Langnau im Emmental facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Langnau im Emmental
Coat of arms
Langnau im Emmental Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Langnau im Emmental Location in Canton of Bern Show map of Canton of Bern
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Bern
District	Emmental
Area
• Total	48.36 km2 (18.67 sq mi)
Elevation	736 m (2,415 ft)
Highest elevation	1,332 m (4,370 ft)
Lowest elevation	643 m (2,110 ft)
Population  (Dec 2020 )
• Total	9,262
• Density	191.522/km2 (496.04/sq mi)
Postal code	3550
Surrounded by	Eggiwil, Lauperswil, Signau, Sumiswald, Trachselwald, Trub, Trubschachen

Langnau im Emmental is a town in Switzerland. It is located in the Emmental district of the Bern region. The town is nestled among rolling hills.

Langnau is home to about 9,000 people. It is the most important market town in its area. The weather here is usually sunny, with very little fog. The average temperature is about 7.1°C (44.8°F). It gets about 1,371 mm (54 inches) of rain each year.

A Look at Langnau's Past

Memorial to Klaus Leuenberger, a leader of the farmers' uprising

Aerial view of Langnau from 600 meters (1927)

People first settled in this area around the 11th century. The name Langnau means "long pasture" or "long meadow." It was first mentioned in records in 1139.

Like other towns in the Emmental, Langnau was built on higher ground. This was to protect it from floods from the Emme River.

Early Landowners and Power Shifts

The Kyburg family were some of the first noble landowners. A fort was built on Spitzenegg hill. This fort was later sold to the sons of Rudolf von Habsburg in 1300. A Benedictine monastery, a type of religious community, also owned much land nearby.

After the Battle of Sempach in 1386, the Bernese took control. This battle was where the Swiss Confederation defeated the Habsburg army. In 1528, Bern made everyone in the region follow the Protestant religion.

Farmers' Uprising and Religious Freedom

In 1653, farmers in the area rebelled. This happened because of money problems after the Thirty Years' War and unfair treatment of Anabaptists. Anabaptists are a group of Christians, sometimes called Mennonites. The rebellion was stopped. Many Anabaptists later moved to the Jura mountains to find freedom.

Growth and the Railroad

In the 1700s, Langnau became a key place for trading canvas and cheese. It was bigger than many other towns, even Burgdorf.

The railroad arrived in Langnau from Bern in 1864. It then continued to Lucerne in 1875. This made Langnau an important travel route. When the Gotthard line opened in 1882, the route through Langnau became the fastest way to southern Switzerland. This lasted until the Lötschberg Tunnel opened in 1913.

Langnau's Geography

Langnau village

Langnau im Emmental covers an area of about 48 square kilometers (18.5 square miles). Almost half of this land, about 49.9%, is used for farming. Forests cover a large part too, about 42.0% of the area.

About 7.6% of the land has buildings or roads. A small part, 0.4%, is rivers or lakes. The rest is land that cannot be used for farming or building.

Land Use and Natural Features

Most of the forested land is dense forest. A small part has orchards or groups of trees. For farming, much of the land is used for pastures. Some is used for growing crops.

The town is spread out on both sides of the Ilfis River. It also reaches towards the Napf mountain. Langnau includes the main village and several smaller areas called hamlets. These hamlets make up the seven parts of the Langnau parish. They include Langnau-Dorf, Frittenbach, Ilfis, Hühnerbach, Grossviertel (with Bärau), Rigenen, and Gohl. There are also about 20 mountain camps for herding animals.

Town Symbol: Coat of Arms

The coat of arms for Langnau im Emmental shows three green fir trees. They have gold trunks and grow from a green hill. All of this is on a red background.

People of Langnau

Emmi AG factory in Langnau

Old village center in Langnau

Langnau im Emmental has a population of about 9,000 people. Most of the people (about 94.1%) speak German as their main language. Other languages spoken include Albanian and Italian.

Most of the people living in Langnau were born there or in the same region. About 21.6% of the population are children and teenagers (0–19 years old). Adults (20–64 years old) make up 59.3%. Older adults (over 64 years old) are 19.0% of the population.

Population Changes Over Time

The population of Langnau has changed over many years. Here is a chart showing how the population has grown and shrunk:

Important Buildings and Sites

Several buildings in Langnau are considered very important. They are listed as heritage sites of national significance. These include the Dürsrüti farm house, the Chüechli House, and the Swiss Reformed church. The whole village of Langnau im Emmental is part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.

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  The Dürsrüti house

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  The Chüechlihus house and village fountain

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  Swiss Reformed church in Langnau

Culture and Events

The Regional Museum is located in the oldest house in Langnau. This house was built before the year 1600.

Langnau hosts fun cultural events. These include the Langnau Jazz Nights and the International Cartoon Festival. The town also has markets six times a year.

Langnau's Economy

Langnau railroad station

Langnau's economy is diverse. It includes manufacturing, trade, tourism, and farming. Dairy farming is especially important.

The town has businesses related to farming and forestry. There are also companies that process wood. A factory makes fresh and processed cheese, including fondue cheese. There's also a modern center for processing meat. Many small and medium-sized businesses operate here too.

Jobs and Work

In Langnau, many people have jobs. There are jobs in farming, manufacturing, and services. The service sector includes things like sales, transportation, hotels, and healthcare. Many people who live in Langnau also work in Langnau. Others travel to work in nearby towns.

Religion in Langnau

Swiss Reformed church in the old village

Catholic church in Langnau

Most people in Langnau belong to the Swiss Reformed Church. A smaller number are Roman Catholic. There are also people who belong to other Christian churches. Some residents are Muslim or Hindu. A small number of people do not belong to any church.

Education in Langnau

Many people in Langnau have completed high school. Some have also gone on to higher education, like university.

School System

The school system in Bern starts with one year of optional Kindergarten. Then, students go to six years of Primary school. After that, there are three years of lower Secondary school. Students are grouped by their abilities. After lower Secondary, students can continue their education or start an apprenticeship (on-the-job training).

Langnau has schools for kindergarten, primary, and lower secondary students. Some students in these schools are from other countries or speak a different language at home.

Library Resources

Langnau im Emmental has a library called Regionalbibliothek Langnau. It has over 21,000 books and other media. In one year, people borrowed over 160,000 items from the library.

Climate in Langnau

Langnau has a moderate climate. Here's a look at the weather:

Sports in Langnau

Langnau is famous in Switzerland for ice hockey. It is home to the SCL Tigers team. They play in the National League, which is a top league. Their home games are played at the Ilfis Stadium. The SCL Tigers have a big rivalry with the SC Bern team.

Famous People from Langnau

• Florent Hadergjonaj, a footballer who plays for the Kosovo national team.
• Lia Wälti, a footballer for Arsenal and captain of the Switzerland national team.

See also

In Spanish: Langnau im Emmental para niños