Gränichen
Encyclopedia
Gränichen is a municipality
in the district of Aarau
of the canton
of Aargau
in Switzerland
.
flows north at first and heads northwest thereafter. The valley has an average width of about 500 m (1,640.4 ft).
On both sides of the valley there are steep hills with tributary valleys and small high plateaus. The landscape reminds of the Tafeljura, even though - geographically and geologically speaking - Gränichen lies in the Midland of Switzerland.
The hills on the left side of the valley are (from north to south): Manzenberg ( 524 m (1,719.2 ft) ), Wällenen (524 m (1,719.2 ft)559 m), Moosberg (524 m (1,719.2 ft)550 m), Heidberg (566 m (1,857 ft)) and Pfendel (615 m (2,017.7 ft)). These are foothills of the Schornig (596 m (1,955.4 ft)), which marks the transition to the valley of the river Suhre. The hills on the right side of the valley are called Fuden (570 m (1,870.1 ft)), Räckholderen (566 m (1,857 ft)), Breitenberg (551 m (1,807.7 ft)) and Surberg (607 m (1,991.5 ft)). In front of the Breitenberg is the Schulthess (513 m (1,683.1 ft)) which has almost the shape of an ellipsis. The Dossen (532 m (1,745.4 ft)) und the high plateau of the Liebegg are foothills of the Surberg.
Near the southern border, at an average distance of two kilometers, there are three hamlets, which also belong to the municipality
of Gränichen: Rütihof (585 m (1,919.3 ft)) on Moorbergs, Bleien (430 m (1,410.8 ft)) and Refental (490 m (1,607.6 ft)) between Breitenberg, Dossen and Surberg.
Gränichen has an area, , of 17.3 km² (6.7 sq mi). Of this area, 30.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 56.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 13.1% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (0.1%) is non-productive (rivers or lakes). The highest point is at 615 m (2,017.7 ft) above main sea level on the 'Pfendel', the lowest point is at 402 m (1,318.9 ft) where the river wyna leaves the village.
The seven neighbourvillages are Suhr in the nordwest, Hunzenschwil
in the north, Schafisheim
in the northeast, Seon, Switzerland
in the east, Teufenthal
in the south, Unterkulm
in the south, Muhen in the southwest and Hirschthal in the west.
, as well as the remains of a Celtic castle, show that the area around Gränichen has been settled for quite some time.
In the 12th century Gränichen belonged to the monastery of Engelberg and later came under the reign of the Habsburg
s, who passed the government of the village to the Lords of the Castle of Liebegg. After 1415, Gränichen belonged to Bern.
The construction of the Wynentalbahn railway in 1904 promoted the settlement of local industries.
Gränichen is a municipality
in the district of Aarau
of the canton
of Aargau
in Switzerland
.
flows north at first and heads northwest thereafter. The valley has an average width of about 500 m (1,640.4 ft).
On both sides of the valley there are steep hills with tributary valleys and small high plateaus. The landscape reminds of the Tafeljura, even though - geographically and geologically speaking - Gränichen lies in the Midland of Switzerland.
The hills on the left side of the valley are (from north to south): Manzenberg ( 524 m (1,719.2 ft) ), Wällenen (524 m (1,719.2 ft)559 m), Moosberg (524 m (1,719.2 ft)550 m), Heidberg (566 m (1,857 ft)) and Pfendel (615 m (2,017.7 ft)). These are foothills of the Schornig (596 m (1,955.4 ft)), which marks the transition to the valley of the river Suhre. The hills on the right side of the valley are called Fuden (570 m (1,870.1 ft)), Räckholderen (566 m (1,857 ft)), Breitenberg (551 m (1,807.7 ft)) and Surberg (607 m (1,991.5 ft)). In front of the Breitenberg is the Schulthess (513 m (1,683.1 ft)) which has almost the shape of an ellipsis. The Dossen (532 m (1,745.4 ft)) und the high plateau of the Liebegg are foothills of the Surberg.
Near the southern border, at an average distance of two kilometers, there are three hamlets, which also belong to the municipality
of Gränichen: Rütihof (585 m (1,919.3 ft)) on Moorbergs, Bleien (430 m (1,410.8 ft)) and Refental (490 m (1,607.6 ft)) between Breitenberg, Dossen and Surberg.
