Baden, Switzerland
Encyclopedia
Baden is a municipality
in the Swiss
canton
of Aargau
, on the west bank of the river Limmat
, located in the Limmat Valley
(German: Limmattal), 25 km (15.5 mi) northwest of Zürich
. It is the seat of the district of Baden
. The name refers to the mineral hot springs, which were known at least as far back as the Roman era
.
Its population in 2010 was over 18,000.
as Aquae Helveticae. In 1040 the town is first mentioned as Baden.
Aquae Helveticae was first mentioned by Roman historian Tacitus
. At that time it was a Roman Vicus
to the north of the Baden gorge on the Haselfeld. On the left bank of the Limmat
bend there was a pool complex, which was fed by the 47 °C (116.6 °F) water from a system of springs. The Vicus was founded to support the establishment of the legionary camp at Vindonissa
. Both the spa quarter and the residential and commercial district grew to a respectable size in the first half of the first Century AD. The town suffered a setback in 69 AD as members of the XXI Legion
burned the wooden buildings of the vicus during the Year of the Four Emperors
. The town was rebuilt in stone. When the legion camp at Vindonissa closed in 101 AD, the town shrank again slightly. Although the prosperity of the local spas diminished, the town survived on trade. The pottery workshop of Reginus and the bronze
works of Gemellianus flourished in the second half of the 2nd Century. The multiple Alemanni invasions in the different ideas about the middle of the 3rd Century brought an end to settlement at Haselfeld. However, the construction of a fortification to protect the pools, along with a large number of coins from the 4th century which are stamped with references to the hot springs show that the spa area remained settled in late antiquity and was frequented.
The main axis of the Vicus was the street which came from Vindonissa. On both sides of this road, which ran parallel to the edge of the steep slope, there were residential and commercial buildings. The road was flanked by portico
s, behind which were the retail stores. Behind the commercial buildings were the living quarters, adjoining farms, work spaces and outbuildings. In the center of the settlement were some villa
-like buildings. Modernly, the remains of three thermal bathing pools have been discovered.
Stein Castle
, formerly a stronghold of the Habsburg
s, was destroyed in 1415 and again in 1712. In 1415, Baden (along with Aargau) was conquered by the Eight Swiss Confederates, whose bailiff
inhabited the other castle, on the right bank of the Limmat, which defends the ancient bridge across the river. As the conquest of the Aargau was the first made by the Confederates, their delegates (or the federal diet) naturally met at Baden, from 1426 to about 1712, to settle matters relating to these subject lands, so that during that period Baden was effectively the capital of Switzerland. The diet sat in the beautifully carved diet hall in the town-hall or Rathaus, which can be visited. In 1714 the Treaty of Baden
was signed, which put to an end to the war between France
and the Holy Roman Empire
, and thus completed the treaty of Utrecht
(1713). Baden was the capital of the canton of Baden
, from 1798 until 1803, when the canton of Aargau was created.
Having attained popularity as a Spa and 'Kur-Ort' (Cure resort) during the 15th and 16th centuries, Baden remained popular and was later frequented by an array of prominent people including Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Friedrich Nietzsche
, Thomas Mann
, and Hermann Hesse
, who was to become a particular devotee, visiting the town annually over a period of almost 30 years.
Baden is the capital of the district of Baden
. The original village is located on the left bank of the Limmat river, with the town sections of Kappelerhof, Allmend, Meierhof and Chrüzliberg as well as the, independent until 1962, village of Dättwil. On the right bank of the river is the village of Ennetbaden (formerly Kleine Bäder). The municipalities of Baden and Neuenhof
are considering a merger on 1 January 2012 into a new municipality which will be known as Baden.
The age distribution, , in Baden is; 1,469 children or 8.3% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 1,486 teenagers or 8.4% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 3,013 people or 17.1% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 3,248 people or 18.4% are between 30 and 39, 2,747 people or 15.6% are between 40 and 49, and 2,151 people or 12.2% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 1,787 people or 10.1% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 1,039 people or 5.9% are between 70 and 79, there are 581 people or 3.3% who are between 80 and 89,and there are 120 people or 0.7% who are 90 and older.
