Burgdorf

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

See also Burgdorf, Germany and Wilhelm Burgdorf.

Burgdorf

Canton	Bern
District	Burgdorf (district)
Coordinates	47°03′N, 7°37′E
Population	14846 (2003)
Area	15.61 km²
Elevation	533 m
Postal code	3400
Mayor	Franz Haldimann (2004 since 1998 SVP)
Website	www.burgdorf.ch
Twin towns	Epesses (Switzerland), Burgdorf (Germany), San Pellegrino Terme (Italy)
Burgdorf

Burgdorf (fr. Berthoud) is the largest city in the Emmental in the canton of Bern in Switzerland and is the capital of the district of the same name.

In 1175 the town was first known as "Burtorf" from Burg Bertolfs (Berchtolds) in connection with a deed of duke Berchtolds IV of Zähringer. In 1384, the city of Berne purchased Burgdorf.

In the city, several engine works and a professional school for technology and architecture have their seat.

[edit] Points of interest

The old town centre, with alleyways, squares and many historical buildings
Late Gothic church 1471/1490
The Schloss Burgdorf (a castle)
The "Badi" (which means public swimming pool)

The Burgdorf castle, first built in 1175, now contains a museum founded in 1886.

[edit] People associated with Burgdorf

Max Schneckenburger, the poet, lived and died there.
Johann August Sutter, Californian pioneer, left Burgdorf in 1834 for America.
John Mbiti, the African theologian and philosopher, is a Christian minister in Burgdorf.
Martin Gerber, NHL goalie.
Lisa della Casa, soprano, born in Burgdorf.