History Diemtigen

aftermath of flash flood in 2005 in diemtigen.

diemtigen first mentioned in 1257 diemtingen.

the diemtigen area inhabited during bronze age , possibly during mesolithic era. permanently inhabited , fortified high middle ages. heights above valleys home several castles or castle ruins. no records exist , little known ruins of kronegg castle, above eggwald, , grafenstein castle, above oey. third castle, hasenburg near diemtigen first mentioned in 1257 castrum de diemtingen , in 12th , 13th centuries seat of freiherr von strättligen. after 12th century castle , lands passed through several noble families until bernese von scharnachtal family acquired , in 1439 sold city of bern. set of laws , privileges granted villagers of entire valley in 1361 , again in 1393. in 1649 laws governing entire valley codified. beginning in 15th century passes diemtigen valley adelboden, lenk , zweisimmen opened local trade. 16th century, villagers in valley bought grain lowlands, raised cattle in alpine meadows , exported cattle on passes. while little silver , coal found in mountains, there never enough support mines. due limited farmland , poverty, many residents left valley. before 19th century mercenary service, while after 1800 emigrated north america, germany or russia. following 1798 french invasion, diemtigen became part of helvetic republic canton of oberland. act of mediation in 1803 returned canton of bern.

beginning in 18th century, several alpine spas built around natural mineral springs. 2 of famous, rothbad horben , kurhaus grimmialp in schwenden opened village tourism. construction of simmentalstrasse (simmental road) , spiez-zweisimmen railroad in 1897 opened valley many new businesses , brought in increasing number of tourists. railroad station built in village of oey, grew population , administrative center of municipality. in 1963 municipality built hotel , sport complex encourage further tourism. today, tourism important component in local economy. however, agriculture still remains important , diemtigen has 107 seasonal alpine pastures, of swiss municipality.

the village church of st. nicholas in diemtigen village first mentioned in 1314 , filial church of parish church in schwenden. original building extended in 1490. in 1527 valley adopted new faith of protestant reformation , village church became parish church new reformed parish of diemtigen.