Kirchdorf, Bern
Kirchdorf is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.
Geography
Kirchdorf lies at 611 m above sea level. Level, 10 km north- west of the city of Thun (air line). The scattered village extends on an elevated and panoramic position on the southern foothills of the Belpberg between the valleys of the Gürbe in the west and the Aare river in the east, south of the Gerzensees.
The area of 6.1 km ² large municipality area includes a portion of the broad Aaresenke between Bern and Thun. The main part of the territory occupied by the undulating plateau of southern Belpberg, which was formed by glacial Aaregletscher. In a slight dip to the north of the village of Gerzensee, the southern half is one of Kirchdorf is. South of the village begins approximately 500 m wide, flat valley of Limpachs, a former swamp. To the east of the municipality spell reaches down into the Stöckliwald (600 m above sea level. M. ) and in a narrow tip on the Gestelen (600 m above sea level. M. ) to the Aare.
To the west of the plateau near Kirchdorf, the heights of Leen ( 651 m above sea level. M. ) and Taan close ( 663 m above sea level. M. the highest elevation of the community ) to. These heights fall with a steep wooded slope almost 100 m west to Guerbetal from. Part of the intensively farmed level of here 1.5 km wide central Gürbetal also part of Kirchdorf. From the municipality surface 1997 10 % came from settlements, 18% of forest and woody plants and 70 % to agriculture; slightly more than 2 % was unproductive land.
To Kirchdorf include the hamlet and farm groups Leen (625 m above sea level. M. ), Büttstein (620 m above sea level. M. ) west of the village, Stockeren (590 m above sea level. M. ) on the edge of Limpachtälchens as well as some individual farms. Neighboring communities of Kirchdorf are Gerzensee, Wichtrach, Jaberg, Uttigen, Kienersrüti, Noflen, Burgi stone, Lohnstorf, Mühlethurnen and mill village (BE).
Population
With 881 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Kirchdorf one of the smaller municipalities in the canton of Bern. Of the residents 96.7 % are German, 1.2 % French-speaking and 0.4 % speak Romansh (as of 2000). The population of Kirchdorf amounted in 1850 to 679 inhabitants, 1900 to 605 inhabitants. During the 20th century, the population increased to 1960 from 535 people. Since then, a significant increase in population was recorded again.
Economy
Kirchdorf was until the second half of the 20th century, mainly coined by farming village. Even today, the farming, market gardening in Guerbetal 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 Kirchdorf today among builders, the electrical industry, wood processing and a Car companies are represented. At the height of the east Limpachtälchens the largest gravel pits of the Canton of exploitation; a part is already in the restoration phase. In recent decades, the village has developed thanks to its attractive location into a residential community. Many workers are therefore commuters who work mainly in the larger towns in the area and in the Berne or Thun.
Traffic
The community is conveniently technically quite well developed, even though it is off the major thoroughfares on a road from Mühlethurnen by gravels. The nearest links to the motorway A6 ( Bern- Thun) is located approximately 4 km from the town center. Due to the post bus trips which operate on routes from Belp to Kirchdorf and Münsingen to Kirchdorf, the village is connected to the public transport network.
History
The territory of Kirchdorf was settled very early, which could be detected by the finds of graves from the La Tène period. Among the grave goods included an iron sword, which is now exhibited in the Historical Museum Bern. In Gestelenwald there was an earthwork.
The first written mention of the village was carried out in 1228 under the name Chilthorf. Later, the names Kyltorf (1250 ), Chilchtorf ( 1260 ), Kiltorf (1280 ), Kiltdorff ( 1605), and Kirchdorf (1838 ) published. The village was probably founded in the 7th century by the Alemanni.
The area of present-day Kirchdorf was fragmented in the Middle Ages in many small estates, which partly Bernese families, partly clerical institutions included ( Interlaken monastery, Lower Hospital Bern ). It was not until 1508, the area around Kirchdorf under Jakob von Wattenwyl was combined into a rule. The Lower Court Kirchdorf came in 1645 to the city of Bern and was elevated to a Venner court in the District Court Seftigen. Early developed in Kirchdorf various branches of industry ( upholstery, tanneries, sawmills, mills ), because the village lay on an important connection between the Emmental and the Schwarzenburgerland. After the collapse of the Ancien Régime (1798 ) belonged Kirchdorf during the Helvetic Republic to the District Seftigen and from 1803 to Oberamt Seftigen, which was given the status of an office district with the new cantonal constitution of 1831.
Attractions
The Ursus Church, which was already mentioned under the first mention of the village got its present shape in the new construction from 1872 to 1874; the previous building was destroyed by fire. The church increased slightly standing forms of the Gothic Revival style shows and a high spire. It is considered a landmark of the village and is visible from afar.
Kirchdorf has a worthy of protection of national importance. In the old town are the numerous characteristic houses from the 17th and 19th centuries a unit. Worth mentioning are especially the Prison Tower from the 17th century with the municipal archives, the former magistrate grain house ( built in 1700 ) as well as the country seats Schlossli ( 1646) and angles (1668 ). Modern architecture includes the multi-purpose building Dorfträff.
The north of the village located Gerzensee with its unspoilt shores is a nature reserve and is only available in a few places.
Pictures
" Lehner house" in the center