Gränichen has an area, , of 17.3 km² (6.7 sq mi). Of this area, 30.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 56.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 13.1% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (0.1%) is non-productive (rivers or lakes). The highest point is at 615 m (2,017.7 ft) above main sea level on the 'Pfendel', the lowest point is at 402 m (1,318.9 ft) where the river wyna leaves the village.
The seven neighbourvillages are Suhr in the nordwest, Hunzenschwil
in the north, Schafisheim
in the northeast, Seon, Switzerland
in the east, Teufenthal
in the south, Unterkulm
in the south, Muhen in the southwest and Hirschthal in the west.
, as well as the remains of a Celtic castle, show that the area around Gränichen has been settled for quite some time.
In the 12th century Gränichen belonged to the monastery of Engelberg and later came under the reign of the Habsburg
s, who passed the government of the village to the Lords of the Castle of Liebegg. After 1415, Gränichen belonged to Bern.
The construction of the Wynentalbahn railway in 1904 promoted the settlement of local industries.
Gränichen is a municipality
in the district of Aarau
of the canton
of Aargau
in Switzerland
.
flows north at first and heads northwest thereafter. The valley has an average width of about 500 m (1,640.4 ft).
On both sides of the valley there are steep hills with tributary valleys and small high plateaus. The landscape reminds of the Tafeljura, even though - geographically and geologically speaking - Gränichen lies in the Midland of Switzerland.
The hills on the left side of the valley are (from north to south): Manzenberg ( 524 m (1,719.2 ft) ), Wällenen (524 m (1,719.2 ft)559 m), Moosberg (524 m (1,719.2 ft)550 m), Heidberg (566 m (1,857 ft)) and Pfendel (615 m (2,017.7 ft)). These are foothills of the Schornig (596 m (1,955.4 ft)), which marks the transition to the valley of the river Suhre. The hills on the right side of the valley are called Fuden (570 m (1,870.1 ft)), Räckholderen (566 m (1,857 ft)), Breitenberg (551 m (1,807.7 ft)) and Surberg (607 m (1,991.5 ft)). In front of the Breitenberg is the Schulthess (513 m (1,683.1 ft)) which has almost the shape of an ellipsis. The Dossen (532 m (1,745.4 ft)) und the high plateau of the Liebegg are foothills of the Surberg.
Near the southern border, at an average distance of two kilometers, there are three hamlets, which also belong to the municipality
of Gränichen: Rütihof (585 m (1,919.3 ft)) on Moorbergs, Bleien (430 m (1,410.8 ft)) and Refental (490 m (1,607.6 ft)) between Breitenberg, Dossen and Surberg.
Gränichen has an area, , of 17.3 km² (6.7 sq mi). Of this area, 30.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 56.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 13.1% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (0.1%) is non-productive (rivers or lakes). The highest point is at 615 m (2,017.7 ft) above main sea level on the 'Pfendel', the lowest point is at 402 m (1,318.9 ft) where the river wyna leaves the village.
The seven neighbourvillages are Suhr in the nordwest, Hunzenschwil
in the north, Schafisheim
in the northeast, Seon, Switzerland
in the east, Teufenthal
in the south, Unterkulm
in the south, Muhen in the southwest and Hirschthal in the west.
, as well as the remains of a Celtic castle, show that the area around Gränichen has been settled for quite some time.
In the 12th century Gränichen belonged to the monastery of Engelberg and later came under the reign of the Habsburg
s, who passed the government of the village to the Lords of the Castle of Liebegg. After 1415, Gränichen belonged to Bern.
The construction of the Wynentalbahn railway in 1904 promoted the settlement of local industries.
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 district of Aarau
Aarau (district)
Aarau District is a district in the Swiss Canton of Aargau with administrative capital Aarau encompasses the agglomeration of Aarau south of the Juras.-Geography: the Aargau District had a total area of...
of the 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:...
in Switzerland
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....
.
Geography
The river WynaWYNA
WYNA is a variety hits formatted radio station licensed to Calabash, North Carolina and serves the Grand Strand area. The Qantum Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 104.9 MHz...
flows north at first and heads northwest thereafter. The valley has an average width of about 500 m (1,640.4 ft).
