Witterswil

Look at Witterswil ( in the foreground)

Witterswil ( in dialect: Witterschwyl ) is a municipality in the district of the Canton of Solothurn Dornach in Switzerland.

Geography

Witterswil is located at 338 m above sea level. M., 9 km south-southwest of the city of Basel (air line). The scattered village extends in an exclave of the canton of Solothurn in a wide opening at the northern foot of the Jura, in the rear Leimental, near the border with France.

The area of ​​2.7 km ² large municipality area includes a small section at the northern foot of the Jura. Geographically located Witterswil in the transition area of the gently undulating landscape of Sundgauer hill country to the folded Mesozoic strata of the northern Jura. Around the old village begins a slight depression, which opens to the east against Ettingen and is drained by the Marchbach to Birsig. To the north of this valley floor itself is only about 20 meters higher, broad back of Nassläng and Witterswilerstrasse field adjoins. Parallel to this runs to the north of the Mulde Binnbachs, which in turn from the grounds back of the Egg ( 353 m asl; . Northern boundary of the municipality ) is flanked.

South of Witterswil the land rises on the slopes of the mountain Witterswilerstrasse steeply and reaches 500 m above sea level. M. the highest point of the municipality. The anticline Witterswilerstrasse mountain forms one of the blue chain upstream Jura fold. From the municipality surface 1997 13 % came from settlements, 20 % of forest and woody plants and 67% from agriculture.

To Witterswil include extensive new residential areas. Neighboring communities of Witterswil are Hofstetten- Flueh and Bättwil in the canton of Solothurn and Biel- Benken, Therwil and Ettingen in the canton of Basel-Landschaft.

Population

With 1387 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Witterswil belongs to the medium-sized municipalities in the canton of Solothurn. Of the residents 91.6 % are German, 2.3 % French-speaking and 2.1 % speak Italian ( as of 2000). The population of Witterswil amounted in 1850 to 298 residents in 1900 to 303 inhabitants. During the 20th century, the population increased to 1960 only very slowly to 347 people. Unlike in the neighboring municipality Bättwil rapid population growth began already in the 1960s, which led to a doubling of the population within 10 years ( 1970, 705 inhabitants counted ). Since then, the trend has continued in a milder form. The settlement area of Witterswil has grown together almost completely with that of Bättwil.

Culture

Since 2003 takes place on the driving sport meadow in Witterswil each year the music festival Leimentaler Open Air instead. This is one of the biggest cultural events in the Basel region. This open air, however, was postponed from 2009 to Oberwil. For Witterswil has a men's choir, and a pro Witterswil organization that always causes Cultural events.

Economy

Witterswil was until the second half of the 20th century, mainly coined by farming village. Today, the agriculture, the growing of fruit ( mostly cherry trees ) and livestock only a minor role in the occupational structure of the population. More jobs are in small local manufacturing and services available. In Witterswil today among builders, information technology and wood processing are located. Companies in various industries, most notably in biotechnology are rented in the technology center Witterswil AG ( DGR AG). In recent decades, the village has developed into a residential community. Most workers are therefore commuters who work mainly in the Basel region.

Traffic

The community is conveniently moderately well developed. It is located on a link road from Aesch (BL ) to Flueh. The nearest links to the high-performance street H18 (Basel - Delémont ) is located approximately 6 km from the town center. By Tram line 10 of Basel -Land Transport AG (BLT), which serves the route from Basel to Rodersdorf, Witterswil is connected to the network of public transport - in the nights Fri / Sat and Sat / Sun contrast with the bus line N26 the night network.

History

The first written mention of the village was carried out in 1266 under the name Witerswil; of 1340 the name Wittelswilre is preserved. The name goes back to the Old High German personal name Withari and thus means hamlet / farmstead of Withari.

Since the Middle Ages Witterswil was part of the rule Rotberg. This rule had a long time to the rank of a free imperial fief, which was directly under the emperor, so Witterswil was considered one of the seven villages on the Free Imperial Blue. By purchasing the rule Rotberg came to Solothurn in 1515 and was assigned as a result of the Bailiwick of Dornach. After the collapse of the Ancien Régime (1798 ) Witterswil belonged during the Helvetic Republic to Dornach district and from 1803 to Dorneck. End of the 20th century the idea of a merger with the neighboring municipality of Witterswil Bättwil came on, but for now that is not pursued.

Attractions

The Church of Saint Catherine was started in 1641 on the site of a medieval house of worship and subjected to 1983 a total renovation. Together with Bättwil forms Witterswil since 1808 an independent double parish. In the old town and some characteristic farmhouses from the 17th and 18th centuries have been preserved.

Coat of arms

Blazon

The coat of arms is a combination of the Canton crest, topped with the attribute of the Church saint and the coat of arms of the lords of Rotberg.