Oberbalm

Coat of arms

Oberbalm

Location of Oberbalm

Coordinates: 46°52′N 7°24′E / 46.867°N 7.400°ECoordinates: 46°52′N 7°24′E / 46.867°N 7.400°E

Country

Government

• Mayor

Philippe Schenk

Area

• Total

12.41 km² (4.79 sq mi)

Elevation

821 m (2,694 ft)

Population (Dec 2015)

• Total

883

• Density

71/km² (180/sq mi)

Postal code

3096

SFOS number

0357

Localities

Borisried

Surrounded by

Köniz, Niedermuhlern, Rüeggisberg, Wahlern, Wald

Website

http://Oberbalm.ch
SFSO statistics

Oberbalm, is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.

Oberbalm is first mentioned in 1228 as Balmes. The village grew up around a medieval pilgrimage site. It was part of the lands of the counts of Laupen-Sternberg, who lived in a castle near Oberbalm above the Scherliau river. In 1388, Bern acquired rights over the region, and Oberbalm became part of the Bernese court of Sternberg. It remained a part of Sternberg until 1803 when it became part of the Oberamt of Bern. In 1831 the Oberamt was dissolved and Oberbalm was transferred to the successor Amtsbezirk of Bern.

The counts founded and supported the village church of St. Sulpitius, which was built before 1215 and first mentioned in 1228 in the Lausanne Chartular. Portions of the original romanesque building are still visible in the nave. The murals were painted in 1480 while the tower and choir were built between 1517 and 1527. Pilgrimages to Oberbalm to see the relics of St. Sulpitius became so profitable that in 1462, the Bernese City Council voted to move them to the new Cathedral of Bern. During the Protestant Reformation the village converted to the new religion and in 1528 the village church was placed under the authority of the city of Bern.

Until the 20th century, the village of Oberbalm was only barely larger than the surrounding hamlets. In 1838, there were only 19 houses in the village proper, while the surrounding hamlets had a total of 114. The village was the center of the surrounding communities because it had a church, a schoolhouse, a blacksmith and a tavern. However, during the 20th century, the village of Oberbalm grew as commuters moved from Bern and settled in the village.

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Wikipedia