Münsingen

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Münsingen
Canton	Bern
District	Konolfingen
Coordinates	46°52′N, 7°34′E
Population	10,727 (December 2002)
Area	8.5 km²
Elevation	541 m
Postal code	3110
SFOS number	0616
Website	www.muensingen.ch
Twin towns	Münsingen (Germany), Humpolec (Czech Republic)
Münsingen

For other uses, see Münsingen, Germany.

Münsingen is a municipality in the district of Konolfingen in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.

The village lies on the River Aar between the cities of Bern and Thun.

1 History
2 Main sights
3 Administration
4 Economy
5 Education
6 Twinned municipalities

[edit] History

Münsingen developed from a Celtic village first settled in around 400 BC. The origin of the name is unclear, though attributed to the Alamanni. Around the year 1000 Münsingen belonged to the royal court of Upper Burgundy. In the 13th and 14th centuries Münsingen came under the lordship of the Senn knights from whom the present arms of the municipality are derived. As an important gathering-place during the Peasants' War, and in the ensuing process of democratization, Münsingen played a major part in the history of the canton of Bern.

[edit] Main sights

Schloss Münsingen (Castle)
Öle (Oils)

[edit] Administration

Münsingen is administered by a seven-member council and a 30-seat municipal assembly.

[edit] Economy

Münsingen's most important enterprise is the firm of USM (Urs Schaerer Münsingen), internationally known producers of office furniture.

[edit] Education

Educational provision in Münsingen covers all levels from primary school, through middle and secondary schools (Realschule and Sekundarschule), up to senior-level education (Vorgymnasium).