Oberaargau
Encyclopedia
The Oberaargau is the region that encompasses the upper watershed of the Aar River in the canton of Bern in Switzerland
. On the north, lie the Jura Mountains
, and on the south the hills leading to the Emmental
Administratively, the Oberaargau forms a district within the region Emmental-Oberaargau of the canton of Berne
.
Historically (until 2009), the Oberaargau comprised the two administrative district
s of Wangen
and Aarwangen
.
and Wangen
, and part of the district of Trachselwald
. It is surrounded by the cantons of Solothurn, Aargau
, and Lucerne. It is connected to the rest of the canton of Bern only in the south, where it borders on the Emmenthal.
The Oberaargau lies on the Swiss Plateau
between the large population centers of Bern and Zürich
and has therefore become a major thoroughfare for traffic running both east and west and north and south. The Aar River traverses it from west to east, and the primary motorway of Switzerland (the A1) and the main Bern-Zürich railway run through it, making it a central transport region.
The primary city is Langenthal
, and the towns of Herzogenbuchsee
, Wangen, and Aarwangen
are important transportation centers. Since the building of the motorway, the primary economic development has taken place in the north, at the foot of the Jura Mountains
, particularly in the towns of Wiedlisbach
and Niederbipp
.
The highest point in the Oberaargaus is the Höllchöpfli in the municipality of Rumisberg
, at 1231 meters, and the lowest point is on the Aare at Wynau
, at 405 meters.
!colspan="1" align=center bgcolor="#EFEFEF" width="100" | Area in km²
|-
| align="center" |
| Aarwangen
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 9.87
|-
| align="center" |
| Attiswil
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 7.64
|-
| align="center" |
| Auswil
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 4.63
|-
| align="center" |
| Bannwil
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 4.79
|-
| align="center" |
| Berken
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 1.38
|-
| align="center" |
| Bettenhausen || align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.95
|-
| align="center" |
| Bleienbach
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 5.71
|-
| align="center" |
| Busswil bei Melchnau
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 2.87
|-
| align="center" |
| Eriswil
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 11.32
|-
| align="center" |
| Farnern
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.70
|-
| align="center" |
| Gondiswil
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 9.39
|-
| align="center" |
| Graben || align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.16
|-
| align="center" |
| Heimenhausen
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 5.85
|-
| align="center" |
| Hermiswil
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 1.04
|-
| align="center" |
| Herzogenbuchsee
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 9.83
|-
| align="center" |
| Huttwil
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 17.28
|-
| align="center" |
| Inkwil
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.36
|-
| align="center" |
| Langenthal
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 17.25
|-
| align="center" |
| Lotzwil
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 6.18
|-
| align="center" |
| Madiswil
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 23.19
|-
| align="center" |
| Melchnau
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 10.30
|-
| align="center" |
| Niederbipp
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 17.37
|-
| align="center" |
| Niederönz
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 2.80
|-
| align="center" |
| Oberbipp
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 8.48
|-
| align="center" |
| Obersteckholz
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.90
|-
| align="center" |
| Ochlenberg
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 12.13
|-
| align="center" |
| Oeschenbach
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.90
|-
| align="center" |
| Reisiswil
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 2.00
|-
| align="center" |
| Roggwil || align="center" |
| align="center" | 7.80
|-
| align="center" |
| Rohrbach || align="center" |
| align="center" | 4.07
|-
| align="center" |
| Rohrbachgraben || align="center" |
| align="center" | 6.48
|-
| align="center" |
| Rumisberg
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 5.16
|-
| align="center" |
| Rütschelen
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.98
|-
| align="center" |
| Schwarzhäusern
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.79
|-
| align="center" |
| Seeberg || align="center" |
| align="center" | 15.74
|-
| align="center" |
| Thörigen
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 4.52
|-
| align="center" |
| Thunstetten || align="center" |
| align="center" | 9.65
|-
| align="center" |
| Ursenbach || align="center" |
| align="center" | 9.13
|-
| align="center" |
| Walliswil bei Niederbipp
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 1.48
|-
| align="center" |
| Walliswil bei Wangen
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.06
|-
| align="center" |
| Walterswil || align="center" |
| align="center" | 7.89
|-
| align="center" |
| Wangen an der Aare
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 5.23
|-
| align="center" |
| Wangenried
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 2.93
|-
| align="center" |
| Wiedlisbach
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 7.47
|-
| align="center" |
| Wolfisberg
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 2.42
|-
| align="center" |
| Wynau
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 5.08
|-
| align="center" |
| Wyssachen
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 11.71
|- style="background-color:#EFEFEF;"
| || Total (50) || align="center" |
| align="center" | 330.86
|}
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....