, there were 1,377 homes with 1 or 2 persons in the household, 3,960 homes with 3 or 4 persons in the household, and 1,893 homes with 5 or more persons in the household. The average number of people per household was 2.07 individuals. there were 1,670 single family homes (or 18.1% of the total) out of a total of 9,217 homes and apartments.
In the 2007 federal election
the most popular party was the SP
which received 24.7% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SVP
(21.2%), the FDP
(16.4%) and the Green Party
(15.6%).
The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Baden about 79.5% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule
). Of the school age population , there are 995 students attending primary school, there are 377 students attending secondary school, there are 633 students attending tertiary or university level schooling, there are 25 students who are seeking a job after school in the municipality.
The historical population is given in the following table:
there were 9,223 total workers who lived in the municipality. Of these, 5,567 or about 60.4% of the residents worked outside Baden while 15,103 people commuted into the municipality for work. There were a total of 18,759 jobs (of at least 6 hours per week) in the municipality.
In the 19th and 20th century Baden became an industrial town, main seat of the former Brown Boveri Company. Most industrial facilities have moved, but Baden is still the seat of many of the engineering services of ABB
and the power service arm of Alstom
. The former industrial quarter to the north of the city is now being redeveloped into offices, shopping and leisure facilities.
There is also a Casino
in Baden.
of the municipal coat of arms
is Argent a Pale Sable and a chief Gules.
(Histories
i. cap. 7), and are considered to be especially beneficial for cases of gout or rheumatic problems. The main Spa lies a little to the north of the old town beside the river Limmat. Many Roman
remains have been found in and around the beautiful gardens of the Kursaal. The town, dominated on the west by the ruined castle of Stein, is very picturesque, with steep and narrow streets, a Medieval wooden bridge and one surviving gateway. The old town, the Tagsatzung
room in the city hall, the 1847 railway station and the building of the Stiftung Langmatt are listed as heritage sites of national significance
.
In addition to the Roman city, the ruins of castle Stein and the other sites listed above, Baden is home to a number of other Swiss Heritage Sites. The industrial sites include the ABB Schweiz archive along with the former offices of Brown Boveri Company as well as the regional former utilities plant on Haselstrasse 15. There are three designated religious buildings in Baden; the Catholic city church and Sebastians chapel, the Swiss Reformed parish church
and the Synagoge on Parkstrasse 17. Perhaps included in the last two groups is the Crematorium and memorial hall on Zürcherstrasse 108. The wooden bridge between Untere Halde and Wettingerstrasse is also included in the list. A number of individual buildings are also included in the inventory. These include; Bernerhaus at Weite Gasse 13, Haus Zum Schwert on Schwertstrasse or Oelrainstrasse 29, the Hotel Verenahof, the Hotel Zum wilden Mann, the spa-theater with a glass foyer at Parkstrasse 20, the Restaurant Paradies on Cordulaplatz, Villa Boveri (since 1943 Clubhaus BBC/ABB) and the Villa Langmatt (now an art museum) at Römerstrasse 30.
The village of Baden is designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites
.
(1227-1841), with splendid old painted glass in the cloister
s and magnificent early 17th century carved stalls in the choir of the church. Six miles W. of Baden is the small town of Brugg
(9,500 inhabitants) in a fine position on the Aare, and close to the remains of the Roman colony of Vindonissa (Windisch
), as well as to the monastery (founded 1310) of Königsfelden
, formerly the burial-place of the early Habsburgs (the castle of Habsburg is but a short way off), still retaining much fine medieval painted glass.
to the baths of Baden. Today Baden is a regular stop on the railway lines Zürich-Basel
and Zürich-Bern. Baden is a stop of the S-Bahn Zürich on the line S12
and a terminal station on the line S6
.
The A1
motorway tunnel Baregg
is a major junction in the area. It was undergoing construction until 2004 and has been subject to controversy. In 2003, a third tunnel hole was opened to vehicles on the motorway.
is the local football team. They play their home games at the Esp Stadium
in Fislisbach
, a short distance from Baden.
. Of the rest of the population, there are 31 individuals (or about 0.19% of the population) who belong to the Christian Catholic
faith.
