Wald, Bern
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 Wald
Wald
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Location of Wald
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| Coordinates: 46°53′N 7°28′E / 46.883°N 7.467°ECoordinates: 46°53′N 7°28′E / 46.883°N 7.467°E | ||
| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Bern | |
| District | Bern-Mittelland | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 13.28 km2 (5.13 sq mi) | |
| Elevation (Zimmerwald) | 840 m (2,760 ft) | |
| Population (Dec 2015) | ||
| • Total | 1,181 | |
| • Density | 89/km2 (230/sq mi) | |
| Postal code | 3086 | |
| SFOS number | 0888 | |
| Localities | Englisberg (with Kühlewil and Unterer Wald), Zimmerwald (with Willishalten, "Bei der Kirche", Niederhäusern, Winzenried, Oberer Wald, Waldhof, Obermuhlern, Egg, Bumishus) | |
| Surrounded by | Belp, Kehrsatz, Köniz, Niedermuhlern, Oberbalm, Toffen | |
| Website |
http://www.wald-be.ch SFSO statistics |
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Wald is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.
On January 2004 it incorporated the two independent municipalities of Zimmerwald and Englisberg.
Englisberg is first mentioned in 1166 as Endlisperc.
Zimmerwald was first mentioned in 1296 as Zymmerwalt. Until 1902 it was officially known as Obermuhlern und Zimmerwald.
Englisberg first appears in a historic record with the Kyburg Ministerialis (unfree knights in the service of a feudal overlord) family of Englisberg. By the 15th century Bernese patrician families owned the village and surrounding Herrschaft. The right to hold court in the Herrschaft was sold to the villagers in 1570 and then split into 70 shares. This situation remained until the 18th century, when Bernese patricians bought the majority of the shares back. It was originally part of the parish of Belp, but in 1699 became an independent parish.
The village economy always relied on agriculture. However, by 1900 fewer workers were needed on the farms and the population began to decline. A poorhouse opened in 1890 and eventually became the Kühlewil nursing home, which is now a major employer in the village.
The oldest trace of a settlement in the area are several neolithic artifacts found at Äppenacker. Roman era artifacts and a lime kiln have been discovered scattered around the municipal area. The village and surrounding lands were owned by several Bernese families as well as Interlaken Abbey, Köniz and Münchenbuchsee Commanderys and the Obere Spital in Bern. In 1528 Bern adopted the new faith of the Protestant Reformation, secularized the monasteries and acquired their estates, including Zimmerwald. The village was combined to form the court of Obermuhlern and Zimmerwald in the Seftigen District. Until 1697 it was part of the large parish of Belp, then it formed an independent parish with the parish church in Zimmerwald.
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Wikipedia