Buchpräsentation «Hortensia von Salis. Ein Lebensbild aus dem 17. Jahrhundert»

In German-speaking Switzerland, Hortensia von Salis (1659–1715) was a celebrity during her lifetime. In the last decade of the 17th century, she was declared a Swiss model woman within Zurich's upper class. The Maienfeld native was married to the mercenary officer Rudolf Gugelberg von Moos for ten years. After he died in a battle in Flanders in 1692, she remained widowed for the rest of her life and returned to her birth name.


Hortensia von Salis corresponded with famous theologians, physicians and natural scientists of her time. At the same time, she was involved in denominational disputes, courageously emphasised the right of women to get involved publicly in matters of faith, and she cared for patients with her medical skills and knowledge.


Maya Widmer and Kaspar von Greyerz present the richly illustrated biography and discuss various aspects of the book with historian Mathias Bugg.