Chris Findlay22.08.2023The Schaffhausen Municipal Library is home to a manuscript of great significance: The Hiberno-Scottish saint’s life of Columba of Iona provides insight into a period of history about which little is known. It also contains the oldest account of a monster in Loch Ness.
Kurt Messmer18.07.2023Here is a simple test. The pilgrimage church of Hergiswald at the foot of Mount Pilatus contains a visually stunning depiction of biblical scenes from the baroque period, circa 1650. What response does this cultural-historical cosmos elicit from you?
Jacqueline Grigo15.06.2023At one time the Muslim headscarf was a frequent source of heated debate. It can be seen as a barometer to gauge changing views of religious freedom.
Thomas Weibel04.05.2023The Sack of Rome, or ‘Sacco di Roma’, by the leaderless troops of Charles V on 6 May 1527 ended in a bloodbath that also cost the lives of 147 Swiss guards. Traces of that dark day are still being discovered.
Josef Lang23.03.2023The Federal Constitution only became secular in 1874 when it granted religious freedom to the Jewish minority. In the current version, there are still two exemption clauses concerning Muslims.
Kathrin Utz Tremp16.03.2023A story of deception, fraud and torture that ends at the stake. The Jetzer Affair in Bern was an out-and-out scandal worthy of a modern-day thriller. Its protagonist was a young tailor's assistant who experienced mysterious spiritual apparitions in 1507. As it turned out, they were much more earthly visions.
Michael Jucker14.03.2023The over 100-year history of Zurich football club FC Hakoah highlights the importance of Jewish sport in the building of identity and the integration of Jews in Switzerland.
James Blake Wiener02.03.2023From peasant’s son to almost Pope: Matthäus Schiner (c. 1465-1522), who came from the Upper Valais, was a decisive figure in European politics during the height of Swiss power in Europe. He remains controversial to this day.
