Electric Hotel Blown Up
The Grand Hôtel in Baden was the first building to be permanently powered by electricity in 1882, but it met a dramatic end when it was blown up by the Swiss Army in 1944.
Grand Hôtel · · 💀 Dark history
Discover 55 curated stories about Baden in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland — covering hidden gems, dark history, legends, weird facts and funny anecdotes.
The Grand Hôtel in Baden was the first building to be permanently powered by electricity in 1882, but it met a dramatic end when it was blown up by the Swiss Army in 1944.
Grand Hôtel · · 💀 Dark history
The Aarauer Bachfischet has been celebrated for almost 500 years, making it one of the oldest continuous traditions in Switzerland. The festival originates from the annual cleaning of the Aarauer Sta…
Aarau · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Roman vicus in Baden was destroyed by fire in AD 69, during the conflicts of the Year of the Four Emperors, and was later rebuilt in stone.
Roman Vicus · · 💀 Dark history
The Stein Castle in Baden was destroyed by the Confederacy in 1415, and its records were lost forever.
Stein Castle · · 💀 Dark history
In the 15th century, Ulrich von Lommis, a Bürger and Ratsherr in Zürich, was killed in the Schlacht bei St. Jakob an der Sihl, a battle that took place on July 22, 1443. According to legend, he used…
St. Jakob an der Sihl · · 🏛️ Legendary
Richard Wagner composed parts of his famous opera 'Die Walküre' in a small house near the 'grüner Hügel' in the Enge district, where he lived with his friend Otto Wesendonk's family from April 1857.
Enge district · · 🏛️ Legendary
Mathilde Wesendonk, the wife of Otto Wesendonk, was the muse and confidante of Richard Wagner, and their friendship led to a deep and intimate exchange of letters and ideas, which were later publishe…
Zurich · · 🏛️ Legendary
Mathilde Wesendonk gave Richard Wagner an American gold pen, which he used to write the entire orchestral score of 'Die Walküre', a manuscript that is now considered a masterpiece of calligraphy.
Zurich · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Stein Ruin in Baden, a medieval fortress, was destroyed by the Eidgenossen in 1415 and later rebuilt as a fortification from 1657 to 1670, only to be destroyed again in 1712 after the Second Vill…
Stein Ruin · · 💀 Dark history
A kayaker discovered a remarkably well-preserved mammoth tooth on the banks of the Limmat River in Baden, which was later confirmed to be around 18 to 20 thousand years old.
Limmat River · · 🤯 Weird
A 60-year-old woman from Baden was fined 600 francs for sharing a Facebook post warning about a speed camera on the Rohrdorferberg-Reusstal road.
Rohrdorferberg-Reusstal · · 😂 Funny
A woman in Baden was fined 600 francs for not paying 85 cents for a pistachio croissant at an Aldi store due to a self-checkout error.
Aldi Baden · · 😂 Funny
A tenant in Bümpliz, Bern, was charged nearly 400 francs for replacing a missing toothbrush glass, which was estimated to cost only 5 francs.
Bümpliz · · 😂 Funny
A massive boulder, estimated to weigh around 2.5 to 3 tons, suddenly came loose from a hill and blocked the road between Turgi and Baden, miraculously without causing any injuries.
Road between Turgi and Baden · · 🤯 Weird
In a surprising display of speed, Armand Duplantis outran Karsten Warholm in a 100m sprint at the Letzigrund stadium in Zurich, finishing in 10.37 seconds.
Letzigrund stadium · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Ruine Stein, a medieval fortress in Baden, was destroyed by the Eidgenossen in 1415 and later rebuilt as a fortification from 1657 to 1670, only to be demolished again in 1712, with its stones us…
Ruine Stein · · 💀 Dark history
The Schlossbergtunnel in Baden is the first railway tunnel in Switzerland, built in 1846-47 as part of the Zürich-Baden railway line. It is now used for road traffic.
Schlossbergtunnel · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Aarauer Bachfischet features a unique tradition where children carry self-made lanterns and sing the traditional 'Bachfischet-Lied' during a parade through the old town. The festival ends with a…
Aarau · 🤯 Weird
The hot sulfur springs in Baden, which gave the town its name, were revered by the Romans for their medical and recreational properties, and were even used by Charlemagne.
Hot Sulfur Springs · · 🏛️ Legendary
The city of Baden was a major political center, hosting the sessions of the Federal Diet from 1424 to 1712. This period of time played a significant role in shaping Switzerland's history.
Baden · · 🏛️ Legendary
The first entirely Swiss railway line was opened in 1847, connecting Baden to Zurich. This marked the beginning of a new era in transportation for the region.
Baden · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Aquädukt Baden, a historic aqueduct, was built to supply water to the city. It is still standing today and is a notable landmark in Baden.
Aquädukt Baden · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Stadtturm, a historic tower, is a prominent landmark in Baden. It offers stunning views of the city and is a popular tourist destination.
Stadtturm · 🏛️ Legendary
The Ruine Stein, a historic castle ruin, is located in Baden and offers a glimpse into the city's rich history.
Ruine Stein · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Landvogteischloss, a historic castle, is located in Baden and serves as a reminder of the city's complex history.
Landvogteischloss · 🏛️ Legendary
The Wettingen Abbey, a former Cistercian monastery, was founded in 1227 and dissolved in 1841, but its buildings are still used today as a school and a heritage site of national significance.
Wettingen Abbey · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Lauchetal valley, where the Baumwollspinnerei Lauchetal is located, was already inhabited in the Bronze Age, as evidenced by the discovery of Bronzebeile, ancient tools used for spinning and weav…
Lauchetal · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Komtur, a historical figure, was known for his theological studies and his role in the Reformation. He was a prominent figure in Zurich, particularly in the area of Lake Zurich.