Municipalities of Switzerland
Communes , also known as municipalities, are the smallest government division in Switzerland, numbering 2,596 . While many have a population of a few hundred citizens, the largest cities such as Zürich or Geneva also have the legal status of municipalities...
in the Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Aargau
Aargau
Aargau is one of the more northerly cantons of Switzerland. It comprises the lower course of the river Aare, which is why the canton is called Aar-gau .-History:...
, on the west bank of the river Limmat
Limmat
The Limmat is a river in Switzerland. It is the continuation of the Linth river, known as Limmat from the point of effluence from Lake Zurich, in the city of Zurich. From Zurich it flows in a northwesterly direction, after 35 km reaching the river Aare...
, located in the Limmat Valley
Limmat Valley
The Limmat Valley is a river valley and a region in the cantons of Zürich and Aargau in Switzerland.- Geography :Limmat is the name of a long river located in the cantons of Zürich and Aargau...
(German: Limmattal), 25 km (15.5 mi) northwest of Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. It is the seat of the district of Baden
Baden (district, Aargau)
Baden District is a district in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland. The district capital is the town of Baden and the largest municipality is Wettingen, located in the Limmat Valley . The district has a total of 26 municipalities, an area of , and a population of about 129,000.-Geography:Baden...
. The name refers to the mineral hot springs, which were known at least as far back as the Roman era
Switzerland in the Roman era
The history of Switzerland in the Roman era encompasses the roughly six centuries during which the territory of modern Switzerland was a part of the Roman Republic and Empire...
.
Its population in 2010 was over 18,000.
History
Baden was known to the RomansSwitzerland in the Roman era
The history of Switzerland in the Roman era encompasses the roughly six centuries during which the territory of modern Switzerland was a part of the Roman Republic and Empire...
as Aquae Helveticae. In 1040 the town is first mentioned as Baden.
Aquae Helveticae was first mentioned by Roman historian Tacitus
Tacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors...
. At that time it was a Roman Vicus
Vicus
Vicus may refer to:*Vicus , plural vici, a neighborhood or local administrative unit of ancient Rome**Vicus Tuscus in Rome**Vicus Jugarius, leading into the Roman Forum** Gensis in Moesia Superior...
to the north of the Baden gorge on the Haselfeld. On the left bank of the Limmat
Limmat
The Limmat is a river in Switzerland. It is the continuation of the Linth river, known as Limmat from the point of effluence from Lake Zurich, in the city of Zurich. From Zurich it flows in a northwesterly direction, after 35 km reaching the river Aare...
bend there was a pool complex, which was fed by the 47 °C (116.6 °F) water from a system of springs. The Vicus was founded to support the establishment of the legionary camp at Vindonissa
Vindonissa
Vindonissa was a Roman legion camp at modern Windisch, Switzerland. It was probably established in 15 AD. In an expansion around 30, thermal baths were added....
. Both the spa quarter and the residential and commercial district grew to a respectable size in the first half of the first Century AD. The town suffered a setback in 69 AD as members of the XXI Legion
Legio XXI Rapax
Legio vigesima prima rapax was a Roman legion levied in 31 BC by Augustus, probably from men previously enlisted in other legions. The XXI Rapax was destroyed in 92 by the Dacians and Sarmatians...
burned the wooden buildings of the vicus during the Year of the Four Emperors
Year of the Four Emperors
The Year of the Four Emperors was a year in the history of the Roman Empire, AD 69, in which four emperors ruled in a remarkable succession. These four emperors were Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian....
. The town was rebuilt in stone. When the legion camp at Vindonissa closed in 101 AD, the town shrank again slightly. Although the prosperity of the local spas diminished, the town survived on trade. The pottery workshop of Reginus and the bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
works of Gemellianus flourished in the second half of the 2nd Century. The multiple Alemanni invasions in the different ideas about the middle of the 3rd Century brought an end to settlement at Haselfeld. However, the construction of a fortification to protect the pools, along with a large number of coins from the 4th century which are stamped with references to the hot springs show that the spa area remained settled in late antiquity and was frequented.