On both sides of the valley there are steep hills with tributary valleys and small high plateaus. The landscape reminds of the Tafeljura, even though - geographically and geologically speaking - Gränichen lies in the Midland of Switzerland.
The hills on the left side of the valley are (from north to south): Manzenberg ( 524 m (1,719.2 ft) ), Wällenen (524 m (1,719.2 ft)559 m), Moosberg (524 m (1,719.2 ft)550 m), Heidberg (566 m (1,857 ft)) and Pfendel (615 m (2,017.7 ft)). These are foothills of the Schornig (596 m (1,955.4 ft)), which marks the transition to the valley of the river Suhre. The hills on the right side of the valley are called Fuden (570 m (1,870.1 ft)), Räckholderen (566 m (1,857 ft)), Breitenberg (551 m (1,807.7 ft)) and Surberg (607 m (1,991.5 ft)). In front of the Breitenberg is the Schulthess (513 m (1,683.1 ft)) which has almost the shape of an ellipsis. The Dossen (532 m (1,745.4 ft)) und the high plateau of the Liebegg are foothills of the Surberg.
Near the southern border, at an average distance of two kilometers, there are three hamlets, which also belong to the municipality
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...
of Gränichen: Rütihof (585 m (1,919.3 ft)) on Moorbergs, Bleien (430 m (1,410.8 ft)) and Refental (490 m (1,607.6 ft)) between Breitenberg, Dossen and Surberg.
Gränichen has an area, , of 17.3 km² (6.7 sq mi). Of this area, 30.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 56.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 13.1% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (0.1%) is non-productive (rivers or lakes). The highest point is at 615 m (2,017.7 ft) above main sea level on the 'Pfendel', the lowest point is at 402 m (1,318.9 ft) where the river wyna leaves the village.
The seven neighbourvillages are Suhr in the nordwest, Hunzenschwil
Hunzenschwil
Hunzenschwil is a municipality in the district of Lenzburg in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:Under the Romans, the area that would become Hunzenschwil was an extensive brickyard. The modern village of Hunzenschwil was first mentioned in 1101 as Hintziswil. In 1201 it was mentioned...
in the north, Schafisheim
Schafisheim
Schafisheim is a municipality in the district of Lenzburg in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:Evidence of earlier settlements near Schafisheim include urn graves of the Hallstatt period and a Roman era farm. The modern village of Schafisheim is first mentioned around 1261-64 as...
in the northeast, Seon, Switzerland
Seon, Switzerland
Seon is a municipality in the district of Lenzburg in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-Geography:Seon has an area, , of . Of this area, or 51.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 29.5% is forested...
in the east, Teufenthal
Teufenthal
Teufenthal is a municipality in the district of Kulm in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-Geography:The street lies in the lower part of a tight, three-kilometer long side of Wyna, in an easterly direction to the plateau of Dürrenäsch. It is bounded to the north by the foothills of the Surberg...
in the south, Unterkulm
Unterkulm
Unterkulm is a municipality in the district of Kulm in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:Both Roman ruins near the church and late-Roman coins at Sonnenhof indicate that the area near Unterkulm was settled during the Roman era. However, Unterkulm is first mentioned in 1045 as Chulenbare...
in the south, Muhen in the southwest and Hirschthal in the west.
History
History's first mention of Gränichen was around 1184 under the name of Cranechon. However, archaeological discoveries dating from the NeolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
, as well as the remains of a Celtic castle, show that the area around Gränichen has been settled for quite some time.
In the 12th century Gränichen belonged to the monastery of Engelberg and later came under the reign 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, who passed the government of the village to the Lords of the Castle of Liebegg. After 1415, Gränichen belonged to Bern.
The construction of the Wynentalbahn railway in 1904 promoted the settlement of local industries.
Gränichen is a municipality
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 district of Aarau
Aarau (district)
Aarau District is a district in the Swiss Canton of Aargau with administrative capital Aarau encompasses the agglomeration of Aarau south of the Juras.-Geography: the Aargau District had a total area of...
of the 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:...
in Switzerland
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....
.
