollet06.08.2026In the late 19th century, the corset faced growing criticism as it was deemed constrictive and damaging to health. The women’s movement fought for the reform dress, including in Switzerland – advocating freedom of movement, emancipation and a cut that served the body, rather than forcing it to bow to fashion trends.
Murielle Schlup04.08.2026Around 100 years ago, a Swedish heiress secured the inheritance of the von Hallwyl family, into which she had married in 1865. The National Museum Zurich is part of that story.
