Gündlischwand

Geschichte

Gündlischwand is a village and municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Besides the village of Gündlischwand, the municipality also includes the hamlet of Zweilütschinen.HistoryGündlischwand is first mentioned in 1331 as Gundlisswant.During the Middle Ages parts of the Lütschine valley were owned by a variety of local nobles. By 1331, Interlaken Abbey acquired the land and rights to the village of Gündlischwand. It remained under the Abbey's control until 1528 when Bern adopted the new faith of the Protestant Reformation and secularized the Abbey and all its land. The modern municipality also includes the village of Zweilütschinen at the confluence of the White and Black Lütschine rivers. In 1580 a bridge was built over the rivers at Zweilütschinen, allowing more local trade to flow through the village.In the late 16th century rich ore deposits were discovered in the Lauterbrunnen valley. After the ore was mined, it was moved to the blast furnace at Schmelziwald near Gündlischwand for smelting. The mine closed in 1715 and the furnace, hammer mill, foundry and village fell into ruin, though parts are still visible. In 1890 the Bernese Oberland railway built a station and depot at Zweilütschinen, providing an easy, year round transportation connection.