Matten bei Interlaken facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matten bei Interlaken
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Matten b.I. on the left of the Chli Chrugge and Wilderswil in the back
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 Matten bei Interlaken
Location in Switzerland
Matten bei Interlaken
Location in Canton of Bern
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Bern | |
| District | Interlaken-Oberhasli | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 5.91 km2 (2.28 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 575 m (1,886 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 4,060 | |
| • Density | 687.0/km2 (1,779/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
3800
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| Surrounded by | Interlaken, Bönigen, Gsteigwiler, Wilderswil and Därligen | |
Matten bei Interlaken, often called Matten b.I. or simply Matten, is a lovely village and municipality in Switzerland. It's located in the canton of Bern, within the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district. Matten is part of a small group of towns around Interlaken, with about 23,300 people living there in 2014.
Contents
Matten's History
Matten bei Interlaken was first mentioned way back in 1133. Its name appeared as inter lacus Madon.
Early Settlements
The oldest signs of people living here are some Roman coins and pieces of a Roman road. During the Early Middle Ages, there was likely a village and a graveyard in the area.
In the 600s, a group called the Alemanni settled in this area. They moved the local Celtic people into nearby valleys. The first official mention of Matten was in a letter from Emperor Lothair III, Holy Roman Emperor on November 8, 1133. Many people from Matten used to serve as soldiers for other countries.
Monastery Influence
Between 1300 and 1310, the Interlaken Monastery took control of the village and its surrounding area from local nobles. The Monastery owned Matten for about 200 years. In 1528, the city of Bern adopted a new religion, the Protestant Reformation. They tried to make everyone in the Bernese Oberland follow this new faith. Matten, along with other villages and the Monastery, tried to fight against this change, but they weren't successful. After Bern took control, they closed the Monastery and took all its lands. Matten then became part of Bern's bailiwick (a type of district) called Interlaken.
Growth and Tourism
A big moment for Matten was the first Unspunnenfest in 1805. This was a traditional Swiss festival. The Rugenbräu brewery, which still exists today, opened in the village in 1866. As more tourists started visiting the Bernese Oberland in the 1800s, Matten became popular. Big hotels like Jungfraublick (built in 1863) and Mattenhof (built in 1870) were constructed. The Mattenhof hotel was even used as a military hospital during World War II. Tourism was at its peak around 1910, but it slowed down during the two World Wars and the Great Depression.
World War II and Beyond
During World War II, an airbase was built in Matten. A large part of the southeastern area of the municipality had to be drained to build it. Today, this area is no longer used for military purposes. It's now used for cows to graze. This large flat area is also used for big events like the Country- und Trucker Festival and the Greenfield Festival. Erich von Däniken's Mystery Park was also built on this former airbase land.
What's in a Name?
The name Matten comes from an old field name. It goes back to the Old High German word matta-, which means "meadow".
Matten's Location and Landscape
Matten bei Interlaken covers an area of about 5.9 square kilometers (2.3 square miles). About 21.4% of this land is used for farming. A large part, 57.1%, is covered by forests. The rest of the land, about 21.2%, has buildings or roads. A small amount, 1.2%, is rivers or lakes.
Matten bei Interlaken is located in the Bernese Oberland part of the Alps. It sits in an area called the Bödeli, which is a piece of land between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. To the west, Matten is next to the hills of the Abendberg Ridge, the Kleinen Rugen, and the Grossen Rugen. The municipality includes the main village and a separate piece of land called Änderberg.
Matten bei Interlaken, along with eight nearby municipalities, belongs to the church parish of Gsteig bei Interlaken. This is a village in Gsteigwiler.
On December 31, 2009, Matten's old district, Amtsbezirk Interlaken, was closed. On January 1, 2010, it became part of the new Verwaltungskreis Interlaken-Oberhasli district.
Coat of Arms
The blazon of Matten's municipal coat of arms shows a green shield with a silver wall-like bar in the middle. Above and below the bar are three golden stars.
People of Matten
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As of December 2010, Matten bei Interlaken had a population of 3,781 people. About 15.4% of the people living here are from other countries.
Languages Spoken
Most people in Matten speak German as their main language. In 2000, about 90.3% of the population spoke German. Italian was the second most common language (2.3%), followed by Serbo-Croatian (1.4%).
Age Groups
In 2010, children and teenagers (ages 0–19) made up 18.7% of the population. Adults (ages 20–64) were the largest group at 63%. Seniors (over 64 years old) made up 18.3% of the population.
Population Changes Over Time
The number of people living in Matten has changed over the years. Here's how the population has grown:
- 1764: 372 people
- 1850: 795 people
- 1900: 1,602 people
- 1950: 2,183 people
- 2000: 3,671 people
Matten's Economy
In 2011, Matten bei Interlaken had a low unemployment rate of 1.93%. In 2008, there were 1,026 people working in the municipality.
Types of Jobs
- Primary Sector: This includes jobs like farming. In 2008, 32 people worked in this sector, mostly in agriculture.
- Secondary Sector: This includes jobs in manufacturing and construction. In 2008, 165 people worked in this sector.
- Tertiary Sector: This includes jobs in services, like shops, hotels, and healthcare. In 2008, 829 people worked in this sector. Many worked in sales, transportation, hotels, or as technical experts.
Matten has more people who leave the municipality for work than people who come in to work. About 10.9% of working people use public transport to get to work, and 40.6% use a private car.
Fun Things to See and Do
- Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau: These are famous mountains and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Lake Thun and Lake Brienz: Beautiful lakes perfect for boat trips.
- Tell Freilichtspiele: An open-air theater that puts on plays.
- Kunsteisbahn: An artificial ice rink for skating.
- The Schynige Platte: You can take the Schynige Platte Railway up for amazing views of Interlaken and the mountains.
- The Harderkulm: Reach this viewpoint by taking the Harderbahn funicular.
- Mystery Park: A theme park about mysteries of the world.
- Greenfield Festival: A popular music festival.
- Trucker and Country Music Festival: A festival for fans of trucks and country music.
Getting Around Matten
- Matten bei Interlaken railway station: A train station that opened in December 2023.
- PostBus Switzerland: A bus service that connects Matten to other places.
Education in Matten
In Matten bei Interlaken, many people have a good education. About 44.3% of the population has finished non-mandatory high school. About 9.2% have gone on to higher education, like university or a specialized college.
School System
The Canton of Bern has a specific school system:
- One year of optional Kindergarten.
- Six years of Primary school.
- Three years of mandatory 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).
In the 2010–11 school year, 348 students attended schools in Matten bei Interlaken. This included 55 kindergarten students, 187 primary students, and 106 lower secondary students. Some students were from other countries or spoke a different language at home.
See also
In Spanish: Matten bei Interlaken para niños
