Gurzelen
Gurzelen is a municipality in the administrative district of Thun in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.
Geography
Gurzelen is located on 591 m above sea level. M., 8 km west-northwest of the city of Thun (air line). The farming village extends into the valley of Müsche shortly before her entry into the wide Gürbetalebene, in the hills of West Lake Thun Office.
The area of 4.5 km ² large municipality area includes a portion of the broad Aaresenke between Bern and Thun. Almost the entire area occupied by the drumlin left by the Office of the glacial lakes of Thun West Aaregletscher. In the middle of the level of the moss is (625 m above sea level. M. ), which is drained by the Müsche north to Gürbe. The moss is in the north of the height at Widerhueb ( 673 m above sea level. M. ), to the east by Steinhölzli and the Dihebüel, to the south by Längenbüelwald (mostly outside the municipality spell of Gurzelen ) and to the west of Ried forest and Riedhubel limited, where with 728 meters. M. the highest elevations of Gurzelen lie. To the south of the municipality of ground above the Geisthubel (707 m above sea level. M. ) extends into the hollow of the Spirit Lake. In the northwest, the area has a stake in the intensively farmed level of Gürbetal (580 m above sea level. M. ). From the municipality surface 1997 6 % came from settlements, 12% of forest and woody plants and 82 % to agriculture.
To Gurzelen the hamlet Obergurzelen ( 635 m above sea level. M. ) are slightly increased at the northern edge of the moss, the Hofgruppe Spirit ( 680 m above sea level. M. ) on the saddle between Ried forest and Geisthubel and various other farm groups and individual farms. Neighboring communities of Gurzelen are Seftigen, Uetendorf, forestry Längenbühl, Wattenwil and Burgi stone.
History
The territory of Gurzelen was settled very early, which could be demonstrated by means of single finds from the Neolithic period, graves of the Hallstatt and Roman settlement remains. The first written mention of the village was carried out in 1231 under the name Gurcellun. Later, the names Gurzillon ( 1254 ), Gurzelon ( 1259 ), Corzellon ( 1272 ) and Gurzelen ( 1337) appeared. The place name comes from the Latin word Corticella ( small yard ).
Since the Middle Ages Gurzelen formed its own rule, which was temporarily split into two parts. This domination experienced in the course of time, numerous changes of ownership and was from 1542 until the end of the Ancien Régime to two -thirds owned by the family of Wattenwyl on Burgistein, one third under direct Bernese authorities. The high jurisdiction lay with the district court Seftigen, but in 1783 a reallocation to the Office tuna.
After the collapse of the Ancien Régime (1798 ) was one Gurzelen during the Helvetic Republic to the district of Thun and from 1803 to Oberamt Seftigen, which was given the status of an office district with the new cantonal constitution of 1831.
Population
With 817 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Gurzelen one of the smaller municipalities in the canton of Bern. Of the residents 97.9 % are German, 1.1 % French-speaking and 0.7 % speak Albanian (as of 2000). The population of Gurzelen amounted in 1850 to 605 residents in 1900 to 603 inhabitants. During the 20th century, the population fluctuated always in the range 660-760 people. 1990 703 inhabitants were counted.
Policy
The voting shares of the parties at the national elections of 2011 were: SVP 41.8 %, 17.1% BDP, SP 9.5%, 8.4%, GPS, EDU 6.4%, FDP 4.3%, EPP 4.2 %, 2.8%, glp, Alps Parliament 2.4%, SD 1.3%, CVP 0.3%.
Economy
Gurzelen was until the second half of the 20th century, mainly coined by farming village. Even today, the farming and market gardening in the fertile soil of the Gürbetal, as well as the dairy and livestock have an important place in the economic structure of the population. More jobs are in small local manufacturing and services available. In Gurzelen today among builders, wood processing, mechanical engineering, horticulture and mechanical workshops are represented. In recent decades, the village has developed into a residential community. Many workers are therefore commuters who work mainly in the larger towns in the area and around Thun.
Traffic
The community is located off the major thoroughfares on a road from Wattenwil to Uetendorf. The nearest links to the motorway A6 ( Bern- Thun) is located approximately 7 km from the town center. Easily accessible, however, is the Seftigen station on the Gürbetalbahn from Bern to Thun via Belp. Since December 2004, a postal bus from Uetendorf goes to Gurzelen.
Attractions
The village church, mentioned in the 13th century, got its current look at the new building of 1710. Baroque hall church has a Renaissance pulpit from the 17th century, a baptismal font and coats of arms from the building time. The original of 1560 derived rectory was rebuilt from 1705 to 1709. About 1823 the post and the school house was built. In the center and in the hamlets numerous characteristic farmhouses have survived in the Bernese style from the 18th and 19th centuries.
On a hill stands the manor Schlingmoos, which was built in 1740 as a widow's residence for the family of Wattenwyl. In the park there is a remarkable colonnade. Remains of the former castle Festi are visible on a spur on the edge of the Gürbetalebene.
Personalities
- Ferdinand Hodler (1853-1918), citizens of Gurzelen, the Swiss painter
- Hector Hodler (1887-1920), citizens of Gurzelen, son of the Swiss painter, founder of the Esperanto World Federation in Geneva (1908 )