Mötschwil

Mötschwil is a municipality in the administrative district of Emmental in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.

Geography

Mötschwil is located on 530 m above sea level. M., 4,5 km west of the town of Burgdorf (air line). The farming village stretches along the southern edge of the flood plain of the river Emme, increased slightly at the edge of the moss and the base of the tertiary sandstone of the higher Swiss plateau.

The area of ​​2.9 km ² large municipality area comprises a gently undulating section of the central Bernese Mittelland. The northern part of the municipality is occupied by the plateau of moss, bounded on the northwest by the forest Chräiholz ​​, in the north- east by Büelhölzli ( 543 m above sea level. M. ). To the south (M. 601 m above sea level. ) Extends the communal land in the wide valley of Schleumen, surrounded by the wooded Molassehöhen of hazel mountain ( 651 m above sea level. M. the highest elevation of Mötschwil ) to the west, Rosenhölzli in the south and Snowed mountain (up to 620 m above sea level. M. ) in the east. From the municipality surface 1997 accounted for 5% on settlements, 31 % of forest and shrubs and 64% agriculture.

To Mötschwil the hamlet Schleumen include (552 m above sea level. M. ) in a hollow mountain east of the hazel and some individual farms. Neighboring communities of Mötschwil are Lyssach, Ruti bei Lyssach, Burgdorf, Krauchtal and Hindelbank.

Population

With 134 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Mötschwil one of the smallest municipalities in the canton of Bern. Of the residents 99.1 % are German and 0.9 % speak English (as of 2000). The population of Mötschwil amounted in 1850 to 198 residents in 1900 to 234 inhabitants. During the 20th century, the population increased by strong emigration from almost 50 %. So lived 2000 in Mötschwil exactly as many people as in 1764.

Economy

Mötschwil was until the second half of the 20th century, mainly coined by farming village. Even today, the farming, fruit growing and cattle breeding have an important place in the economic structure of the population. Some other jobs are in the local retail industry and the services available. Many workers are commuters who work mainly in the region of Burgdorf and in the agglomeration of Bern.

Traffic

The municipality is situated on the old main road from Bern via Hindelbank to Burgdorf. The nearest links to the A1 ( Bern- Zurich ) is located about 5 km from the center. The former regional bus Mittelland AG, which operated the flight from Burgdorf via Hindelbank to Bolligen was adjusted. Thus, the church is no longer connected to the public transport network.

History

The first written mention of the village was carried out in 1294 under the name Müschwile. Later, the names Mötschwile ( 1327 ), Mütschwile ( 1380 ) and Mötschwil ( 1452 ) published. The origin of the name is unclear.

In the Middle Ages Mötschwil was under the suzerainty of the Counts of Kyburg. When the village had come under the dominion of Berne, it was assigned to the Schultheissen Office Burgdorf in the 15th century. After the collapse of the Ancien Régime (1798 ) Mötschwil belonged during the Helvetic Republic to the district of Burgdorf and from 1803 to Oberamt hamlet, was given the status of an office district with the new cantonal constitution of 1831. In 1911, the hitherto official double name Mötschwil - Schleumen was amended in Mötschwil.

Attractions

In the old town numerous characteristic farmhouses in the Bernese country style are predominantly from the 19th century. Mötschwil does not have its own church, it belongs to the parish Hindelbank. In the village center numerous figures of the iron sculptor Bernhard Luginbuhl are exhibited in the sculpture park of the Luginbühlstiftung.

Personalities

• Fritz Kobel (1896-1981), orchards, vineyards, vegetable and horticultural scientist, born in Schleumen
• Bernhard Luginbuhl (1929-2011), wood and iron sculptor was living in Mötschwil