Fasnacht takes over Baden (V)

I'm learning about local Fasnacht traditions as I prepare posts for this blog. As with a lot of Swiss matters, the way the celebrations for Fasnacht are organized is determined locally, in each community. There are Fasnacht clubs that prepare for this annual event long in advance. In some (maybe all, but I don't know) localities, there's a symbolic take-over of power from the local government by the Fasnacht organizers during Fasnacht. What you see in this photo is a sign of that, as the Swiss flag that usually flies over Baden has been replaced by the banner of the Spanischbrödlizunft (The Spanish Bread Guild -- one of these clubs).

It was apparently at the Treaty of Baden (the treaty that ended the hostilities between France and the Holy Roman Empire) in 1714 that spanish bread was first brought to Switzerland. In 1847, Switzerland’s first train, called the Spanish Brötlibahn, ran between Baden and Zürich. Why was it called that? I'm a little foggy on the details.

The ruins are those of castle Stein (Schloss Stein), once a stronghold of the Habsburgs. It's a short hike to the top through parts of the old town and it's well worth the effort.

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