Haslital
Encyclopedia
The Hasli region is a historical Landvogtei or Talschaft
in the Bernese Oberland
, Switzerland
, bordering on the cantons of Obwalden
, Uri
and Wallis
. The local dialect is of the Highest Alemannic variety.
From 1833 to 2009, Hasli was incorporated as the Oberhasli district, the easternmost of the 26 districts
of the Canton of Bern, bordering the district of Interlaken
to the west. Since 2010, Oberhasli and Interlaken have been administratively united as the region of Interlaken-Oberhasli.
It has an area of 550 km², comprising the six municipalities of Gadmen
, Guttannen
, Hasliberg
, Innertkirchen
, Meiringen and Schattenhalb
, with a total population of just below 8,000, corresponding to a population density of less than 15/km2 (compared to a Swiss average of 181/km2), due to a significant portion of the area of Oberhasli being uninhabitable High Alps
.
The name Haslital is first attested in 1234. The prefix Ober- ("Upper Hasli") first appears in the 16th century for disambiguation with Hasle bei Burgdorf
, Oberhasli is in official use since 1798. The origin of the name is likely Old High German
hasal "hazel
".
The upper parts of the Hasli valleys are part of the World Heritage Site
of the Jungfrau
–Aletsch–Bietschhorn
as defined in 2007.
.
The main valley is the alluvial plain of the Aare between Meiringen and Lake Brienz
.
Upstream of Meiringen, Hasli includes five main valleys,
.
In 1275 if formed an alliance with the city of Bern.
In 1311, Hasli was given to the house of Weissenburg by Henry VII
. After an unsuccessful revolt in 1334, Hasli passed to the city of Bern as a subject territory in name but regained most of its earlier privileges. Bern was careful to appoint men native to Hasli to administrative posts and as judges.
Hasli proved an important ally to Bern militarily. In 1339, Hasli provided a force of 300 men participating in the Battle of Laupen
. The arrangement of Hasli as a nominal subject territory with de facto self-governance endured until 1528, when Bern enforced the Protestant
confession in Hasli. About half of the population of Hasli participated in an armed revolt against Bern. After this, Bern tried to enforce Bernese administration in Hasli, but met such resistance that in a 1557 treaty the old privileges were re-instated.
In the 17th to 18th century, an upper class of influential families native to Hasli emerged, the so-called Ehrbarkeit. Before the introduction of a separate parish in Innertkirchein in 1709, there was a single parish in Meiringen for all of Hasli. In the 19th century, parishes in Gadmen (1808) and Guttannen (1816) followed.
During the existence of the Helvetic Republic
, Hasli was part of the Kanton Oberland. Since 1833, it has formed the Oberhasli district. Hasli was organized in fifteen collectives of independent farming estates, the so-called Bäuerten, between them forming the Talschaft
of Hasli. This structure was replaced by the six municipalities of the contemporary Oberhasli district in 1834. The sovereign law of Hasli (Landrecht) became inactive in 1843, during the Swiss Restauration.
In 1669, population had declined to ca. 500 individuals following an outbreak of plague.
In 1764, there were 3,253 inhabitants, and population more than doubled over the following century, to 7,054 in 1850. Population has remained more or less stable since, numbering 7,574 in 1880, 7,008 in 1900, 6,507 in 1920; 7,878 in 1950, 8,189 in 2000 and 7,843 in 2007.
of the canton of Bern, from 1833 to 2009, encompassing an area of 550 km². The administrative capital is Meiringen.
Oberhasli since 1843 comprises six municipalities
:
Talschaft
In Swiss politics and the history of the Old Swiss Confederacy, a Talschaft isthe body of voting population in a certain valley ....
in the Bernese Oberland
Bernese Oberland
The Bernese Oberland is the higher part of the canton of Bern, Switzerland, in the southern end of the canton: The area around Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and the valleys of the Bernese Alps .The flag of the Bernese Oberland consists of a black eagle in a gold field The Bernese Oberland (Bernese...
, 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....
, bordering on the cantons of Obwalden
Obwalden
Obwalden is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population is 33,997 of which 4,043 are foreigners. Its capital is Sarnen. The canton contains the geographical centre of Switzerland.-History:...