The main axis of the Vicus was the street which came from Vindonissa. On both sides of this road, which ran parallel to the edge of the steep slope, there were residential and commercial buildings. The road was flanked by portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
s, behind which were the retail stores. Behind the commercial buildings were the living quarters, adjoining farms, work spaces and outbuildings. In the center of the settlement were some villa
Villa
A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
-like buildings. Modernly, the remains of three thermal bathing pools have been discovered.
Stein Castle
Stein castle, Aargau
Stein castle is a castle ruin above the municipality of Baden in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.-History:...
, formerly a stronghold of the Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
s, was destroyed in 1415 and again in 1712. In 1415, Baden (along with Aargau) was conquered by the Eight Swiss Confederates, whose bailiff
Bailiff
A bailiff is a governor or custodian ; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed...
inhabited the other castle, on the right bank of the Limmat, which defends the ancient bridge across the river. As the conquest of the Aargau was the first made by the Confederates, their delegates (or the federal diet) naturally met at Baden, from 1426 to about 1712, to settle matters relating to these subject lands, so that during that period Baden was effectively the capital of Switzerland. The diet sat in the beautifully carved diet hall in the town-hall or Rathaus, which can be visited. In 1714 the Treaty of Baden
Treaty of Baden
The Treaty of Baden was the treaty that ended hostilities between France and the Holy Roman Empire, who had been at war since the start of the War of the Spanish Succession. It was signed on 7 September 1714 in Baden, Switzerland and complemented the Treaty of Utrecht, and the Treaty of Rastatt by...
was signed, which put to an end to the war between France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
, and thus completed the treaty of Utrecht
Union of Utrecht
The Union of Utrecht was a treaty signed on 23 January 1579 in Utrecht, the Netherlands, unifying the northern provinces of the Netherlands, until then under the control of Habsburg Spain....
(1713). Baden was the capital of the canton of Baden
Canton of Baden
The Canton of Baden was a canton of the Helvetic Republic . Its capital was the town of Baden....
, from 1798 until 1803, when the canton of Aargau was created.
Having attained popularity as a Spa and 'Kur-Ort' (Cure resort) during the 15th and 16th centuries, Baden remained popular and was later frequented by an array of prominent people including Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a 19th-century German philosopher, poet, composer and classical philologist...
, Thomas Mann
Thomas Mann
Thomas Mann was a German novelist, short story writer, social critic, philanthropist, essayist, and 1929 Nobel Prize laureate, known for his series of highly symbolic and ironic epic novels and novellas, noted for their insight into the psychology of the artist and the intellectual...
, and Hermann Hesse
Hermann Hesse
Hermann Hesse was a German-Swiss poet, novelist, and painter. In 1946, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature...
, who was to become a particular devotee, visiting the town annually over a period of almost 30 years.
Geography
Baden has an area, , of 13.2 km² (5.1 sq mi). Of this area, 9.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 56.9% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 31.6% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (1.6%) is non-productive (rivers or lakes).Baden is the capital of the district of Baden
Baden (district, Aargau)
Baden District is a district in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland. The district capital is the town of Baden and the largest municipality is Wettingen, located in the Limmat Valley . The district has a total of 26 municipalities, an area of , and a population of about 129,000.-Geography:Baden...
. The original village is located on the left bank of the Limmat river, with the town sections of Kappelerhof, Allmend, Meierhof and Chrüzliberg as well as the, independent until 1962, village of Dättwil. On the right bank of the river is the village of Ennetbaden (formerly Kleine Bäder). The municipalities of Baden and Neuenhof
Neuenhof
-In Germany:*Neuenhof , a part of Attendorn in the Olpe district, North Rhine-Westphalia*Neuenhof , a part of Balje in the Stade district, Lower Saxony*Neuenhof , a part of Eisenach in the Wartburgkreis district, Thuringia...
are considering a merger on 1 January 2012 into a new municipality which will be known as Baden.
Demographics
Baden has a population (as of ) of . , 26.1% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 5.8%. Most of the population speaks German (83.8%), with Italian being second most common ( 3.3%) and Serbo-Croatian being third ( 3.0%).The age distribution, , in Baden is; 1,469 children or 8.3% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 1,486 teenagers or 8.4% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 3,013 people or 17.1% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 3,248 people or 18.4% are between 30 and 39, 2,747 people or 15.6% are between 40 and 49, and 2,151 people or 12.2% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 1,787 people or 10.1% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 1,039 people or 5.9% are between 70 and 79, there are 581 people or 3.3% who are between 80 and 89,and there are 120 people or 0.7% who are 90 and older.
