Magic Mountains

Previous Next

Children in the open air school set up by Auguste Rollier in Leysin, 1940s. (Association pour le Patrimoine de Leysin) Association pour le Patrimoine de Leysin

Auguste Rollier (centre) seeing a patient at the open air workshop in Leysin, around 1930. (Association pour le Patrimoine de Leysin) Association pour le Patrimoine de Leysin

Heliotherapy in Leysin. Section from the monumental mural "Switzerland, holiday country of the nations" by Hans Erni for the 1939 National Exhibition (©Hans Erni, Eggen, 6006 Luzern) ©Hans Erni

Max Bircher-Benner at his holiday home in Braunwald, 1920s. (Bircher-Benner Archive, Zurich University) Bircher-Benner-Archiv, Universität Zürich

Original Bircher grater, around 1940. (Donat Stuppan, Swiss National Museum) Donat Stuppan, Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum.

In the dining room of the sanatorium "Lebendige Kraft" around 1909 (Bircher-Benner Archive, Zurich University) Bircher-Benner-Archiv, Universität Zürich

Plaster original for the monumental scuplure "Girl with raised arms" by Hermann Haller for the National Exhibition 1939. (Atelier Hermann Haller/Donat Stuppan, Swiss National Museum) Donat Stuppan, Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum.

Airing blankets and mattresses in the sanatorium "Lebendige Kraft", 1920s. (Bircher-Benner Archive, Zurich University) Bircher-Benner-Archiv, Universität Zürich

The sanatorium "Lebendige Kraft" on the Zurichberg, at that time without other buildings, in 1904, the year of its opening. Photo: Bircher-Benner Archive, Zurich University Bircher-Benner-Archiv, Universität Zürich

Hydrotherapy compress for the whole body in the sanatorium "Lebendige Kraft", around 1910. (Bircher-Benner Archive, Zurich University) Bircher-Benner-Archiv, Universität Zürich

Medico-mechanical apparatus for velocipede pedalling. Wiesbaden: Rossel, Schwarz & Co., around 1925. (Zurich University Museum of the History of Medicine/Donat Stuppan, Swiss National Museum) Medizinhistorisches Museum der Universität Zürich

Apparatus to simulate movements of the body in a riding position. Brochure of the company Rossel, Schwarz & Co, Wiesbaden, 1925. (Zurich University Museum of the History of Medicine) Medizinhistorisches Museum der Universität Zürich

Clias helmet. A fireman's helmet of around 1880 was adapted to become a weight helmet, used for strengthening the neck muscles. (Sport Museum Switzerland, Basel/Donat Stuppan, Swiss National Museum) swissinfo.ch

"Blauer Heinrich" - a pocket spittoon for tuberculosis patients, around 1910. (Zurich University Museum of the History of Medicine, Depositum Collection "Blauer Heinrich", Benjamin D. Miller/Donat Stuppan, Swiss National Museum) Medizinhistorisches Museum der Universität Zürich

"Vegetarian chair" from the Maggia valley. Possibly by Karl Gräser, around 1910. (Monte Verità Foundation/Donat Stuppan, Swiss National Museum) swissinfo.ch

• Picture 1
• Picture 2
• Picture 3
• Picture 4
• Picture 5
• Picture 6
• Picture 7
• Picture 8
• Picture 9
• Picture 10
• Picture 11
• Picture 12
• Picture 13
• Picture 14
• Picture 15

Switzerland as a centre of health and well-being.

In earlier times, Switzerland was a mecca for health. On offer were therapies using the healing properties of the sun, pure Swiss air and raw food. An exhibition at the Swiss National Museum has documented this sometimes forgotten part of the country’s history.