, Uri
Canton of Uri
Uri is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and a founding member of the Swiss Confederation. It is located in Central Switzerland. The canton's territory covers the valley of the Reuss River between Lake Lucerne and the St. Gotthard Pass. German is the primary language spoken in Uri...
and Wallis
Valais
The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley...
. The local dialect is of the Highest Alemannic variety.
From 1833 to 2009, Hasli was incorporated as the Oberhasli district, the easternmost of the 26 districts
Districts of Switzerland
In contrast to centrally organised states, in the federally constituted Switzerland each canton iscompletely free to decide its own internal organisation. Therefore there exists a variety of structures and terminology for the subnational entities between canton and municipality, loosely termed...
of the Canton of Bern, bordering the district of Interlaken
Interlaken (district)
Interlaken District in the canton of Bern with administrative capital Interlaken comprised 23 municipalities over 724 km²:*CH-3803 Beatenberg*CH-3806 Bönigen*CH-3855 Brienz*CH-3856 Brienzwiler*CH-3707 Därligen*CH-3818 Grindelwald...
to the west. Since 2010, Oberhasli and Interlaken have been administratively united as the region of Interlaken-Oberhasli.
It has an area of 550 km², comprising the six municipalities of Gadmen
Gadmen
Gadmen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The name Gadmen comes from the Old High German "gadum," meaning barn or small house, and was first mentioned in 1382....
, Guttannen
Guttannen
Guttannen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.- Geography :Guttannen lies in the Bernese Oberland near Grimsel Pass. It is the highest settlement in the Haslital...
, Hasliberg
Hasliberg
Hasliberg is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:Hasliberg is first mentioned in 1358 as Hasle an dem berge. After 1834 it was known as Gem Hasleberg. Since 1923 the spelling has been Hasliberg.-Geography:Hasliberg has...
, Innertkirchen
Innertkirchen
Innertkirchen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.Its coat of arms depicts an eagle wearing an imperial crown.-History:...
, Meiringen and Schattenhalb
Schattenhalb
Schattenhalb is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:The municipality was created in 1834 from the cooperative farms of "Willigen," "Geissholz," "Falchern" and "Lugen." The name Schattenhalb refers to the shady face of...
, with a total population of just below 8,000, corresponding to a population density of less than 15/km2 (compared to a Swiss average of 181/km2), due to a significant portion of the area of Oberhasli being uninhabitable High Alps
High Alps
The High Alps are those parts of the Alps unsuitable for habitation or seasonal transhumance. This includes all regions higher than 3,000 m above sea level, as well as most regions between 2,500 m and 3,000 m The High Alps are those parts of the Alps unsuitable for habitation or seasonal...
.
The name Haslital is first attested in 1234. The prefix Ober- ("Upper Hasli") first appears in the 16th century for disambiguation with Hasle bei Burgdorf
Hasle bei Burgdorf
Hasle bei Burgdorf is a municipality in the administrative district of Emmental in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Hasle bei Burgdorf is located as the crow flies southeast of the district capital Burgdorf. It is in the Emmental in the floodplain on the left shore of the Emme in the...
, Oberhasli is in official use since 1798. The origin of the name is likely Old High German
Old High German
The term Old High German refers to the earliest stage of the German language and it conventionally covers the period from around 500 to 1050. Coherent written texts do not appear until the second half of the 8th century, and some treat the period before 750 as 'prehistoric' and date the start of...
hasal "hazel
Hazel
The hazels are a genus of deciduous trees and large shrubs native to the temperate northern hemisphere. The genus is usually placed in the birch family Betulaceae, though some botanists split the hazels into a separate family Corylaceae.They have simple, rounded leaves with double-serrate margins...
".
The upper parts of the Hasli valleys are part of the World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
of the Jungfrau
Jungfrau
The Jungfrau is one of the main summits in the Bernese Alps, situated between the cantons of Valais and Bern in Switzerland...
–Aletsch–Bietschhorn
Bietschhorn
The Bietschhorn is a mountain in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland. The northeast and southern slopes of the mountain are part of the Jungfrau-Aletsch Protected Area listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site that also includes the Jungfrau and the Aletsch Glacier...
as defined in 2007.