Geography
The river WynaWYNA
WYNA is a variety hits formatted radio station licensed to Calabash, North Carolina and serves the Grand Strand area. The Qantum Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 104.9 MHz...
flows north at first and heads northwest thereafter. The valley has an average width of about 500 m (1,640.4 ft).
On both sides of the valley there are steep hills with tributary valleys and small high plateaus. The landscape reminds of the Tafeljura, even though - geographically and geologically speaking - Gränichen lies in the Midland of Switzerland.
The hills on the left side of the valley are (from north to south): Manzenberg ( 524 m (1,719.2 ft) ), Wällenen (524 m (1,719.2 ft)559 m), Moosberg (524 m (1,719.2 ft)550 m), Heidberg (566 m (1,857 ft)) and Pfendel (615 m (2,017.7 ft)). These are foothills of the Schornig (596 m (1,955.4 ft)), which marks the transition to the valley of the river Suhre. The hills on the right side of the valley are called Fuden (570 m (1,870.1 ft)), Räckholderen (566 m (1,857 ft)), Breitenberg (551 m (1,807.7 ft)) and Surberg (607 m (1,991.5 ft)). In front of the Breitenberg is the Schulthess (513 m (1,683.1 ft)) which has almost the shape of an ellipsis. The Dossen (532 m (1,745.4 ft)) und the high plateau of the Liebegg are foothills of the Surberg.
Near the southern border, at an average distance of two kilometers, there are three hamlets, which also belong to the municipality
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...
of Gränichen: Rütihof (585 m (1,919.3 ft)) on Moorbergs, Bleien (430 m (1,410.8 ft)) and Refental (490 m (1,607.6 ft)) between Breitenberg, Dossen and Surberg.
Gränichen has an area, , of 17.3 km² (6.7 sq mi). Of this area, 30.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 56.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 13.1% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (0.1%) is non-productive (rivers or lakes). The highest point is at 615 m (2,017.7 ft) above main sea level on the 'Pfendel', the lowest point is at 402 m (1,318.9 ft) where the river wyna leaves the village.
The seven neighbourvillages are Suhr in the nordwest, Hunzenschwil
Hunzenschwil
Hunzenschwil is a municipality in the district of Lenzburg in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:Under the Romans, the area that would become Hunzenschwil was an extensive brickyard. The modern village of Hunzenschwil was first mentioned in 1101 as Hintziswil. In 1201 it was mentioned...
in the north, Schafisheim
Schafisheim
Schafisheim is a municipality in the district of Lenzburg in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:Evidence of earlier settlements near Schafisheim include urn graves of the Hallstatt period and a Roman era farm. The modern village of Schafisheim is first mentioned around 1261-64 as...
in the northeast, Seon, Switzerland
Seon, Switzerland
Seon is a municipality in the district of Lenzburg in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-Geography:Seon has an area, , of . Of this area, or 51.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 29.5% is forested...
in the east, Teufenthal
Teufenthal
Teufenthal is a municipality in the district of Kulm in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-Geography:The street lies in the lower part of a tight, three-kilometer long side of Wyna, in an easterly direction to the plateau of Dürrenäsch. It is bounded to the north by the foothills of the Surberg...
in the south, Unterkulm
Unterkulm
Unterkulm is a municipality in the district of Kulm in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:Both Roman ruins near the church and late-Roman coins at Sonnenhof indicate that the area near Unterkulm was settled during the Roman era. However, Unterkulm is first mentioned in 1045 as Chulenbare...
in the south, Muhen in the southwest and Hirschthal in the west.
History
History's first mention of Gränichen was around 1184 under the name of Cranechon. However, archaeological discoveries dating from the NeolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
, as well as the remains of a Celtic castle, show that the area around Gränichen has been settled for quite some time.
In the 12th century Gränichen belonged to the monastery of Engelberg and later came under the reign 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, who passed the government of the village to the Lords of the Castle of Liebegg. After 1415, Gränichen belonged to Bern.
The construction of the Wynentalbahn railway in 1904 promoted the settlement of local industries.
Gränichen is a municipality
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 district of Aarau
Aarau (district)
Aarau District is a district in the Swiss Canton of Aargau with administrative capital Aarau encompasses the agglomeration of Aarau south of the Juras.-Geography: the Aargau District had a total area of...
of the 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:...
in Switzerland
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....
