Maienfeld
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| Maienfeld | ||||||||||
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| Population | 2,523 (November 2006) | |||||||||
| - Density | 78 /km² (202 /sq.mi.) | |||||||||
| Area | 32.34 km² (12.5 sq mi) | |||||||||
| Elevation | 635 m (2,083 ft) | |||||||||
| - Highest | 2574 m - Hinterer Grauspitz | |||||||||
| Postal code | 7307 | |||||||||
| Mayor | Christian Möhr (as of 2008) | |||||||||
| Surrounded by | Bad Ragaz (SG), Balzers (LI), Fläsch, Igis, Jenins, Malans, Mastrils, Nenzing (AT-8), Schaan (LI), Seewis im Prättigau, Triesen (LI), Zizers | |||||||||
| Twin towns | Cortaillod (Switzerland) | |||||||||
| Website | www.maienfeld.ch | |||||||||
  Maienfeld
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Maienfeld is a municipality in the district of Landquart in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It is a tourist destination in the Alps, both because of the local wine and because it was the setting of the story Heidi.
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[edit] History
Maienfeld lies along a key route through the Rhein Valley in the Alps. A settlement has existed in the Maienfeld area since at least the invasion of the Roman Empire[1]. Prehistoric Bronze work and a pre-Roman cellar have been found in the city and on St. Luzisteig hill[2]. A 3rd Century Roman station or settlement has been found along the old Roman Road[1].
The village is first mentioned in 831 and was known as Lupinis at that time. The name of the village changed several times over the following centuries and included; Magenza, Lopine, Maging and Magen zu Luppinis. Finally, in 1295 the name Maienvelt was used, which eventually became Maienfeld[2].
During the middle 10th Century until the middle 12th Century, the counts of Bregenz ruled Maienfeld. Their castle at Maienfeld was destroyed in 1079 by Henry IV, HRE during the Investiture Controversy. The current Schloss Brandis was initially built in 1270-75 by the von den Aspermont family and later by Friedrich VII, count of Toggenburg. In 1465 it was rebuilt and expanded by the Baron von Brandis.
Maienfeld is first mentioned as a city in 1346, however it seems to have lacked a city government (until 1437) or guilds. In 1388 Maienfeld acquired the rights to charge a toll on the Roman Road that led from Chur over the St. Luzisteig to the north. Maienfeld also had a market, though the neighboring city of Malans had the market right. Following the death of the Toggenburger line, Maienfeld joined the League of the Ten Jurisdictions in 1436. In 1438 the city reached an agreement with the von Brandis and von Aarburg (inheritors of some Toggenburg lands) families. The agreement gave Maienfeld a set of rights and gave the city the right to Low Justice over the communities of Malans and Jenins.[1]
During the 14th Century the Walser moved into the Maienfeld area and founded settlements that eventually became the Walser part of town. However, it would take several centuries until the Walser were granted full citizen rights. Maienfeld had been fully Romansh before this time, but during the Germanic speaking Walser immigration Maienfeld became germanized. By the 16th Century the region was nearly completely germanic.
In 1509 the Three Leagues bought Maienfeld from the von Brandis and put the city under the Protectorate of the Three Leagues. This lead to an unusual situation where Maienfeld, as a voting member of the League of the Ten Jurisdictions and therefore a voting member of the Three Leagues, was also under the protection and control of the Three Leagues. Maienfeld indirectly set policy for managing Maienfeld.
[edit] Description
Maienfeld is located eight kilometers southeast of Sargans in the lower Chur Rhein valley. It is bordered on the west by Bad Ragaz, Canton of St. Gallen and on the west and north by the community of Fläsch, Canton Graubünden. To the north it is bordered by Balzers, Triesen, Schaan, the country of Liechtenstein, Nenzing and Vorarlberg, Austria. To the east is the community of Seewis im Prättigau, Canton Graubünden. To the southwest Jenins und Malans, Canton Graubünden. In the south it is bordered by Igis and Zizers, Canton Graubünden, as well as in the southwest the community of Mastrils, Canton Graubünden.
Maienfeld is located on the right side of the Rhein valley and includes the boroughs of; Bovel, Rofels und St. Luzisteig. St. Luzisteig is the site of an important alpine pass, which leads into Liechtenstein, and is guarded by an 18th Century fortress that is now barracks for the Swiss Army.
The old Walser settlement Stürfis was abandoned by 1633 and became a part of Maienfeld, when the inhabitants moved to Rofels. In contrast, the Walser settlement Guscha was occupied until 1969 when the last two families were bought out by the Swiss Army and the village became part of their training area.
The city of Maienfeld occupies a total of 3234 ha or 12.49 sq mi, of which about 600 ha (2.3 sq mi) is used for farming and about 1050 ha (4.05 sq mi) is forest. The train station in the city is located at 502 m or 1647 ft above sea level. The highest point in the city boundaries is the Hinterer Grauspitz mountain, which is 2574 m (8445 ft) high. There are 2523 inhabitants in the city (as of November 2006)[2].
[edit] Tourism
Johanna Spyri's classic book Heidi is largely set in Maienfeld.
[edit] External links
Media related to Maienfeld from the Wikimedia Commons.- Maienfeld in Romansh, German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
- This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding German Wikipedia article as of January 21, 2008.
[edit] References
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