. On the north, lie the Jura Mountains
Jura mountains
The Jura Mountains are a small mountain range located north of the Alps, separating the Rhine and Rhone rivers and forming part of the watershed of each...
, and on the south the hills leading to the Emmental
Emmental
For the cheese made in the region, see Emmental .The Emmental is a region in west central Switzerland, forming part of the canton of Bern. It is a hilly landscape comprising the basins of the Emme and Ilfis rivers. The region is mostly devoted to farming, particularly dairy farming...
Administratively, the Oberaargau forms a district within the region Emmental-Oberaargau of the canton of Berne
Canton of Berne
The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...
.
Historically (until 2009), the Oberaargau comprised the two administrative district
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...
s of Wangen
Wangen (district)
Wangen District was one of the 26 administrative districts in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. Its capital was the municipality of Wangen an der Aare...
and Aarwangen
Aarwangen (district)
Aarwangen District was a district in the northeast corner of the canton of Bern in Switzerland, with its seat at Aarwangen.It was surrounded by the canton of Solothurn on the north, the canton of Aargau on the northeast, the canton of Lucerne on the east, the district of Trachselwald on the south,...
.
Geography
It lies in the extreme northeast corner of the canton and includes the districts of AarwangenAarwangen (district)
Aarwangen District was a district in the northeast corner of the canton of Bern in Switzerland, with its seat at Aarwangen.It was surrounded by the canton of Solothurn on the north, the canton of Aargau on the northeast, the canton of Lucerne on the east, the district of Trachselwald on the south,...
and Wangen
Wangen (district)
Wangen District was one of the 26 administrative districts in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. Its capital was the municipality of Wangen an der Aare...
, and part of the district of Trachselwald
Trachselwald (district)
Trachselwald District was a district in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. Its governor's seat was in Trachselwald Castle in Trachselwald. It consisted of 10 municipalities within an area of 191 km².- External links :- References :...
. It is surrounded by the cantons of Solothurn, 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:...
, and Lucerne. It is connected to the rest of the canton of Bern only in the south, where it borders on the Emmenthal.
The Oberaargau lies on 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...
between the large population centers of Bern and 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...
and has therefore become a major thoroughfare for traffic running both east and west and north and south. The Aar River traverses it from west to east, and the primary motorway of Switzerland (the A1) and the main Bern-Zürich railway run through it, making it a central transport region.
The primary city is Langenthal
Langenthal, Switzerland
Langenthal is a municipality in the district of Oberaargau in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. On 1 January 2010 the municipality of Untersteckholz merged into the Langenthal....
, and the towns of Herzogenbuchsee
Herzogenbuchsee
Herzogenbuchsee is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The population is 6,646 , counting the villages in the Oberaargau. The traditional name was Buchsi.- History :...
, Wangen, and Aarwangen
Aarwangen
Aarwangen is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:Aarwangen grew from a fortified toll crossing over the River Aare, in a region where there were few realistic crossing places...
are important transportation centers. Since the building of the motorway, the primary economic development has taken place in the north, at the foot of the Jura Mountains
Jura mountains
The Jura Mountains are a small mountain range located north of the Alps, separating the Rhine and Rhone rivers and forming part of the watershed of each...
, particularly in the towns of Wiedlisbach
Wiedlisbach
Wiedlisbach is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.In 1974, the Wakker Prize was bestowed on Wiedlisbach for the development and preservation of its architectural heritage.-Geography:...
and Niederbipp
Niederbipp
Niederbipp is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:Niederbipp is first mentioned in 968 as Pippa. In 1302 it was mentioned as Nider-Bippe.-Geography:...
.
The highest point in the Oberaargaus is the Höllchöpfli in the municipality of Rumisberg
Rumisberg
Rumisberg is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Rumisberg has an area of . Of this area, 49.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 42.1% is forested...
, at 1231 meters, and the lowest point is on the Aare at Wynau
Wynau
-References:...
, at 405 meters.
