Sumiswald

Infobox Swiss town
subject_name = Sumiswald
municipality_name = Sumiswald
municipality_type = municipality
imagepath_coa = Sumiswald-coat of arms.svg|pixel_coa=


languages = German
canton = Berne
iso-code-region = CH-BE
district = Trachselwald
lat_d=47|lat_m=2|lat_NS=N|long_d=7|long_m=43|long_EW=E
postal_code = 3454
municipality_code = 0957
area = 59.4
elevation = 702|elevation_description=
population = 5179|populationof=2004
website = www.sumiswald.ch
mayor = Hans Haslebacher-Frick|mayor_asof=|mayor_party=
mayor_title = |list_of_mayors =
places =
demonym =
neighboring_municipalities= Affoltern im Emmental, Dürrenroth, Eriswil, Langnau im Emmental, Luthern (LU), Lützelflüh, Rüegsau, Trachselwald, Trub, Wyssachen
twintowns = |

Sumiswald is a municipality in the district of Trachselwald in the canton of Berne, Switzerland.

Geography

Sumiswald consists of three localities (Sumiswald, Grünen and Wasen) in the lower Emmental. It is one of the largest municipalities in the canton with an area of 5933 ha. The town has a population of around 5,000.

History

The name Sumiswald is first mentioned in 1130. The name either comes from the Germanic settler "Suomolt", the Latin term "summa vallis" ("bank over the valley") or the designation "Zum Oswald" ("to Oswald"), because in the Middle Ages there was a chapel in Sumiswald dedicated to Oswald of Northumbria.

From 1225, Sumiswald was a commandery of the Teutonic Knights of the "Ballei" Swabia-Alsace-Burgundy. In 1525, the town bought its way out of serfdom, but stayed a part of the Teutonic Knights even after the Protestant Reformation was introduced in 1528; Sumiswald was sold to the city of Berne for 36,000 Reichsthaler in 1698.

Hans Haslibacher, who was decapitated on October 20, 1571 in Berne because of his Anabaptist conviction came from Sumiswald; his decapitation was the last execution of an Anabaptist in Berne.

Attractions

The glass windows of the church Mariekirche depict benefactors with their patron saints.

The old Teutonic Knight castle is somewhat outside of Sumiswald. It was endowed in 1225 with the condition that a hospital be housed in it, therefore the castle's name is "Spittel".

It is said that all the men in Sumiswald could have taken a seat at the large table in the inn "Bären" after the plague in 1434.

Economy

The clock manufacturer Mobatime can be found in Sumiswald.

References

*de

External links

* [http://www.sumiswald.ch/ Official website] de icon
* [http://www.swisscastles.ch/Bern/spittel.html website about the castle] fr icon