Mutschellen
Encyclopedia
Mutschellen is the name of a pass
in the canton
of Aargau
in the district of Bremgarten
near the border of canton Zurich
. Three municipalities, Berikon
, Widen
, and Rudolfstetten-Friedlisberg
, meet directly atop the pass.
in the east. Due to its very low summit of 551 meters above sea level, Mutschellen is often called the lowest pass of Europe.
Directly on the mountain there are three municipalities: Berikon
, Rudolfstetten-Friedlisberg
and Widen
. These three villages have grown together very closely; only those who know the place are able to say where the municipality borders are. Also considered to be part of the Mutschellen region are the municipalities of Zufikon
to the west and Oberwil-Lieli
to the southeast.
Mutschellen is actually a glacial
moraine
, which emerged during an ice age
. At this time the Reuss glacier and the Linth glacier went northbound as far as the river Rhine. Even today one can see the traces of these monumental glaciers. The glaciers left huge furrows behind and during their retreat left lakes like the lake of Zurich. The pressure of the two glaciers also created the Mutschellen.
and Denner
stores, as well as smaller independent stores.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
in 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 the district of Bremgarten
Bremgarten (district)
Bremgarten District is a Swiss district in the Canton of Aargau, corresponding to the valleys of the Reuss and Bünz rivers in the area known as the Freiamt.-Geography:...
near the border of canton Zurich
Canton of Zürich
The Canton of Zurich has a population of . The canton is located in the northeast of Switzerland and the city of Zurich is its capital. The official language is German, but people speak the local Swiss German dialect called Züritüütsch...
. Three municipalities, Berikon
Berikon
Berikon is a municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.The village lies on a hill above and to the east of the Reuss Valley, covering part of the Mutschellen Pass...
, Widen
Widen
Widen is a municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:At the end of the 12th century a manor called "Wyda" is mentioned the first time, there's no exact year. "Widen", in the way like it's written today, appears the first time during the 14th...
, and Rudolfstetten-Friedlisberg
Rudolfstetten-Friedlisberg
Rudolfstetten-Friedlisberg is a municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. Prior to 1953, the municipality was officially known simply as Rudolfstetten.-History:...
, meet directly atop the pass.
Location and Development
The pass Mutschellen connects the Reuss valley in the west with communities of greater ZurichZürich
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...
in the east. Due to its very low summit of 551 meters above sea level, Mutschellen is often called the lowest pass of Europe.
Directly on the mountain there are three municipalities: Berikon
Berikon
Berikon is a municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.The village lies on a hill above and to the east of the Reuss Valley, covering part of the Mutschellen Pass...
, Rudolfstetten-Friedlisberg
Rudolfstetten-Friedlisberg
Rudolfstetten-Friedlisberg is a municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. Prior to 1953, the municipality was officially known simply as Rudolfstetten.-History:...
and Widen
Widen
Widen is a municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:At the end of the 12th century a manor called "Wyda" is mentioned the first time, there's no exact year. "Widen", in the way like it's written today, appears the first time during the 14th...
. These three villages have grown together very closely; only those who know the place are able to say where the municipality borders are. Also considered to be part of the Mutschellen region are the municipalities of Zufikon
Zufikon
Zufikon is a municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:A single archeological find dates human habitation in the area to the Bronze Age. The first written reference to the village occurred in 1150....
to the west and Oberwil-Lieli
Oberwil-Lieli
Oberwil-Lieli is a municipality in the district of Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-History:During the Roman era the municipal area was lightly settled. On the site of the current church there was a roman farm...
to the southeast.
Mutschellen is actually a glacial
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
moraine
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
, which emerged during an ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
. At this time the Reuss glacier and the Linth glacier went northbound as far as the river Rhine. Even today one can see the traces of these monumental glaciers. The glaciers left huge furrows behind and during their retreat left lakes like the lake of Zurich. The pressure of the two glaciers also created the Mutschellen.
Transportation
The pass is crossed by a busy road from Bremgarten to Zufikon. The road as significantly improved over the past ten years, particularly as it winds down into Bremgarten. The pass is also crossed by the Bremgarten-Dietikon-Bahn, that is heavily used by commuters traveling into Zurich for work. The top of the pass features a large intersection and train station that connects to several bus routes. Connecting travelers with the route that runs along the top of the Mutschellen. The area is also a bustling commercial area with a supermarket, MigrosMigros
Migros is one of Switzerland's largest enterprises, its largest supermarket chain and largest employer. It co-founded Turkey's largest retailer, Migros Türk, which became independent of Migros Switzerland in 1975....
and Denner
Denner
Denner is a discount supermarket chain in Switzerland. It is Switzerland's third largest supermarket chain after Migros and Coop with 11.4% market share....
stores, as well as smaller independent stores.