Kerzers Inferno
A 65-year-old man set himself on fire in a Postauto in Kerzers, taking five others with him, in a shocking and unexplained incident that has left the community reeling.
Kerzers · · 💀 Dark history
Discover 39 curated stories about Appenzell in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland — covering hidden gems, dark history, legends, weird facts and funny anecdotes.
A 65-year-old man set himself on fire in a Postauto in Kerzers, taking five others with him, in a shocking and unexplained incident that has left the community reeling.
Kerzers · · 💀 Dark history
The village of Gais was also the site of a significant battle in 1405, where the Appenzeller forces, led by Graf Rudolph von Werdenberg, defeated the troops of the Abbot of St. Gallen and Austria, se…
Gais · · 💀 Dark history
The Schloss Appenzell was built in 1563 by Anthoni Löw, a doctor who was one of the leaders of the Reformed Church in Appenzell. However, he was arrested, tried, and executed in 1584 on unproven char…
Schloss Appenzell · · 💀 Dark history
The Berggasthaus Aescher-Wildkirchli, a world-famous mountain hut, is perched on the edge of the Wildkirchli mountain, offering breathtaking views.
Berggasthaus Aescher-Wildkirchli · 🏛️ Legendary
In 1291, Appenzell was ravaged by the troops of the Counts of Werdenberg-Sargans, leaving a lasting impact on the village's history and development. This event marked a significant turning point in t…
Appenzell Village · · 💀 Dark history
A 60-year-old Czech man was involved in a dramatic incident on Rorschacher Strasse in St. Gallen, where he threatened a driver with two blank guns and later shot at a police officer, all while under…
Rorschacher Strasse · · 💀 Dark history
A fire broke out in the Zurich Freemasons' lodge Modestia cum Libertate, a building that has been shrouded in mystery for centuries due to the Freemasons' tradition of secrecy.
Zurich · · 🔍 Hidden gems
In 1937, the Swiss people rejected a initiative to ban Freemasonry and similar organizations, ensuring the continuation of the tradition in the country.
Switzerland · · 🏛️ Legendary
A 54-year-old Austrian woman fell to her death while hiking in the Alpstein mountains, plunging 70 meters down a steep slope near the Dürrschrennen area.
Alpstein mountains · · 💀 Dark history
Dominik Kelsang Erne, an ultrarunner, completed a 373 km run from St. Gallen to Geneva in a record time of 58 hours, pushing through harsh weather and hallucinations.
St. Gallen to Geneva · · 🏛️ Legendary
At the Kantonsspital Aarau, a surprise oasis was set up for nursing staff, complete with a beach bar, palm trees, and loungers, all hidden behind a white curtain.
Kantonsspital Aarau · · 🤯 Weird
In the village of Gais, a unique 'Ziegenmolken Kur' (goat's milk cure) was practiced, where fresh goat's milk was brought down from the high mountains every morning to be consumed by visitors seeking…
Gais · · 🤯 Weird
A lightning bolt destroyed the telephone exchange in 1899, causing a precarious situation for the post office in Appenzell, which was later mocked during the 1904 Fasnacht carnival.
Postplatz · · 💀 Dark history
The post office in Appenzell was mocked during the 1904 Fasnacht carnival due to its precarious situation after the telephone exchange was destroyed by a lightning bolt in 1899.
Postplatz · · 😂 Funny
Emil Neff, a farmer from Appenzell, notoriously gambled away his entire fortune in a card game, leaving his family in poverty. They were forced to live in a small apartment above a bakery, paying onl…
Appenzell · · 💀 Dark history
Emil Neff, a farmer in Appenzell, allegedly lost his entire fortune in a high-stakes card game, leaving his family impoverished. His wife, Maria Magdalena, and their three unmarried children were for…
Appenzell · · 💀 Dark history
Oskar Locher, a former judge and brewer, took part in the first passenger flight around the Säntis mountain in 1927. The flight started from Breitfeld and passed over Appenzell, where two letters wer…
Appenzell · · 🏛️ Legendary
The first Säntis Sommer-Skirennen was organized by the Skiclub-Brülisau-Weissbad in 1936, just a year after the opening of the Säntis Schwebebahn. The challenging course was nearly 4000 meters long w…
Säntis · · 🏛️ Legendary
Oskar Hermann Bischofberger, the owner of the 'Neuhaus' building, was an innovative watchmaker who oversaw the installation of the first telephone cables in the area in 1894.