Situation
Hasli has historically been of great strategical significance due to its central location in the Central Alps, commanding the passes of Grimsel, Susten, Brünig, Joch and Grosse ScheideggGrosse Scheidegg
Grosse Scheidegg is a high mountain pass in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland, connecting Grindelwald and Meiringen.The road over the pass is open only to bus traffic...
.
The main valley is the alluvial plain of the Aare between Meiringen and Lake Brienz
Lake Brienz
Lake Brienz is a lake just north of the Alps, in the Canton of Berne in Switzerland. The lake took its name from the village Brienz on its northern shore. Interlaken and the villages Matten and Unterseen lie to the south west of the lake. The shores are steep, and there is almost no shallow water...
.
Upstream of Meiringen, Hasli includes five main valleys,
- the upper Aare valley (the Haslital proper), stretching from Meiringen to the south-east for some 15 km, to InnertkirchenInnertkirchenInnertkirchen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.Its coat of arms depicts an eagle wearing an imperial crown.-History:...
and GuttannenGuttannenGuttannen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.- Geography :Guttannen lies in the Bernese Oberland near Grimsel Pass. It is the highest settlement in the Haslital...
, terminating near the source of the Aare and the Grimselpass. - the Gadmertal stretching eastwards to GadmenGadmenGadmen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The name Gadmen comes from the Old High German "gadum," meaning barn or small house, and was first mentioned in 1382....
, terminating at the Sustenpass - the Reichenbachtal (also Rosenlauital) Engelhörner, from SchattenhalbSchattenhalbSchattenhalb is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:The municipality was created in 1834 from the cooperative farms of "Willigen," "Geissholz," "Falchern" and "Lugen." The name Schattenhalb refers to the shady face of...
to Rosenlaui and as far as the Grosse ScheideggGrosse ScheideggGrosse Scheidegg is a high mountain pass in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland, connecting Grindelwald and Meiringen.The road over the pass is open only to bus traffic...
pass connecting to GrindelwaldGrindelwaldGrindelwald is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The village is located at above sea level in the Bernese Alps.-Winter sports:...
. The Reichenbach forms the Reichenbach FallsReichenbach FallsThe Reichenbach Falls are a series of waterfalls on the River Aar near Meiringen in Bern canton in central Switzerland. They have a total drop of 250 m . At 90 m , the Upper Reichenbach Falls is one of the highest cataracts in the Alps...
cataract before joining the Aare at Meiringen. - The Urbachtal running from InnertkirchenInnertkirchenInnertkirchen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.Its coat of arms depicts an eagle wearing an imperial crown.-History:...
east of the Engelhörner, terminating at MattenalpseeMattenalpseeMattenalpsee is a reservoir in the municipality of Innertkirchen, Canton of Berne, Switzerland. Its surface area is 0.186 km². The lake receives the water from Gauli Glacier. The water is channeled into Räterichsbodensee....
. - the Gental to the northwest of Gadmertal, terminating at Engstlenalp.
History
During the High Middle Ages, Hasli was a reichsfrei region administered by an AmtmannAmtmann
Amtmann can be :*a feudal, administrative and/or gubernatorial title, such as Bezirksamtmann . Amtmann, ammann and amman were a kind of bailiff in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and in Brussels....
.
In 1275 if formed an alliance with the city of Bern.
In 1311, Hasli was given to the house of Weissenburg by Henry VII
Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry VII was the King of Germany from 1308 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1312. He was the first emperor of the House of Luxembourg...
. After an unsuccessful revolt in 1334, Hasli passed to the city of Bern as a subject territory in name but regained most of its earlier privileges. Bern was careful to appoint men native to Hasli to administrative posts and as judges.
Hasli proved an important ally to Bern militarily. In 1339, Hasli provided a force of 300 men participating in the Battle of Laupen
Battle of Laupen
The Battle of Laupen in 1339 was fought between the Bern and its allies on one side, and Freiburg together with feudal landholders from the County of Burgundy and Habsburg territories on the other. Bern was victorious, consolidating its position in the region...
. The arrangement of Hasli as a nominal subject territory with de facto self-governance endured until 1528, when Bern enforced the Protestant
Reformation in Switzerland
The Protestant Reformation in Switzerland was promoted initially by Huldrych Zwingli, who gained the support of the magistrate and population of Zürich in the 1520s. It led to significant changes in civil life and state matters in Zürich and spread to several other cantons of the Old Swiss...
confession in Hasli. About half of the population of Hasli participated in an armed revolt against Bern. After this, Bern tried to enforce Bernese administration in Hasli, but met such resistance that in a 1557 treaty the old privileges were re-instated.