Administrative district
THe Oberaargau District in the Canton of Bern was created on 1 January 2010. It is part of the Emmental-Oberaargau administrative region and includes 50 municipalities over an area of 330.86 km² (127.7 sq mi) with, , 76,485 inhabitants.!colspan="1" align=center bgcolor="#EFEFEF" width="100" | Area in km²
|-
| align="center" |
| Aarwangen
Aarwangen
Aarwangen is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:Aarwangen grew from a fortified toll crossing over the River Aare, in a region where there were few realistic crossing places...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 9.87
|-
| align="center" |
| Attiswil
Attiswil
Attiswil is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Attiswil has an area, , of . Of this area, or 53.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 35.2% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 7.64
|-
| align="center" |
| Auswil
Auswil
Auswil is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Auswil has an area, , of . Of this area, or 82.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 11.2% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 4.63
|-
| align="center" |
| Bannwil
Bannwil
Bannwil is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Bannwil has an area, , of . Of this area, or 45.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 39.2% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 4.79
|-
| align="center" |
| Berken
Berken
Berken is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Berken has an area, , of . Of this area, or 53.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 30.2% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 1.38
|-
| align="center" |
| Bettenhausen || align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.95
|-
| align="center" |
| Bleienbach
Bleienbach
Bleienbach is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Bleienbach has an area, , of . Of this area, or 57.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 33.0% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 5.71
|-
| align="center" |
| Busswil bei Melchnau
Busswil bei Melchnau
Busswil bei Melchnau is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Busswil bei Melchnau has an area, , of . Of this area, or 52.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 40.8% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 2.87
|-
| align="center" |
| Eriswil
Eriswil
Eriswil is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the Swiss canton of Bern.-Geography:Eriswil has an area, , of . Of this area, or 67.0% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 26.1% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 11.32
|-
| align="center" |
| Farnern
Farnern
Farnern is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Farnern has an area, , of . Of this area, or 64.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 29.8% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.70
|-
| align="center" |
| Gondiswil
Gondiswil
Gondiswil is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 9.39
|-
| align="center" |
| Graben || align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.16
|-
| align="center" |
| Heimenhausen
Heimenhausen
Heimenhausen is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.On January 1, 2009, the municipalities of Wanzwil and Röthenbach bei Herzogenbuchsee became part of the Municipality of Heimenhausen.-Geography:...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 5.85
|-
| align="center" |
| Hermiswil
Hermiswil
Hermiswil is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:Hermiswil is first mentioned in 1289 as Hermanswile....
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 1.04
|-
| align="center" |
| Herzogenbuchsee
Herzogenbuchsee
Herzogenbuchsee is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The population is 6,646 , counting the villages in the Oberaargau. The traditional name was Buchsi.- History :...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 9.83
|-
| align="center" |
| Huttwil
Huttwil
Huttwil is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the Swiss canton of Bern.-History:Huttwil is first mentioned in the 9th Century as Huttiwilare.During the Swiss peasant war of 1653, Huttwil was a center of the rebellion...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 17.28
|-
| align="center" |
| Inkwil
Inkwil
Inkwil is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Inkwil has an area, , of . Of this area, or 49.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 36.0% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.36
|-
| align="center" |
| Langenthal
Langenthal
-In Germany:*Langenthal, Rhineland-Palatinate, in the district of Bad Kreuznach, Rhineland-Palatinate*Langenthal, Upper Palatinate, in the municipality of Berg, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria*Langenthal, Swabia, in the municipality of Untrasried, Bavaria...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 17.25
|-
| align="center" |
| Lotzwil
Lotzwil
Lotzwil is a municipality in the district of Oberaargau in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Lotzwil has an area, , of . Of this area, or 47.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 37.2% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 6.18
|-
| align="center" |
| Madiswil
Madiswil
Madiswil is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Since January 1, 2007, Gutenburg is part of the municipality. On 1 January 2011 Kleindietwil and Leimiswil were merged with the municipality of Madiswil....
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 23.19
|-
| align="center" |
| Melchnau
Melchnau
Melchnau is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:Melchnau celebrated its 900th anniversary in 2000. The earliest written evidence for the town dates from about 1100....
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 10.30
|-
| align="center" |
| Niederbipp
Niederbipp
Niederbipp is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:Niederbipp is first mentioned in 968 as Pippa. In 1302 it was mentioned as Nider-Bippe.-Geography:...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 17.37
|-
| align="center" |
| Niederönz
Niederönz
Niederönz is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Niederönz has an area, , of . Of this area, or 52.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 29.3% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 2.80
|-
| align="center" |
| Oberbipp
Oberbipp
Oberbipp is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:Oberbipp is first mentioned in 968 as Pippa. In 1327 it was mentioned as Obern Bipp.-Geography:...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 8.48
|-
| align="center" |
| Obersteckholz
Obersteckholz
Obersteckholz is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Obersteckholz has an area, , of . Of this area, or 66.7% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 27.9% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.90
|-
| align="center" |
| Ochlenberg
Ochlenberg