Neuhaus · · 🏛️ Legendary
In the Wildkirchli caves, excavations uncovered stone tools and bones of cave bears, revealing human activity dating back to the Paleolithic period, around 45,000 to 30,000 years ago.
Wildkirchli caves · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Appenzellerbahn, a narrow-gauge train, offers a scenic ride through the canton, allowing passengers to enjoy the picturesque landscape at a slow pace.
Appenzellerbahn · 🏛️ Legendary
The village of Appenzell was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1560, but was rebuilt while maintaining its original layout and foundations. This devastating event led to the reconstruction of se…
Appenzell Village · · 💀 Dark history
The first Freemasons' lodge in Switzerland was founded in 1736 in Geneva by English Lord George Hamilton, marking the beginning of a long history of Freemasonry in the country.
Geneva · · 🏛️ Legendary
A poem written by Vadian in 1540 tells the story of a banner trade between St. Gallen and Appenzell, which ended in a loss for St. Gallen. The poem is a unique glimpse into the history of the region…
Stadtbibliothek · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Neuhaus, a family house, was sold in 1977 after being owned by the same family for over a century, with various family members living and working there, including a watchmaker.
Neuhaus · · 🏛️ Legendary
The first telephone cables were laid in Appenzell in 1894, marking the beginning of a new era in communication for the town.
Appenzell · · 🏛️ Legendary
Maria Magdalena Neff-Klarer, a resident of Appenzell, had several siblings who tragically died in childhood, highlighting the high child mortality rate during that time period.
Appenzell · · 💀 Dark history
The 'Falken' building in Appenzell was home to Maria Magdalena and her family after they fell into poverty. The building still stands today, a testament to the family's struggles and resilience. The…
Falken · · 💀 Dark history
The Locher brewery in Appenzell was one of the first to use a motorized vehicle for deliveries in 1920. The brewery was founded by Oskar Locher and his brother Karl in 1908.
Appenzell · · 🏛️ Legendary
In 1876, the 'Neuhaus' building started being referred to as 'die Post' after the owner, Barbara Josefa Emilia Bischofberger-Sutter, rented out the ground floor for postal services.
Neuhaus · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Appenzeller and Toggenburger Alpfahrt features a unique tradition where the leading cows wear specially tuned bells that serve as a drone accompaniment to the Sennen's yodeling songs.
Appenzellerland · 🤯 Weird
The Wildkirchli, a historic site in Appenzell Innerrhoden, consists of three caves and features a chapel, St. Michael, which is listed as a cultural property of national significance.
Wildkirchli · 🔍 Hidden gems
The parish church in Appenzell, built between 1560 and 1584, is a notable example of the village's architectural heritage. Its construction was made possible by the rebuilding efforts following the d…
Parish Church · · 🏛️ Legendary
A watchmaker's business was located in the Neuhaus family house, where the owner, Oskar Hermann Bischofberger, worked and lived with his family.
Neuhaus · · 🔍 Hidden gems
Eggenstrasse 16 in Appenzell was the last known address of Magdalena Josefine Neff, the daughter of Maria Magdalena. The house may still hold secrets and stories of the family's past, waiting to be u…
Eggenstrasse 16 · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The 'Neuhaus' building, formerly the old post office, has been in the Bischofberger family for generations and features the family crest above the door.
Neuhaus · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The 'Neuhaus' building changed hands within the Bischofberger family multiple times, with Oskar Hermann Bischofberger purchasing the sole ownership rights in 1888 for 27,500 francs.
Neuhaus · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Alphütte Leustöckli, a mountain hut, was a summer getaway for the Bischofberger family and their friends, offering breathtaking views of the Alpstein mountains.
Alphütte Leustöckli · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Appenzeller and Toggenburger Alpfahrt processions are led by children with goats, followed by a Senn with a decorated bucket and a Lediwagen carrying equipment.
Toggenburg · 🤯 Weird
💀 Dark history · 😂 Funny · 🔍 Hidden gems · 🏛️ Legendary · 🤯 Weird
Hidden stories of Zurich beneath your feet
Facts are sourced from various open websites and may have been edited. Copyright of original content belongs to their respective owners.
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