Category Archives: 2023 Hiestand-Haston European Heritage Tour

01 – The Black Forest of Southwest Germany – First Evening Stop on Our Hiestand-Haston Family Heritage Tour to Switzerland and the Rhineland of Germany – The Black Forest is Known for its Awesome Beauty Our first evening will be spent in the Black Forest, along our way from Frankfort Germany to Zurich, Switzerland.  The BlackContinue reading “01 – Black Forest of Germany”

02 – Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen, Switzerland The Rhine Falls in Switzerland  is the most powerful waterfall in all of Europe.  You will see, not only the Rhine Falls in Switzerland, but the awesome landscape and villages that surround the Rhine River. The Rhine River Falls is on a stretch of the Rhine River knownContinue reading “02 – Rhine Falls, Near Schaffhausen, in Northern Switzerland”

04 – Täuferhöhle (Anabaptist Cave) – Secret Place for Worship – Saturday, June 17, 2023, we will walk up the hill to see where Swiss Brethren (Anabaptists/Mennonites) met to worship in secret. – The German word Täufer = “Baptist” in English, not Baptist as a denomination but Baptist as “one who baptizes.”  In Switzerland, beginning inContinue reading “04 – The Anabaptist Cave – Täuferhöhle, Where Anabaptists Worshipped in Secret”

05 – Zürich – A Walking Tour of the City On the afternoon of Saturday, June 17, 2023, we will tour the city of Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland.  It’s one of the most important financial centers in the world.  Situated on the north shore of Lake Zurich and spanning the Limmat River, itContinue reading “05 – Zürich – Walking Tour of the City”

06 – The Drowning Martyrdom of Anabaptist, Felix Manz On Saturday June 17, 2023 we will visit the site on the Limmat River in Zurich City where one of the first Anabaptist leaders, Felix Manz, was executed by drowning solely because of his Anabaptist faith. The people of Zurich crowded along both sides of theContinue reading “06 – Limmat River – Where Felix Manz Was Martyred”

07 – Richterswil, the “Village” of Our Swiss Hiestands Although our Hiestand ancestors lived in other villages around Lake Zürich, we can probably think of Richterswil as our Swiss hometown.  For that reason, we will be spending four nights in Richterswil, where – in our free times – we can walk the streets that ourContinue reading “07 – Richterswil – Our Swiss “Hometown””

08 – The Amazing Richterswil Jet Fountain Weather permitting and etc., we will watch the world famous Richterswil Jet Fountain “spout” on Sunday, June 25, 2023. The Richterswil FONTÄNE, with its height of 101 meters (331 feet), takes eighth place among the top ten, but it is the highest fountain in the world that isContinue reading “08 – The Amazing Richterswil Fountain”

9 – The 13th-16th Century Wädenswil Castle Above Richterswil Alt-Wädenswil Castle, the residence of the barons von Wädenswil, was inaugurated in the 13th century. The castle had to be demolished in 1557 according to a decision of the Diet, as Schwyz felt threatened by the expansion of the city-state of Zurich.  Our Hiestand Ancestors WereContinue reading “09 – The Old Wädenswil Castle in Richterswil, Canton Zurich of Switzerland”

10 – The Wilderness Trust in Richterswil That the Hiestands Have Been Members of for Many Centuries On Sunday morning, June 18, 2023 we will worship – like our Anabaptist ancestors worshiped – in a Swiss forest on the hillside behind the town or Richterswil.  They met in secret there because they could be imprisonedContinue reading “10 – The Richterswil Wilderness Trust”

11 – Boat Cruise Around Lake Zürich On Sunday afternoon, June 18, 2023 we enjoy a delightful cruise around Lake Zürich, seeing the towns along the shores and the Alps in the distance.   https://youtu.be/oA3vPJ_9s1U More Information about the June 14-27, 2023 Hiestand-Haston European Heritage Tour Share this with Hastons or related family members who mightContinue reading “11 – Boat Cruise Around Lake Zürich”

12 – The Richterswil Museum In June 2023, while our Hiestand-Haston tour group is in Richterswil, Switzerland, we will have an opportunity to visit the local museum. The Richterswil local museum deepens the understanding of regional history and promotes cultural life in the community.   The main points of his work are: Management and expansionContinue reading “12 – The Richterswil Museum (Canton Zurich, Switzerland)”

13 – Village of Hirzel, Switzerland – Home of Two Famous People Our June 2023 Hiestand-Haston tour group will visit the little mountain village of Hirzel, Switzerland on Monday, June 19. The village of Hirzel, just a few miles on the mountainside southwest of Richterswil is famous for its beauty, as well as the homesContinue reading “13 – Village of Hirzel, Home of Two Famous People”

14 – Were our Ancient Swiss Hiestands Spiritist-Pagans? Although I can’t say for sure, it is probable, that our Medieval ancestors were pagans who lived in a high-mountain area of what is now the northern edge of Canton Zug, Switzerland.  Our June 2023 Hiestand-Haston tour group will visit this area. The (Swiss) hills were aliveContinue reading “14 – Were Our Ancient Swiss Hiestands Spiritist-Pagans?”

2023 Hiestand-Haston Europe Tour Price and Other Details June 14-27, 2023 – Switzerland and Rhineland Germany Download a Printable Copy of the Itinerary and Form More Information about the June 14-27, 2023 Hiestand-Haston European Heritage Tour Share this with Hastons or related family members who might be interested in the June 14-27, 2023 Hiestand-Haston EuropeanContinue reading “– June 14-27, 2023 – Hiestand/Haston European Heritage Tour – Terms and Conditions”

15 – Einsiedeln Abbey, Home of the Swiss “Black Madonna” Tuesday, June 20, 2023, our Hiestand-Haston tour group will visit the largest church in Switzerland–the famous Einsiedeln Abbey. 150,000 to 200,000 Roman Catholic pilgrims visit each year Black Madonna of Einsiedeln The abbey is dedicated to Our Lady of the Hermits, the title being derivedContinue reading “15 – The “Black Madonna” in the Einsiedeln Monastery”

16 – Wooden Chapel Bridge in Lucerne, Switzerland And Shopping in this Beautiful City! In the afternoon of June 20, 2023, our Hiestand-Haston heritage tour group will visit the Swiss city of Lucerne.  Not only will we see and stroll across this historic bridge, but there will also be time for shopping in Lucerne. The Kapellbrücke (literally,Continue reading “16 – Lucerne and the Wooden Chapel Bridge”

17 – Ballenberg Open-Air Museum On Wednesday, July 21, 2023, our Hiestand-Haston heritage tour group will visit the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum. Ballenberg is an open-air museum in Switzerland that displays traditional buildings and architecture from all over the country. Located near Brienz in the municipality of Hofstetten bei Brienz, Canton of Bern, Ballenberg has overContinue reading “17 – Ballenberg Open-Air Museum”

18 – Cable Car Ride to & Evening in the Alps Village of Mürren On June 22, 2023, our Hiestand-Haston Heritage Tour group will take a scenic cable car ride up to the mountain village of Mürren.And we will spend the night there! Mürren is a traditional Walser (inhabitants in the Alps) mountain village inContinue reading “18 – Cable Car to the Car-less Village of Mürren in the Swiss Alps”