A journey for the eyes

The Bourbaki panorama in Lucerne depicts scenes from the Franco-Prussian war Keystone Archive

A "journey for the eyes" is the name of a new exhibit at the Swiss Alpine Museum in Bern highlighting the history of panoramic paintings.

“Man’s desire to widen his field of view was the foundation for panorama paintings,” says the introduction to the exhibition, which begins on November 23.

In the late 19th century, the panoramas were popular in Europe. In Switzerland, people flocked to see the works depicting city scenes, historic battles or alpine landscapes – as they do to the cinema today.

The most monumental of the paintings were housed in specially constructed buildings, like the Bourbaki in Lucerne.

As expected, the museum exhibit emphasizes panoramas of alpine landscapes, and demonstrates how the digital camera has replaced the paintbrush.

Christmas in castle

On November 24, Gruyères castle in canton Fribourg is hosting an exhibition devoted to Nativity scenes formed of clay by local artist Lucette Pauchard.

The longest measures 25 metres and its rich decorations and detail help reveal local Christmas traditions. Pauchard will be on hand to demonstrate his art.

Postmodern Nativity scenes round out the exhibition. There is a children’s workshop where boys and girls between six and 10 years old can form their own pieces.

Onions in Bern

At dawn on November 26, farmers from surrounding areas will converge on Bern with truckloads of onions and garlic, and other produce for the city’s annual onion market.

Thousands of people are expected to crowd into the city centre for what is one of Bern’s biggest annual events. The market traces its history back to the 15th century.

Onions are heaped high on the tables and twisted into decorative garlands.

swissinfo