Schüpfen

Schüpfen
Schüpfen, village from southwest
Coat of arms
Schüpfen Show map of Switzerland Schüpfen Show map of Canton of Bern
Location of Schüpfen
Coordinates: 47°2′N 7°23′E / 47.033°N 7.383°E / 47.033; 7.383Coordinates: 47°2′N 7°23′E / 47.033°N 7.383°E / 47.033; 7.383
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Bern
District	Seeland
Government
• Mayor	Ueli Hunziker
Area
• Total	19.83 km2 (7.66 sq mi)
Elevation	629 m (2,064 ft)
Population (Dec 2015)
• Total	3,719
• Density	190/km2 (490/sq mi)
Postal code	3054
SFOS number	0311
Surrounded by	Diemerswil, Grossaffoltern, Kirchlindach, Meikirch, Münchenbuchsee, Rapperswil, Seedorf
Website	www.schuepfen.ch SFSO statistics

Schüpfen is a municipality in the Seeland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.

Schüpfen is first mentioned in 1208 as Scuphon.

Prehistoric traces of a settlement in the area include Mesolithic and Bronze Age artifacts, along with Hallstatt and La Tene grave mounds. The area remained inhabited during the Roman era and Early Middle Ages. The Ministerialis (unfree knights in the service of a feudal overlord) family of Schüpfen ruled the village for the Zähringens and Kyburgs from 1208 until 1405. Schüpfen was a center of local administration for several surrounding communities. In 1405, the Lords of Mattstetten inherited Schüpfen from the Schüpfen family. They then donated the village and surrounding lands to the Hospitallers at Münchenbuchsee Commandery. During the 14th century, Frienisberg Abbey bought much of the property in the village. After the secularization of the Abbey in 1528, the village became part of the Bernese bailiwick of Frienisberg. After the 1798 French invasion, it became part of the District of Zollikofen under the Helvetic Republic. After the Act of Mediation in 1803, it was transferred to the Aarberg District.