Zurich · · 🏛️ Legendary
Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, a renowned educator, was born in the 'Haus zum Schwarzen Horn' in Zurich, where his family lived in economically challenging circumstances after his father's death.
Haus zum Schwarzen Horn · · 🏛️ Legendary
Richard Wagner dedicated his 'Faust-Ouvertüre' to Mathilde Wesendonk, but later decided against it, instead giving her the manuscript with a personal dedication.
Zurich · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Wesendonk family's villa on the 'grüner Hügel' in the Enge district was built in 1857, and Richard Wagner lived there with the family for some time, composing music and sharing ideas with Mathild…
Enge district · · 🏛️ Legendary
Conrad Ferdinand Meyer, a renowned Swiss writer, lived in a small estate in Kilchberg, where he would often meet with his friend Julius Rodenberg, a German writer and editor, to discuss literature an…
Kilchberg · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Stein Ruin, a cultural asset of national significance, served as an archive for the Habsburgs and was strategically located to secure the narrow passage between the Schlossberg and Lägern.
Stein Ruin · 🏛️ Legendary
The Sebastianskapelle, located next to the Katholische Stadtkirche in Baden, was previously used as a Beinhaus, a charnel house where bones were stored.
Katholische Stadtkirche · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Roman settlement of Aquae Helveticae, located on the Haselfeld, was partially destroyed by fire in 69 AD, during the Year of the Four Emperors, and later rebuilt in stone.
Haselfeld · · 💀 Dark history
The Stein castle, located on a rocky outcrop above the Klus, was destroyed in 1415 during the Swiss conquest of the Aargau and later rebuilt in the 17th century.
Stein castle · · 💀 Dark history
The Dreikönigskapelle in Baden was built on the site of a previous chapel that dated back to the 12th century, and two of its bells were cast in 1556 and 1564.
Dreikönigskapelle · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Reformierte Kirche Baden was built in the 18th century as a baroque church, despite there being no reformist community in Baden at the time, which was seen as a provocation by the Catholic popula…
Reformierte Kirche Baden · · 🔍 Hidden gems
Gemellianus, a Roman metalworker, created intricately designed metal fittings for dagger sheaths in Aquae Helveticae, now Baden, which were popular among visitors to the thermal baths and found in va…
Aquae Helveticae · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Sankt-Nikolaus-Kapelle in Baden is one of the few buildings that survived the destruction of the Burg Stein castle in 1415 and 1712. It has been restored and still stands today, offering a glimps…
Sankt-Nikolaus-Kapelle · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Schiefe Brücke in Baden is a bridge with a 7.5% incline, making it a unique architectural feature in the city. It was built in 1874 to connect Baden with Ennetbaden.
Schiefe Brücke · · 🤯 Weird
The village of Ennetbaden, also known as 'Little Baden', was once a separate entity but is now part of Baden.
Ennetbaden · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Romans utilized the hot springs in Baden, which were later mentioned by Tacitus in his book Historiae around 100 AD. The springs are still a popular attraction today.
Kursaal gardens · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The company Brown Boveri was founded in 1891 by Charles-Eugène L. Brown and Walter Boveri, and it quickly became a leading manufacturer of electrical equipment.
Baden · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Stein Castle, a medieval castle ruin, offers a stunning view of Baden and the surrounding communities, and on clear days, the Glarner Alps can be seen.
Stein Castle · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Historic Museum Baden & Bailiff’s Castle, located in the heart of Baden, showcases the town's history and industry, including its thermal baths and power plant manufacturing.
Historic Museum Baden & Bailiff’s Castle · 🏛️ Legendary
Conrad Ferdinand Meyer, a Swiss writer, was inspired by the story of the Komtur and wrote about it in his works. He was particularly fascinated by the Komtur's role in the Reformation.
Zurich · · 🏛️ Legendary
Pestalozzi spent his summer vacations with his grandfather, a pastor in Höngg, a village near Zurich, where he developed a love for nature and a desire to help those in need.
Höngg · 🏛️ Legendary
In 1880, a group of 17 young, unmarried individuals founded the Chevroh Ez Chajim Basel, a Jewish charity and welfare organization, at the Hotel Braunschweig in the Schützenmattstraße.
Hotel Braunschweig · · 🏛️ Legendary
The oldest protocol book of the Chevroh Ez Chajim, which could have provided valuable insights into the organization's early history, has been lost since 1914.
Chevroh Ez Chajim · · 🔍 Hidden gems
Julius Rodenberg, a German writer and editor, visited Conrad Ferdinand Meyer in Kilchberg in 1877, marking the beginning of a long-lasting literary friendship between the two men.
Kilchberg · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Tagsatzung, a meeting of the Swiss Confederation, took place in Baden from 1416 to 1712, with the spätgotischer Tagsatzungssaal still standing in the Stadthaus.
Stadthaus · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Stadtkirche Mariä Himmelfahrt, built on the foundations of a 9th-century church, features a unique blend of Gothic, Baroque, and Classical styles, reflecting the various architectural influences…
Stadtkirche Mariä Himmelfahrt · 🤯 Weird
The Thermalquellen, a system of thermal springs, was used by the Romans to supply the Badebassins, and its remains can still be seen today in the old town.
Thermalquellen · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Römerbad hotel in Baden was demolished in 2017, after being a prominent hotel in the city's spa quarter for many years.
Römerbad · · 💀 Dark history
💀 Dark history · 😂 Funny · 🔍 Hidden gems · 🏛️ Legendary · 🤯 Weird
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