, there were 1,377 homes with 1 or 2 persons in the household, 3,960 homes with 3 or 4 persons in the household, and 1,893 homes with 5 or more persons in the household. The average number of people per household was 2.07 individuals. there were 1,670 single family homes (or 18.1% of the total) out of a total of 9,217 homes and apartments.
In the 2007 federal election
Swiss federal election, 2007
Elections to the Swiss Federal Assembly, the federal parliament of Switzerland, were held on Sunday, 21 October 2007. In a few cantons, a second round of the elections to the Council of States was held on 11 November, 18 November, and 25 November 2007...
the most popular party was the SP
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
which received 24.7% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SVP
Swiss People's Party
The Swiss People's Party , also known as the Democratic Union of the Centre , is a conservative political party in Switzerland. Chaired by Toni Brunner, but spearheaded by Christoph Blocher, the party is the largest party in the Federal Assembly, with 58 members of the National Council and 6 of...
(21.2%), the FDP
Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Free Democratic Party was a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It was one of the major parties in Switzerland until its merger with the smaller classical liberal Liberal Party, to form FDP.The Liberals on 1 January 2009....
(16.4%) and the Green Party
Green Party of Switzerland
The Green Party of Switzerland is the fifth-largest party in the National Council of Switzerland, and the largest party that is not represented on the Federal Council.-History:...
(15.6%).
The entire Swiss population is generally well educated. In Baden about 79.5% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either University or a Fachhochschule
Fachhochschule
A Fachhochschule or University of Applied Sciences is a German type of tertiary education institution, sometimes specialized in certain topical areas . Fachhochschulen were founded in Germany and later adopted by Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Greece...
). Of the school age population , there are 995 students attending primary school, there are 377 students attending secondary school, there are 633 students attending tertiary or university level schooling, there are 25 students who are seeking a job after school in the municipality.
The historical population is given in the following table:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 16th - 18th Centuries |
1,000 - 1,800 |
| 1799 | 1,202 |
| 1850 | 3,159 |
| 1900 | 6,489 |
| 1950 | 12,127 |
| 1960 | 14,553 |
| 2000 | 16,270 |
Economy
, Baden had an unemployment rate of 2.54%. , there were 64 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 16 businesses involved in this sector. 7,745 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 178 businesses in this sector. 13,933 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 1,337 businesses in this sector.there were 9,223 total workers who lived in the municipality. Of these, 5,567 or about 60.4% of the residents worked outside Baden while 15,103 people commuted into the municipality for work. There were a total of 18,759 jobs (of at least 6 hours per week) in the municipality.
In the 19th and 20th century Baden became an industrial town, main seat of the former Brown Boveri Company. Most industrial facilities have moved, but Baden is still the seat of many of the engineering services of ABB
Asea Brown Boveri
ABB is a Swiss-Swedish multinational corporation headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, and best known for its robotics. ABB operates mainly in the power and automation technology areas. It ranked 143rd in Forbes Ranking ....
and the power service arm of Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
. The former industrial quarter to the north of the city is now being redeveloped into offices, shopping and leisure facilities.
There is also a Casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
in Baden.
Coat of arms
The blazonBlazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
of the municipal coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is Argent a Pale Sable and a chief Gules.
Sights
Baden is chiefly renowned for its hot sulphur springs, which are mentioned by TacitusTacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors...
(Histories
Histories (Tacitus)
Histories is a book by Tacitus, written c. 100–110, which covers the Year of Four Emperors following the downfall of Nero, the rise of Vespasian, and the rule of the Flavian Dynasty up to the death of Domitian.thumb|180px|Tacitus...
i. cap. 7), and are considered to be especially beneficial for cases of gout or rheumatic problems. The main Spa lies a little to the north of the old town beside the river Limmat. Many Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
remains have been found in and around the beautiful gardens of the Kursaal. The town, dominated on the west by the ruined castle of Stein, is very picturesque, with steep and narrow streets, a Medieval wooden bridge and one surviving gateway. The old town, the Tagsatzung
Tagsatzung
The Swiss Tagsatzung was the legislative and executive council of the Swiss confederacy from the beginnings until the formation of the Swiss federal state in 1848. It was a meeting of delegates of the individual cantons...
room in the city hall, the 1847 railway station and the building of the Stiftung Langmatt are listed as heritage sites of national significance
Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance
The Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance is a register of some 8,300 items of cultural property in Switzerland...