.
Geography
The river WynaWYNA
WYNA is a variety hits formatted radio station licensed to Calabash, North Carolina and serves the Grand Strand area. The Qantum Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 104.9 MHz...
flows north at first and heads northwest thereafter. The valley has an average width of about 500 m (1,640.4 ft).
On both sides of the valley there are steep hills with tributary valleys and small high plateaus. The landscape reminds of the Tafeljura, even though - geographically and geologically speaking - Gränichen lies in the Midland of Switzerland.
The hills on the left side of the valley are (from north to south): Manzenberg ( 524 m (1,719.2 ft) ), Wällenen (524 m (1,719.2 ft)559 m), Moosberg (524 m (1,719.2 ft)550 m), Heidberg (566 m (1,857 ft)) and Pfendel (615 m (2,017.7 ft)). These are foothills of the Schornig (596 m (1,955.4 ft)), which marks the transition to the valley of the river Suhre. The hills on the right side of the valley are called Fuden (570 m (1,870.1 ft)), Räckholderen (566 m (1,857 ft)), Breitenberg (551 m (1,807.7 ft)) and Surberg (607 m (1,991.5 ft)). In front of the Breitenberg is the Schulthess (513 m (1,683.1 ft)) which has almost the shape of an ellipsis. The Dossen (532 m (1,745.4 ft)) und the high plateau of the Liebegg are foothills of the Surberg.
Near the southern border, at an average distance of two kilometers, there are three hamlets, which also belong to the municipality
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...
of Gränichen: Rütihof (585 m (1,919.3 ft)) on Moorbergs, Bleien (430 m (1,410.8 ft)) and Refental (490 m (1,607.6 ft)) between Breitenberg, Dossen and Surberg.
Gränichen has an area, , of 17.3 km² (6.7 sq mi). Of this area, 30.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 56.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 13.1% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (0.1%) is non-productive (rivers or lakes). The highest point is at 615 m (2,017.7 ft) above main sea level on the 'Pfendel', the lowest point is at 402 m (1,318.9 ft) where the river wyna leaves the village.
The seven neighbourvillages are Suhr in the nordwest, Hunzenschwil
Hunzenschwil
Hunzenschwil is a municipality in the district of Lenzburg in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:Under the Romans, the area that would become Hunzenschwil was an extensive brickyard. The modern village of Hunzenschwil was first mentioned in 1101 as Hintziswil. In 1201 it was mentioned...
in the north, Schafisheim
Schafisheim
Schafisheim is a municipality in the district of Lenzburg in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:Evidence of earlier settlements near Schafisheim include urn graves of the Hallstatt period and a Roman era farm. The modern village of Schafisheim is first mentioned around 1261-64 as...
in the northeast, Seon, Switzerland
Seon, Switzerland
Seon is a municipality in the district of Lenzburg in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-Geography:Seon has an area, , of . Of this area, or 51.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 29.5% is forested...
in the east, Teufenthal
Teufenthal
Teufenthal is a municipality in the district of Kulm in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-Geography:The street lies in the lower part of a tight, three-kilometer long side of Wyna, in an easterly direction to the plateau of Dürrenäsch. It is bounded to the north by the foothills of the Surberg...
in the south, Unterkulm
Unterkulm
Unterkulm is a municipality in the district of Kulm in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:Both Roman ruins near the church and late-Roman coins at Sonnenhof indicate that the area near Unterkulm was settled during the Roman era. However, Unterkulm is first mentioned in 1045 as Chulenbare...
in the south, Muhen in the southwest and Hirschthal in the west.
History
History's first mention of Gränichen was around 1184 under the name of Cranechon. However, archaeological discoveries dating from the NeolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
, as well as the remains of a Celtic castle, show that the area around Gränichen has been settled for quite some time.
In the 12th century Gränichen belonged to the monastery of Engelberg and later came under the reign 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, who passed the government of the village to the Lords of the Castle of Liebegg. After 1415, Gränichen belonged to Bern.
The construction of the Wynentalbahn railway in 1904 promoted the settlement of local industries.