In the 17th to 18th century, an upper class of influential families native to Hasli emerged, the so-called Ehrbarkeit. Before the introduction of a separate parish in Innertkirchein in 1709, there was a single parish in Meiringen for all of Hasli. In the 19th century, parishes in Gadmen (1808) and Guttannen (1816) followed.
During the existence of the Helvetic Republic
Helvetic Republic
In Swiss history, the Helvetic Republic represented an early attempt to impose a central authority over Switzerland, which until then consisted mainly of self-governing cantons united by a loose military alliance, and conquered territories such as Vaud...
, Hasli was part of the Kanton Oberland. Since 1833, it has formed the Oberhasli district. Hasli was organized in fifteen collectives of independent farming estates, the so-called Bäuerten, between them forming the Talschaft
Talschaft
In Swiss politics and the history of the Old Swiss Confederacy, a Talschaft isthe body of voting population in a certain valley ....
of Hasli. This structure was replaced by the six municipalities of the contemporary Oberhasli district in 1834. The sovereign law of Hasli (Landrecht) became inactive in 1843, during the Swiss Restauration.
Demographics
In 1558, there were 253 hearths (households) registered in Hasli, in 1653 the number had grown to 360.In 1669, population had declined to ca. 500 individuals following an outbreak of plague.
In 1764, there were 3,253 inhabitants, and population more than doubled over the following century, to 7,054 in 1850. Population has remained more or less stable since, numbering 7,574 in 1880, 7,008 in 1900, 6,507 in 1920; 7,878 in 1950, 8,189 in 2000 and 7,843 in 2007.
Administrative divisions
The Oberhasli district was the easternmost of the 26 districtsDistricts of Switzerland
In contrast to centrally organised states, in the federally constituted Switzerland each canton iscompletely free to decide its own internal organisation. Therefore there exists a variety of structures and terminology for the subnational entities between canton and municipality, loosely termed...
of the canton of Bern, from 1833 to 2009, encompassing an area of 550 km². The administrative capital is Meiringen.
Oberhasli since 1843 comprises six municipalities
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...
:
| municipality | population (2007) | area (km²) |
|---|---|---|
 Gadmen Gadmen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The name Gadmen comes from the Old High German "gadum," meaning barn or small house, and was first mentioned in 1382.... |
250 | 116.4 |
 Guttannen Guttannen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.- Geography :Guttannen lies in the Bernese Oberland near Grimsel Pass. It is the highest settlement in the Haslital... |
316 | 200.7 |
| Hasliberg Hasliberg Hasliberg is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:Hasliberg is first mentioned in 1358 as Hasle an dem berge. After 1834 it was known as Gem Hasleberg. Since 1923 the spelling has been Hasliberg.-Geography:Hasliberg has... |
1,234 | 41.7 |
| Innertkirchen Innertkirchen Innertkirchen is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.Its coat of arms depicts an eagle wearing an imperial crown.-History:... |
901 | 120.0 |
| Meiringen Meiringen -References:... |
4,533 | 40.7 |
 Schattenhalb Schattenhalb is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:The municipality was created in 1834 from the cooperative farms of "Willigen," "Geissholz," "Falchern" and "Lugen." The name Schattenhalb refers to the shady face of... |
609 | 31.5 |
| Total | 7,843 | 551.0 |
Four of the six municipalities retain the black eagle on golden background of the historical Hasli flag, Meiringen insisted to retain the flag without modification.
Historically, the flag of Hasli is identical to the medieval flag of the Holy Roman Empire, showing a black eagle in a yellow field. The Bernese elite allowed the Hasli troops to keep displaying this flag even after the de facto independence from the empire.
Economy and infrastructure
Transhumance in the Alps
Transhumance in the Alps, or seasonal migration between valley and high pastures is a traditional practice that has shaped much of the landscape in the Alps, as without it, most areas below 2000 m would be forests.While tourism and industry contribute today much to Alpine economy, seasonal...
