Entlebuch (district)

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District of Entlebuch (dark grey) within the canton of Lucerne.

Municipalites of Entlebuch

Entlebuch is one of the five Ämtern, or districts, of the German-speaking Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland. Its capital is the village of Schüpfheim.

Entlebuch consists of the following municipalities:

Municipality	Population (31 Dec 2004)	Area, km²
Doppleschwand	692	6.95
Entlebuch	3352	56.90
Escholzmatt	3240	61.29
Flühli	1842	108.24
Hasle	1742	40.33
Marbach	1227	45.10
Romoos	745	37.24
Schüpfheim	3765	38.37
Werthenstein	1920	15.80
Total	18,525	410.13

The area of the district is equivalent to the historical region of Entlebuch. At a total area of 395 km² it is dominated by the main valley of the Kleine Emme. The valley had been acquired by the house of Habsburg in 1300. In the later 14th century, the Entlebuch was in conflict with Obwalden over the right to alpine pastures, culminating in the battle of Sörenberg in 1380. As a result of the conflict, the Entlebuch sought an alliance with Lucerne and in 1385 became a subject territory of that city. The region was long known as the "poorhouse of Switzerland" (also as the "Wild West of Lucerne") and is struggling for economic independence even today. In 2001 UNESCO accepted the region of Entlebuch to become part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, in which conservation of the natural and cultural landscape is coupled with strengthening the local economy.