.
In addition to the Roman city, the ruins of castle Stein and the other sites listed above, Baden is home to a number of other Swiss Heritage Sites. The industrial sites include the ABB Schweiz archive along with the former offices of Brown Boveri Company as well as the regional former utilities plant on Haselstrasse 15. There are three designated religious buildings in Baden; the Catholic city church and Sebastians chapel, the Swiss Reformed parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
and the Synagoge on Parkstrasse 17. Perhaps included in the last two groups is the Crematorium and memorial hall on Zürcherstrasse 108. The wooden bridge between Untere Halde and Wettingerstrasse is also included in the list. A number of individual buildings are also included in the inventory. These include; Bernerhaus at Weite Gasse 13, Haus Zum Schwert on Schwertstrasse or Oelrainstrasse 29, the Hotel Verenahof, the Hotel Zum wilden Mann, the spa-theater with a glass foyer at Parkstrasse 20, the Restaurant Paradies on Cordulaplatz, Villa Boveri (since 1943 Clubhaus BBC/ABB) and the Villa Langmatt (now an art museum) at Römerstrasse 30.
The village of Baden is designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites
Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites
The Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites is part of a 1981 Ordinance of the Swiss Federal Council implementing the Federal Law on the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage.-Sites of national importance:-Types:...
.
Surrounding area
One mile south of Baden, on the Limmat, is the famous Cistercian monastery of WettingenWettingen
Wettingen is a residential community in the district of Baden in the Swiss canton of Aargau. With a population about 20,000, Wettingen is the largest municipality in the canton.-Geography:...
(1227-1841), with splendid old painted glass in the cloister
Cloister
A cloister is a rectangular open space surrounded by covered walks or open galleries, with open arcades on the inner side, running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth...
s and magnificent early 17th century carved stalls in the choir of the church. Six miles W. of Baden is the small town of Brugg
Brugg
Brugg or Brügg may refer to the following places:* In Switzerland:** Brugg, Aargau, in the Canton of Aargau*** FC Brugg, a Swiss football club, from the town of Brugg in Canton Aargau...
(9,500 inhabitants) in a fine position on the Aare, and close to the remains of the Roman colony of Vindonissa (Windisch
Windisch
Windisch is a municipality in the district of Brugg in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:Windisch is situated at the site of the Roman legion camp Vindonissa. In 1064 the current municipality was mentioned as Vinse, and in 1175 as Vindisse. Until the 19th Century the official name was...
), as well as to the monastery (founded 1310) of Königsfelden
Königsfelden Abbey
Königsfelden Abbey is a former Franciscan monastery and former Clarisse convent in the municipality of Windisch in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. It was founded in 1308 by the Habsburgs and during the Reformation in 1528 it was secularized. The complex was then the residence of the bailiffs...
, formerly the burial-place of the early Habsburgs (the castle of Habsburg is but a short way off), still retaining much fine medieval painted glass.
Transportation
Baden was the destination of the first railway in Switzerland, the Spanisch Brötli Bahn transporting the richer people from ZürichZürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
to the baths of Baden. Today Baden is a regular stop on the railway lines Zürich-Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
and Zürich-Bern. Baden is a stop of the S-Bahn Zürich on the line S12
S12 (ZVV)
The S12 is a regional railway line of the S-Bahn Zürich on the Zürcher Verkehrsverbund , Zürich transportation network, and is one of the network's lines connecting the cantons of Zürich and Aargau.- Route :...
and a terminal station on the line S6
S6 (ZVV)
The S6 is a regional railway line of the S-Bahn Zürich on the Zürcher Verkehrsverbund , Zürich transportation network, and is one of the network's lines connecting the cantons of Zürich and Aargau.- Route :...
