During the Age of Enlightenment, Switzerland became a hub for intellectual and cultural development, despite political conservatism. The period saw a flourishing of science, literature, and philosophical thought, contributing to both European scholarship and Switzerland’s cultural identity. Scholars like Johann Jakob Scheuchzer in Zürich made strides in geology and history, while the Bernoulli family and Leonhard Euler in Basel advanced mathematics and physics, laying foundations for modern science. The literary and scientific achievements of figures such as Albrecht von Haller and Jean-Jacques Rousseau also sparked an early wave of tourism, attracting visitors like Goethe in 1775.
Literary and Scientific Achievements in German-Speaking Switzerland
Zürich emerged as a leading intellectual center, with scholars such as Johann Jakob Bodmer, Johann Caspar Lavater, and Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi making contributions to literature, philosophy, and education. The city’s intellectual elite fostered a vibrant cultural scene, drawing comparisons with the great republics of Venice and Geneva.
Basel, home to the Bernoulli family and Euler, became renowned for scientific innovation, especially in mathematics and physics. Isaak Iselin, another Basel figure, wrote about economics and history and helped found the Helvetic Society, which promoted intellectual exchange.
Bern also played a dual role in Swiss culture, bridging the German- and French-speaking worlds. Albrecht von Haller celebrated the natural beauty of the Swiss landscape through both poetry and scientific works. Other writers from German-speaking Switzerland, such as Johannes von Müller and Heinrich Zschokke, began documenting Swiss history in new ways, laying the groundwork for Swiss historiography.
French and Italian Contributions to Swiss Thought
The arrival of French refugees after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 enriched Swiss intellectual life, particularly in the French-speaking areas. Lausanne and Neuchâtel became centers of philosophical thought, with notable figures like Jean-Jacques Burlamaqui and Emeric de Vattel contributing to law and natural rights theory.
The philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, born in Geneva, wrote some of his most influential works there, blending political philosophy with his admiration for Swiss nature. Around the same time, Voltaire settled near Geneva and further cemented the region’s reputation as a center of Enlightenment thought. Lausanne, too, became a literary hub, attracting figures such as Edward Gibbon, who completed part of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire there.
The Scientific Exploration of the Alps
Scientific interest in the Alps also grew during this period, with Horace-Bénédict de Saussure pioneering geology and meteorology through his explorations. His expeditions into the Alps, driven by scientific curiosity, opened new frontiers for both researchers and tourists. Figures such as Marc Théodore Bourrit, though more traveler than scientist, chronicled his experiences with a sense of wonder that inspired early tourism.
Cultural Identity and Regional Nationalism
The late 18th century saw the beginnings of nationalist sentiment, particularly in the French-speaking region of Vaud, which was under Bernese control at the time. Writers such as Philippe Cyriaque Bridel helped nurture a distinct Vaudois identity through poetry and travel literature, laying the foundation for future political movements.
This era of intellectual and cultural dynamism helped shape Switzerland’s evolving identity, not only as a confederation of independent regions but also as a beacon of education, science, and artistic achievement within Europe.