History Frutigen

ruins of tellenburg castle



photochrome postcard of frutigen

the area around frutigen may have been settled since possibly bronze age or roman times. first mentioned in 1234 frutingen.

during middle ages there 3 castles in modern municipal border; halten, tellenburg , bürg. 1260 scattered farmers of valley floor had formed political , business association. association had own seal in 1263 , in 1340 negotiated peace association in obersimmental. in 1391, village of frutigen gained right hold low court in village. in 1400, expanding city-state of bern annexed entire valley. however, association powerful enough force bern make concessions. residents of valley freed obligation pay taxes or provide labor local lords , soldiers marched under own banner. valley held onto these freedoms until 1854.

the village church, saint quirinus church, first mentioned in 1228 1 of twelve churches around lake thun in strättliger chronicle. however, church built on foundation of older church. earliest church built in 8th or 9th century above 7th or 8th century tombs. original church replaced in 11th or 12th century. church rebuilt in 1421. current church built on ruins of 1421 church following fire in 1727. in 1528, bern adopted protestant reformation , began imposing on canton. frutigen, rest of bernese oberland, resisted new faith, adopted after interlaken uprising suppressed. large parish of frutigen divided several times still includes villages of schwandi , wengi both part of municipality of reichenbach. roman catholic parish church built in 1959. catholic frutigen parish covers approximately same area medieval parish.

the valley had profited trade on gemmi , lötschen passes. sust or warehouse , mountain pass way station built in kanderbrück in 16th century, though similar buildings existed since @ least middle ages. during 16th century local economy began change. instead of raising variety of crops, local farmers began specialize in raising cattle export. village had import grain swiss plateau. around 1850 economy shifted again lace , watch factories moved valley. match stick factory opened in frutigen in 1850.

the first mail coach between thun , frutigen began operations in 1814. spiez-frutigen railroad opened in 1901, followed bern–lötschberg–simplon railway in 1913. in 1917 postauto began regular service between frutigen , adelboden. railroad , improved roads allowed industry , tourism flourish in municipality.