(goats
Oberhasli (goat)
The Oberhasli, also known until 1987 as the Swiss Alpine, is a very old breed of dairy goat from the eponymous district of the Canton of Berne in Switzerland. Oberhaslis are a standardized color breed, with warm reddish brown accented with a black dorsal stripe, legs, belly, and face. Occasionally...
, sheep) in the Late Middle Ages, shifting to livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
breeding (cattle, horses) and cheese
Cheeses of Switzerland
Switzerland is home to about 450 varieties of cheese. Cows milk is used in about 99 percent of the cheeses produced. The remaining share is made up of sheep milk and goat milk.- Hard :*Emmentaler*Gruyère/Greyerzer...
production during the Early Modern period.
Livestock and cheese was exported to Italy across the Grimsel
Grimsel Pass
Grimsel Pass is a Swiss high mountain pass.-Position:It connects the valley of the Rhone River in the canton of Valais and the Haslital in the canton of Bern....
and Nufenen
Nufenen Pass
Nufenen Pass is the highest mountain pass in the Swiss Alps. It lies between the summits of Pizzo Gallina and Nufenestock ....
passes.
In the 18th century, there were three yearly livestock markets. There was also some iron mining, beginning in the 15th century, and phased out after 1798. From the 17th century, there was rockhounding
Rockhounding
Amateur geology is the recreational study and hobby of collecting rocks and mineral specimens from their natural environment.-Collecting:...
for crystal
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
s, intensified with the rise of tourism
Tourism in Switzerland
Tourists are drawn to Switzerland's Alpine climate and landscapes, in particular for skiing and mountaineering.As of 2006, tourism accounted for an estimated 3.6% of Switzerland's gross domestic product.- History :...
in the 19th century. Booming tourism triggered significant investments in structure, notably the Brünig road in 1857 and the Brünigbahn
Brünigbahn
The Brünigbahn was, until 31 December 2004, the only narrow gauge railway of the Swiss Federal Railways . On 30 June 2004, the Swiss Federal Council empowered the SBB to sell the Brünigbahn to Luzern–Stans–Engelberg-Bahn , and this company was renamed to Zentralbahn.The Brünigbahn encompasses the...
in 1888, connecting Oberhasli to Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
via Obwalden
Obwalden
Obwalden is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population is 33,997 of which 4,043 are foreigners. Its capital is Sarnen. The canton contains the geographical centre of Switzerland.-History:...
, and from there to Greater Zürich and the Swiss plateau
Swiss plateau
The Swiss Plateau or Central Plateau constitutes one of the three major landscapes in Switzerland alongside the Jura mountains and the Swiss Alps. It covers about 30% of the Swiss surface...
in general; the Grimsel road opened in 1894 and the Susten road in 1945.
The number of hotels in Meiringen grew from two in 1831 to eighteen in 1900.
After 1973, additional infrastructure turned Hasliberg
Hasliberg
Hasliberg is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:Hasliberg is first mentioned in 1358 as Hasle an dem berge. After 1834 it was known as Gem Hasleberg. Since 1923 the spelling has been Hasliberg.-Geography:Hasliberg has...
into a major skiing resort.
As of 2005, employment in the primary sector (agriculture) was down to below 20%, while the tertiary sector (mostly tourism) had risen to above 65%.
Another important of industry branch is production of hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
, Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG
Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG
Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG is a Swiss company operating several hydroelectric plants in Oberhasli, Canton of Berne.Founded in 1925, the company had its first power plant, Handeck 1, online by 1932....
currently producing about 1.1 GW or 12% of Swiss electricity consumption. The Swiss Air Force
Swiss Air Force
The Swiss Air Force is the air component of the Swiss Armed Forces, established on July 31, 1914, as part of the Army and as of January 1966 an independent service.In peacetime, Dübendorf is the operational Air Force HQ...
has an airbase in Unterbach, Meiringen municipality.
Culture and folklore
Hasli is situated at the core of Highest Alemannic Alpine culture and preserves a number of elements typical of Swiss folklore.Hasli became affected by the modern era comparatively late, in the second half of the 19th century with the booming of tourism in Switzerland
Tourism in Switzerland
Tourists are drawn to Switzerland's Alpine climate and landscapes, in particular for skiing and mountaineering.As of 2006, tourism accounted for an estimated 3.6% of Switzerland's gross domestic product.- History :...
