Schwende District

Scattered settlements Schwende and Rüte

Schwende is a municipality ( officially referred to as district) in the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden in eastern Switzerland. The county seat is in Weissbadstrasse.

Name

In the 12th century, the name Swendi or swandjan was mentioned. It comes from the old German expression shrinkage make ( deforestation ).

Geography

The district Schwende is the largest district in the canton. It includes the villages of Schwende and Wasserauen, parts of Weissbadstrasse (south of Brüel Bach ) and Appenzell ( southwest of the sitter ) and the Innerrhoder part of Santis Mountain Range and the Alpsteins.

The pre-alpine to alpine terrain 800-1100 meters is covered with inhabited all year round agricultural scattered settlements, the highest pastures reach heights (at the top Mesmer ) to 2200 meters. The district area extends from the Santis mountain after Schwende, Weissbad, the left Sitter shore to the village of Appenzell, from then on the right bank of the Chlosbaches along on the moors, water work and Scheidegg, Kronberg to Santis tip. It includes most of the Alpsteins ( 689 ha ) as well as the forest area (1670 ha) in the canton.

History

Found in the caves of Wildkirchli stone tools made of quartzite and oil radiolarite indicate summer hunting trips of the Neanderthals to higher altitudes.

The Rhode Schwendihotel was 1204-1220 arisen to secure military and tax benefits to the Abbey of St. Gall. The initial Rhodsmeister was later replaced by elected at annual Rhodsversammlungen captains and councilors, who had to represent the Rhodes in the authorities of the Altes Land region Appenzell and from 1597 in those of Innerrhoden.

In place Schwende to 1830 near the parish church in ruins of a tower were available, which was probably the seat of the Lords of double stone as Ministeriale of the Abbot of St. Gallen. The Schwendner are said to have destroyed the tower and blew the Appenzell Wars.

The present district was created with the gutgeheissenen at the extraordinary rural community of 24 November 1872 the voters Innerrhoder Constitution of 1872 from the Rhode Schwendihotel, with the old boundaries were maintained.

Economy and Tourism

Major acquisition has long been the cattle breeding. Until well into the 20th century, hand embroidery was a sideline of the farmers. Weissbadstrasse ( Rietli ) with its existing since 1740 beach tourism in the 19th and early 20th century to the upscale spa.

From the mid 19th century, tourism developed with mountain guest houses, which are among the oldest in Switzerland ( guest Aescher - Wildkirchli 1846 mountain inn Age Santis 1846) and some commercial company. This was favored by the 1867-69 built road from Appenzell to Wasserauen, which opened 1912 Santis train and since 1955 by the aerial cableway Wasserauen - Ebenalp.

Lately, in the industrial, commercial and tourism, many small businesses have set up shop or settled in the district. In tourism, wellness and health, Hof Weissbadstrasse has been successful for over 16 years and with about 185 employees the largest employer in the district. Agriculture is an important economic factor with (yet) 52 farms.

Population

Attractions

In Schwende the pilgrimage chapel built in 1937 is Our Lady in maple with a miraculous image of the 17th century.

Below the Ebenalp are the prehistoric caves of Wildkirchlis.