Category Archives: Switzerland

The old quarry that was reused as a beer brewery

Posted on February 2, 2013 by

Working with the Berne Minster Workshop on mapping the quarries used for the cathedral, I visited the Wabern quarry just outside the city centre yesterday. Though it is unclear to what extent it was employed for the cathedral in the Middle Ages, it is a most remarkable quarry: For it was reused as a brewery for “Gurten Beer” from the 1860s on. Since I have noted the link between stone extraction and beer drinking through history (see last part of this story), I thought I ought to post the photo above of a wonderful old horse cart with a beer barrel remaining in the quarries. Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, New projects, Old quarries, Switzerland | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Alpine heritage impressions from a summer in Grisons (Graubünden, Switzerland)

Posted on August 17, 2012 by

Grisons – or in German Graubünden – is the largest canton in Switzerland, in the middle of the Alps, bordering Italy and Austria. It is renowned for its magnificent nature and countless medieval castle ruins. But Grisons has a truly … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Old mines, Old quarries, Rock art, Ruins, Switzerland | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

With pickaxe into modern times: Quarrying of Bernese sandstone (CH)

Posted on January 11, 2012 by

Even until the 1950s the quarrymen in Berne extracted their sandstone using pickaxes. They carved out trenches around the blocks to be removed, not unlike the way their colleagues did 5.000 years ago in ancient Egypt. Why so? Join me … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient Egypt, Archaeology, Old quarries, Switzerland | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Standing at the edge of the abyss: The castle ruin at Cartatscha in Graubünden (Switzerland)

Posted on November 22, 2011 by

Working as a conservation scientist I care for cultural heritage. My “problem” is that I’m also interested in the history of decay, including catastrophic events; just these phenomena that turn old masonry to rubble. But I’ve never seen it “live” … Continue reading →

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The Mauerzahn at Grünenfels castle ruin (CH) revisited after massive snowfall

Posted on October 17, 2011 by

Ten days ago winter arrived in the Swiss Alps with massive snowfall. Subsequent temperature increase and intensive rainfall led to major floods, avalanches and destruction of infrastructure such as villages and roads. Such events sometimes also affect old buildings and … Continue reading →

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A Mauerzahn at Grünenfels castle ruin (CH): Surviving 2011?

Posted on December 31, 2010 by

Switzerland has a wealth of medieval castle ruins. In the Canton of Graübunden they are particularly numerous with, for example, the valley of Vorderrheintal (Surselva) displaying no less than about 50 ruins. Some are almost gone, others are kept in … Continue reading →

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Tüfels Chilen: Quarrying in the Church of the Devil

Posted on October 29, 2010 by

Quarrying in the old days was often carried out at astonishing places, leaving very special formations – and legends – behind. The “Devil’s Church” or Tüfels Chilen in the Canton of Zurich is such a remarkable, combined work of nature … Continue reading →

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Cooperation with CSC Conservation Science Consulting, Fribourg

Posted on October 21, 2010 by

From 2008 to August 2010 I worked for CSC Conservation Science Consulting in Fribourg (CH), which is run by Christine Bläuer and Bénédicte Rousset. We undertook several exciting projects together, for example mapping the building stones – the Pierre jaune … Continue reading →

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