, and it preserved a rich tradition of folklore into the 20th century.
The main yearly festival of Hasli is the Ubersitz
Ubersitz
The Ubersitz is a traditional custom in Hasli, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. On Christmas day, at nightfall, schoolboys begin with Treichlen, walking through the villages in small troops, sounding giant cow-bells. The following nights, the boys are joined, and later replaced, by adult men...
(lit. the "sitting out" of the night drinking) culminating a week of Trychel marches in Meiringen.
In 1846, Johann Georg Kohl
Johann Georg Kohl
Johann Georg Kohl was a German travel writer, historian and geographer.- Life :Son of a wine merchant, he attended a gymnasium in Bremen, and then studied law at the universities of Göttingen, Heidelberg and Munich. When his father died in 1830, he had to break off his studies, and spent six...
travelled to Hasli, describing both its natural landscape and its population. Kohl recorded a tradition claiming Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n origin of the people of Hasli, telling of a march of 6,000 Frisians
Frisians
The Frisians are a Germanic ethnic group native to the coastal parts of the Netherlands and Germany. They are concentrated in the Dutch provinces of Friesland and Groningen and, in Germany, East Frisia and North Frisia, that was a part of Denmark until 1864. They inhabit an area known as Frisia...
and Swedes exiled from their homes by a famine. The names of the leaders of the immigrating Swedes is reported as Restius and Hastus. Kohl describes the architecture of the Meiringen church as reminiscent of North Frisian and Scandinavian types. This legend was first recorded by Petermann Etterlin
Petermann Etterlin
Petermann Etterlin was born in Lucerne as the son of Egloff Etterlin, who served as chronicler of the city of Lucerne from 1427 to 1453. Although his parents had destined him for an ecclesiastical career, Etterlin never became a clergyman...
in his 1507 Chronicle
Chronicle of the Swiss Confederation
The Chronicle of the Swiss Confederation is the oldest printed chronicle of Switzerland.The Chronicle of the Swiss Confederation was written by Petermann Etterlin’s from Lucerne...
.
The Hasli legend was received in Scandinavian Romantic nationalism
Romantic nationalism
Romantic nationalism is the form of nationalism in which the state derives its political legitimacy as an organic consequence of the unity of those it governs...
, with e.g. Danish poet Adam Oehlenschläger publishing a poem Haslidalen in 1849.
A collection of folk tales was published in 1943 by Melchior Sooder (1885–1955), a teacher at Rohrbach
Rohrbach
Rohrbach can refer to:* Heidelberg-Rohrbach, a district of the city of Heidelberg in Germany* Rohrbach, Switzerland, in the canton of Bern*municipalities in Germany:**Rohrbach, Bavaria, in the district of Pfaffenhofen, Bavaria...
and a native of Schattenhalb, as Zelleni us em Haslital. Dwarves figure prominently in these tales, with a dwarf king called Muggestutz. They also tell of the disappearance of the dwarves after their help was not appreciated by the people of Hasli. A grammar of the Hasli dialect was published by Hans Dauwalder (b. 1925) in 1992.
See also
- Highest Alemannic
- WalserWalserThe Walser are German-speaking people who live in the Alps of Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein and Austria. The Walser people are named after the Wallis , the uppermost Rhône River valley...
- UbersitzUbersitzThe Ubersitz is a traditional custom in Hasli, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. On Christmas day, at nightfall, schoolboys begin with Treichlen, walking through the villages in small troops, sounding giant cow-bells. The following nights, the boys are joined, and later replaced, by adult men...
- History of the AlpsHistory of the AlpsThe Alpine region has been populated since ancient times and, due to its central location, its history has always been closely entwined with that of Europe. Currently the Alps sprawl across eight countries...
Literature
- Gottlieb Kurz und Christian Lerch, Geschichte der Landschaft Hasli, Meiringen 1979
- Johann Ludwig Wurstemberger, Geschichte der alten Landschaft Bern (1862).http://books.google.ch/books?id=JD0PAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA385&dq=Hasli#PPA383,M1
- Peter Glatthard, Dialektologisch-volkskundliche Probleme im Oberhasli (1981), ISBN 9783258028538.