Ochlenberg is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Ochlenberg has an area, , of . Of this area, or 62.7% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 32.4% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 12.13
|-
| align="center" |
| Oeschenbach
Oeschenbach
Oeschenbach is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Oeschenbach has an area, , of . Of this area, or 64.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 30.0% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.90
|-
| align="center" |
| Reisiswil
Reisiswil
Reisiwil is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Reisiswil has an area of . Of this area, 64.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 31% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 2.00
|-
| align="center" |
| Roggwil || align="center" |
| align="center" | 7.80
|-
| align="center" |
| Rohrbach || align="center" |
| align="center" | 4.07
|-
| align="center" |
| Rohrbachgraben || align="center" |
| align="center" | 6.48
|-
| align="center" |
| Rumisberg
Rumisberg
Rumisberg is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Rumisberg has an area of . Of this area, 49.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 42.1% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 5.16
|-
| align="center" |
| Rütschelen
Rütschelen
Rütschelen is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Rütschelen has an area of . Of this area, 58.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 35.6% is forested. The rest of the land, is settled.-Demographics:Rütschelen has a...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.98
|-
| align="center" |
| Schwarzhäusern
Schwarzhäusern
Schwarzhäusern is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Schwarzhäusern has an area of . Of this area, 53.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while 32.8% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.79
|-
| align="center" |
| Seeberg || align="center" |
| align="center" | 15.74
|-
| align="center" |
| Thörigen
Thörigen
Thörigen is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Thörigen has an area of . Of this area, 51.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 36.3% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 4.52
|-
| align="center" |
| Thunstetten || align="center" |
| align="center" | 9.65
|-
| align="center" |
| Ursenbach || align="center" |
| align="center" | 9.13
|-
| align="center" |
| Walliswil bei Niederbipp
Walliswil bei Niederbipp
Walliswil bei Niederbipp is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Walliswil bei Niederbipp has an area of . Of this area, 53.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 18.8% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 1.48
|-
| align="center" |
| Walliswil bei Wangen
Walliswil bei Wangen
Walliswil bei Wangen is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Walliswil bei Wangen has an area of . Of this area, 51.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 34.5% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.06
|-
| align="center" |
| Walterswil || align="center" |
| align="center" | 7.89
|-
| align="center" |
| Wangen an der Aare
Wangen an der Aare
Wangen an der Aare is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.This small town lies between Olten and Solothurn in rural surroundings on the Aare, a major river of the west-central lowland region of Switzerland, the Mittelland. An ancient wooden...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 5.23
|-
| align="center" |
| Wangenried
Wangenried
Wangenried is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Wangenried has an area of . Of this area, 67.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 24.1% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 2.93
|-
| align="center" |
Wiedlisbach
Wiedlisbach is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.In 1974, the Wakker Prize was bestowed on Wiedlisbach for the development and preservation of its architectural heritage.-Geography:...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 7.47
|-
| align="center" |
| Wolfisberg
Wolfisberg
Wolfisberg is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Wolfisberg has an area of . Of this area, 45.7% is used for agricultural purposes, while 49.8% is forested. The rest of the land, is settled.-Demographics:Wolfisberg has a...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 2.42
|-
| align="center" |
| Wynau
Wynau
-References:...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 5.08
|-
| align="center" |
| Wyssachen
Wyssachen
Wyssachen is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the Swiss canton of Bern.-Geography:Wyssachen has an area of . Of this area, 70.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while 22.5% is forested...
|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 11.71
|- style="background-color:#EFEFEF;"
| || Total (50) || align="center" |
| align="center" | 330.86
|}
History
The region was already known as the Oberaargau in the early Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
(in Latin superior pagus Aragauginsis). However, this concept also included the Emmenthal.
In the High Middle Ages
High Middle Ages
The High Middle Ages was the period of European history around the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries . The High Middle Ages were preceded by the Early Middle Ages and followed by the Late Middle Ages, which by convention end around 1500....
, the area was divided among the counts of Froburg, Aarwangen (later Grünenberg), Zähringen (later 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).
As the political influence of the city of Bern increased in the late Middle Ages, the Oberaargau came more and more into its sphere of influence. In the 15th century, Bern conquered both the Oberaargau and the Unteraargau
Unteraargau
The Unteraargau is the lower watershed of the Aar River in the Swiss canton of Aargau.-Geography:It corresponds approximately to the canton's southwestern districts of Aarau, Brugg, Kulm, Lenzburg and Zofingen...
and ruled them as one.
When Bern lost its old power in 1798, the Unteraargau became the modern canton of Aargau. The boundary between the Oberaargau and Unteraargau was fixed in 1798 along the Wigger River. In 1802, however, it was shifted west to Murg
Murg
The Murg is a river and right tributary of the Rhine in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.-Source:The river has numerous tributaries and is known as the Murg only from the point of confluence of the rivers Rechtmurg and Rotmurg in the community of Obertal, a part of Baiersbronn...
. This action was confirmed by the Act of Mediation
Act of Mediation
The Act of Mediation was issued by Napoleon Bonaparte on 19 February 1803 establishing the Swiss Confederation. The act also abolished the previous Helvetic Republic, which had existed since the invasion of Switzerland by French troops in 1798. After the withdrawal of French troops in July 1802,...
of Napoleon in 1803 and the Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
in 1815.