.
The A1
A1 (Switzerland)
The A1 is a motorway in Switzerland. It follows Switzerland's main east-west axis, from St. Margrethen in northeastern Switzerland's canton of St. Gallen through to Geneva in southwestern Switzerland...
motorway tunnel Baregg
Baregg Tunnel
The Baregg Tunnel is a motorway tunnel in Switzerland, and forms part of the A1 motorway from Geneva to St. Margrethen.The tunnel is 1.1 km long.It lies in the vicinity of city of Baden, Switzerland....
is a major junction in the area. It was undergoing construction until 2004 and has been subject to controversy. In 2003, a third tunnel hole was opened to vehicles on the motorway.
Notable people
- Charles Eugene Lancelot BrownCharles Eugene Lancelot Brownthumb|200pxCharles Eugene Lancelot Brown founded BBC Brown Boveri with Walter Boveri.He was born in Winterthur and was one of 6 children. His mother was Swiss and his father, a British engineer, was the founder of SLM - Schweizerische Lokomotiv- und Maschinenfabrik...
(1863–1924), Joint founder of BBC (today ABB) and freeman - Walter Boveri (1865–1924), Joint founder of BBC (today ABB) and freeman
- Thomas ErastusThomas ErastusThomas Erastus was a Swiss physician and theologian best known for a posthumously published work in which he argued that the sins of Christians should be punished by the state, and not by the church withholding the sacraments...
(1524–1583), Renaissance Physician and Reformed Theologian - Albert HofmannAlbert HofmannAlbert Hofmann was a Swiss scientist known best for being the first person to synthesize, ingest and learn of the psychedelic effects of lysergic acid diethylamide . He authored more than 100 scientific articles and a number of books, including LSD: My Problem Child...
(1906–2008); Chemist and discoverer of LSDLSDLysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, an... - Rainer Huber (*1948), Cantonal councillor of canton AargauAargauAargau is one of the more northerly cantons of Switzerland. It comprises the lower course of the river Aare, which is why the canton is called Aar-gau .-History:...
- Joel MallJoel MallJoel Mall is a Swiss football goalkeeper. He currently plays for FC Aarau in the Swiss Super League. He is yet to make a first team appearance but has been named as a substitute on many occasions in the 2008/09 season.- External links :...
(1991- )Goalkeeper for FC AarauFC AarauFC Aarau is a Swiss football club, based in Aarau. They play in the Swiss Challenge League.-History:FC Aarau was formed on 26 May 1902 by workers from a local brewery. The early days of the club were a success and they won the Swiss championship in 1911/12 and then again in 1913/14...
Football
FC BadenFC Baden
FC Baden is a Swiss football club based in Baden, Canton Aargau which is a short distance from Zürich. It was founded in 1897. FC Baden has a total of 22 different teams at age levels, including 5 women's teams. They currently play in the Swiss 1. Liga, the third tier of Swiss...
is the local football team. They play their home games at the Esp Stadium
Esp Stadium
Esp Stadium is a stadium in Fislisbach, Switzerland. It is currently used for football matches and is the home ground of FC Baden. The stadium is situated a few miles outside of Baden in Canton Aargau. The capacity of the stadium is 7,000, of which 1,000 is seating and the rest is terracing....
in Fislisbach
Fislisbach
Fislisbach is a municipality in the district of Baden in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-Geography:Fislisbach has an area, , of . Of this area, 47.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 30.6% is forested. The rest of the land, is settled....
, a short distance from Baden.
Religion
From the , 7,059 or 43.4% are Roman Catholic, while 4,636 or 28.5% belonged to the Swiss Reformed ChurchSwiss Reformed Church
The Reformed branch of Protestantism in Switzerland was started in Zürich by Huldrych Zwingli and spread within a few years to Basel , Bern , St...
. Of the rest of the population, there are 31 individuals (or about 0.19% of the population) who belong to the Christian Catholic
Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland
The Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland is the Swiss member church of the Union of Utrecht, also known as Old Catholic Church, originally founded by the jansenists, with a later influx of discontented Catholics following their disappointment with the First Vatican Council. It has 14,000...
faith.