Erlach BE

Erlach / Cerlier
Erlach town and castle above Lake Bienne
Coat of arms
Erlach / Cerlier Show map of Switzerland Erlach / Cerlier Show map of Canton of Bern
Location of Erlach / Cerlier
Coordinates: 47°2′N 7°5′E / 47.033°N 7.083°E / 47.033; 7.083Coordinates: 47°2′N 7°5′E / 47.033°N 7.083°E / 47.033; 7.083
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Bern
District	Seeland
Area
• Total	3.51 km2 (1.36 sq mi)
Elevation	433 m (1,421 ft)
Population (Dec 2016)
• Total	1,450
• Density	410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Postal code	3235
SFOS number	0492
Surrounded by	Gals, Ins, La Neuveville, Tschugg, Twann, Vinelz
Website	www.erlach.ch SFSO statistics

Erlach (French: Cerlier) is the capital municipality of the Seeland administrative district in the canton of Berne in Switzerland.

The nearby Jolimont hills, a 4 km (2.5 mi) long range of hills, have been nearly constantly inhabited for thousands of years. In 1847, three grave mounds from the Middle Bronze Age were excavated. The graves dated to the mid 2nd millennium BC and contained numerous grave goods and weapons. Other graves have been discovered from the Hallstatt era, around 500 BC. A Roman road runs along the southern foot of the hills, between Lake Biel and the town of Petinesca (now Studen).

Erlach is first mentioned in 1185 as Erilacho and in 1274 as Cellie. In French it is called Cerlier. In 1264/66 Erlach received a Handfeste or document of rights from Count Rudolf II of Neuchâtel-Nidau. The village of Sunkort's church was built and consecrated in the 11th Century. Around 1100 the Benedictine Erlach Abbey was founded on Saint Peter's Island (actually a peninsula). During the 14th Century, the city walls were built. The only remaining city gate, currently part of the Rathaus or town hall, is from this era. Towers were added to the walls in the 15th Century. In 1455 the citizens of Erlach founded a hospital. Based on the rights granted by Rudolf II, Erlach had a mayor and until 1798 a 12-member town council with a 6-18 member advisory body.