Maienfeld

Maienfeld, view from the southwest

Maienfeld (Romansh Maiavilla? / I ) is a commune with city status in the Grisons at the foot of Falknis. Maienfeld is surrounded by vineyards. Maienfeld is fictitious in the novel Heidi by Johanna Spyri arrival of the protagonist in Switzerland. Politically Maienfeld part of the namesake county in the district of country quart of the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.

• 8.1 Sons and daughters May- field
• 8.2 Other personalities

History

In the municipality prehistoric finds have been made. It is first mentioned in the 4th century Maienfeld than Magia on the Peutinger panel, 801-805 as Lupinis. Magia was probably Roman station to the historic streets in the Rhine Valley, at the junction of the road to Zurich ( Turicum ) and Bregenz ( Brigantium ).

The city law is first documented in 1434, but the market was right Malan. Traditionally Maienfeld is still known as the city, the central square is the Städtli. Since 1436 Maienfeld was a member of the League of the Ten Jurisdictions, 1438 entered into a legal agreement with the City Barons of Brandis.

From the 14th century Walser migrated to the territory of the city and founded several settlements that are part of the city were as the Walser mountain community whose residents were, however, included in the civic rights until centuries later. These settlements include Rofels, Bovel, Guscha and Stürfis, the latter two now deserted villages.

Maienfeld, Romansh up to this point, has been Germanized in the 16th century. 1529 the Reformation was already introduced. After the construction of the railway line from St. Gallen to Chur mid-19th century, a short time later with a turn-off to Zurich, the city lost its importance for the passenger and freight transport, which acts as a regional center went to the nearby towns of Bad Ragaz, sargans and country Quart.

The old town with the remains of the city walls, the Castle Brandis (with pictures of Waltensburger master ) and the Salenegg castle are listed in the inventory of estimable local images of Switzerland as of national importance. In the midst of the city center is the Amandus church. The Salenegg castle above Maienfeld has for centuries been owned by the family of Gugelberg moss. More mansions in the village belong to the present day the Grisons noble families of Salis and speakers of Bernegg.

Coat of arms

Description: Blue three ( 2:1) asked six-pointed golden star.

Geography

Maienfeld located eight kilometers southeast of Sargans in the lower Chur Rhine Valley and is also the third city on the Rhine called. The municipality is bordered to the west by the municipality of Bad Ragaz, Canton of St. Gallen, in the west and north areas of the municipality vial, Canton Grisons, to the north by the communes of Balzers, Triesen and Schaan in the Principality of Liechtenstein, Nenzing in Vorarlberg, in the east on the community of Buchen im Prättigau, on the southwest by the communities of Jenin and Malan, on the south by the communes of Quart and Zizers country.

The town is located on the right side of the valley of the Rhine at the foot of Falknis and consists of the town, Bovel, Rofels and St. Luzisteig, a pass into the Principality of Liechtenstein with a fortress from the 18th century, still used as barracks for the Swiss Army will. The old Walser settlement Stürfis was abandoned in 1633 and transformed into a nightmare of city Maienfeld, resettled residents after Rofels. The Walser settlement Guscha other hand, was still inhabited until 1969, when the last two local families moved away after the sale of land to the Army as a training ground. Between Maienfeld and Jenin is the bed of the Teilerrüfi.

Of the total municipal area of ​​3237 ha 1433 ha of arable land. Most of it consists of farmland and mountain pastures ( 737 ha), but serve 122 ha the vine, fruit and horticulture. 1034 ha of community land area is covered by forest and woodland. In addition to 596 ha of unproductive area (mostly mountains) are used 174 ha as a settlement area.

Until October 23, 1977 was a so-called Kommunanz, in the form of the Community territory Maienfeld - vial, the vial and the communities Maienfeld belonged together.

Population

Of the 2432 residents at the end of the year 2004, 2208 ( = 91 % ) Swiss nationals. At the 2000 census, there were 92 % German as their main language at ( most common main language ), 1.5 % Portuguese ( second most common ) and 1.5 % Romansh ( third most common ).

Education

Maienfeld is the site of a primary school (1st to 6th school year) for the community Maienfeld a county school center with a secondary and junior high school (7th to 9th school year) for the communities vial, Maienfeld and Jenin ( circle Maienfeld without community Malan ). In Maienfeld is the inter-cantonal Forestry Training Centre Maienfeld, are formed in the experts for forest and agriculture.

Economy

The viticulture plays an important role since ancient times and is the largest economic sector. The Weingut Schloss Salenegg is the oldest still existing winery in Europe. Main variety is the Pinot Noir, which was formerly sold under the name Beerliwein; today is found only sporadically this name. Secondly, the Riesling-Silvaner follows followed by Pinot (Pinot Blanc), Chardonnay and Pinot Gris (Pinot Gris ). In Maienfeld a vineyard area of ​​108.9 ha is farmed (Graubünden total: 418.5 ha). This makes it the largest wine community in Canton.

The rest of agriculture consists of crops and livestock. There are some minor industries. Many Maienfelder commute to work in Chur, country quart or Bad Ragaz.

Tourism

Ever since the novel Heidi by Johanna Spyri published, the community is considered to be the birthplace of this novel. The district Rofels is often referred to as Heidi hamlet. The Heidi tourist guides tourists from around the world into the church. Located 500 meters above the town of the " Heidialp " on the Ochsenberg. On the Falknis mountain tours can be undertaken.

Attractions

Schloss Brandis Maienfeld

Castle Salenegg at Maienfeld

Speaker - yard

Center

The Heidi House in Maienfeld

Traffic

Maienfeld is on the main road 28 from country quart over the St. Luzisteig to Balzers as well as on the A 13 are In the municipality exit 13 ( May- field) and parts of the Exit 14 ( Country quart) and the roadhouse Heidi country. The railway line from Chur to Sargan and on to St. Gallen or Zurich serves the Maienfeld station.

Events and Traditions

Every year in October the International horse racing Maienfeld Bad Ragaz takes place. A special Maienfelder Easter tradition was the Eiertrööla, held each Easter Sunday on the Eierbühel (eggs hill ) between Rofels and Bovel. The custom is now forgotten and is only very sporadically maintained by families in the village.

Personalities

Sons and daughters May- field

• John Comander (around 1484-1557 ), theologian and reformer
• Hortensia Gugelberg von Moos (1659-1715), physician and writer
• Theophil spokesman Bernegg (1850-1927), Chief of Staff of the Swiss Army during the First World War
• Fritz Tanner (1923-1996), theologian and Marriage Counselor

Other personalities

• Conrad Grebel (1498-1526), co-founder of the Anabaptist movement, passed away in May- field of the plague.
• John Knittel (1891-1970), Swiss writer who lived after 1938 in Maienfeld.
• Hansjörg Trachsel (* 1948), politician, living in Maienfeld