Laufen, Switzerland

The Birs in Laufen, November 2003

Running ( French Laufon ) is a municipality in the district of Laufen in the canton of Basel -Country in Switzerland. Running is the capital of the district of the same.

Geography

Laufen is at Laufental on the Birs and Jura railway line from Basel to Delémont. Its highest point is 670 m above sea level with Nettenberg and the lowest point of the Birsufer in Neumatt 348 m asl The area of the municipality is 1137 hectares, of which 28 % agricultural land, 53 % forest, 18% settlements and 1% unproductive area.

Coat of arms

Blazon

The coat of arms symbolizes the close connection with the bishopric of Basel.

History

From 58 BC to 470 AD running belonged to the Roman Empire and after its collapse it was up to about 500 Alemannic. Then, the valley was part of the Frankish Empire and 853-1033 for the kingdom of Burgundy. The childless king of Burgundy, Rudolph III. , Gave 999 the Bishop of Basel, large parts of the upper Birstals (see also Prince-Bishopric of Basel).

1141 the village was first mentioned as Loufen. 1295 Peter founded the empire of rich stone the town of Laufen. Running 1637-1639 was drawn into the Thirty Years' War. Protestant Sweden attacked the bishop, who was also prince of the empire, and devastated the valley.

Together with other subjects rebelled in the 18th century, some Laufener against the prince-bishop. With the help of French troops you defeated the " lordship " in Pruntrut. During the French Revolution in 1792 was running during 87 days part of a Jurassic own state, " Raurachischen Republic». However, this was then part of France from 1793 to 1813. In the French department of Mont- Terrible was running capital of the " Canton de Laufon ".

1815 most of the old diocese of Basel was awarded the Canton of Bern and thus the Swiss Confederation in the Congress of Vienna. For the " happy fate " sent shortly after the eleven Laufentaler village representatives a tribute letter to the city and Republic of Berne. Was running until 1846 the district capital. 1852, the two communities running and walking city suburb were pooled.

After the formation of the Canton of Jura from the three Catholic majority office districts Delsberg, Pruntrut and free Mountains and some of the municipalities of the district of Moutier in the Laufen in 1979 to more remote Bernese exclave. After several years of consultation cascade in 1989 ( turnout over 93 per cent) opted 51.7 percent of the residents of the district running for the transition to the canton of Basel-Landschaft. The town of Laufen voted against it, however. In 1994, the accession was completed on Canton Basel-Landschaft. In August 2007, a flood flooded the old town of hard running, so that damages of several million Swiss francs arose.

Population

58 % of the population is Roman Catholic, 15 % Reformed, 1% christian catholic. The proportion of foreigners is 22.6 %.

Economy

In running to large international companies have settled: the herbal sugar manufacturers Ricola AG ( originally Richterich and Compagnie, running - hence the acronym Ricola ) and the Laufen Bathrooms AG. The companies benefit from the peri-urban location to Basel in the border triangle CH -DF, by able workers from the Laufental, the Thierstein and Alsace, as well as more affordable prices for land and housing.

Culture

In ancient Birsmillgebäude the Rock Club is Biomill. Exhibitions, concerts, cabaret, films and readings, the Cultural Forum skiing in repurposed slaughterhouse. In the Stedtlibibliothek are running around 15,000 books, films and other media available for loan.

For many years running has no cinema. In 2005, therefore, the association open-air cinema Racing was founded and since then, each held in late August in the parking lot of the old slaughter house is a large open-air cinema. In 2007, the outdoor cinema has 700 seats.

Attractions

  • Medieval old town with a partially preserved town wall and three gates
  • Town House ( 1672), first baroque noble residence and the hospital, now houses the municipal administration. During the restoration in 1976 a hunting fresco was discovered in the ballroom of Roggenbach family in Grisaillenmanier 17th century under the white plaster.
  • St. Catherine's Church ( 1698 ) with altars, carved pulpit, late Gothic Madonna and rococo statues of 1755
  • The cemetery includes two side panels and the top plate of a dolmen.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Basel Rudolph III of Burgundy Gothic art Madonna (art) Blauen, Basel-Landschaft Brislach Dittingen Duggingen Grellingen Nenzlingen Wahlen Zwingen Municipalities of the canton of Basel-Landschaft
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