Janick Rüttimann09.07.2026Liechtenstein has evolved into an attractive location for domiciliary and fiduciary companies since the 1920s. Although politicians in Switzerland have repeatedly voiced misgivings about this, it has also been a source of profit for the Swiss financial centre. This has resulted in a close, albeit fraught relationship between the two neighbouring states.
Claudia Aufdermauer07.07.2026Around 1860, arsenic was widely known as a poison used in murder cases. Nevertheless, the authorities in Basel were initially oblivious to the potential dangers emanating from its use in dye production. The cantonal chemist alone recognised that the industrial use of the ‘King of Poisons’ could have unintended consequences for both people and the environment.
Thomas Weibel02.07.2026Ticino’s Blenio Valley is home to a series of fortified cliff dwellings known as the ‘case dei pagani’ or ‘pagan houses’. These near-inaccessible ruins are the setting of many scary stories and continue to puzzle researchers to this day.
Murielle Schlup30.06.2026Following Fascist Italy’s invasion of Abyssinia in 1935, the deposed Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie called on the League of Nations in Geneva for support. To no avail; Switzerland regarded him as an “inconvenient guest” and refused him asylum.
Franziska Zaugg25.06.2026When the Spanish civil war broke out in July 1936, it provoked a reaction from Switzerland. Apart from the political aspect, about 800 Swiss volunteers also travelled to the Iberian Peninsula to fight against the forces of General Franco.
Jean-Luc Rickenbacher23.06.2026The majority of worldwide goods traffic goes by sea. Although Switzerland does not have direct sea access, it is connected to global maritime trade routes via the Rhine. The Swiss Rhine ports in Basel play a key role, as around ten per cent of all Swiss imports are handled there.
Marilyn Umurungi18.06.2026Bernese chemist Gertrud Woker was one of the first women in Europe to research the deadly effect of poison gases. She campaigned throughout her life to prevent the results of her research being used on the battlefield. An object of admiration and derision, Gertrud Woker was ahead of her time.
Eric Häusler und Jürgen Häusler16.06.2026Switzerland’s banknotes were given a makeover in the 1990s. The eighth series (1995–2016) not only met strict security requirements, it was also innovative in its design. A voyage of discovery through the archives and a look behind the scenes reveal how these banknotes were planned, designed and introduced to the public.
