Kappelen (Berne)

Geschichte

Kappelen is a municipality in the Seeland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.HistoryKappelen is first mentioned in 1228 as Capella.The Roman road between Aventicum and Petinesca ran along the present day border of the municipality. During the Middle Ages, one of the major landowners in the village was the Counts of Neuchâtel-Nidau. The count granted Frienisberg Abbey land in Kappelen in 1225 and 1267. They gave Gottstatt Monastery patronage over the village church in 1247. The monastery held that right until 1528, when it was taken by Bern. Even after they granted land to the monasteries, the counts retained the right to collect a tithe from the village. The Counts of Neuchâtel-Aarberg originally had the right to hold the low court in the village. In 1367 this right went to Nidau and in 1377-79 it went to the city of Bern. At that time the village became part of the bailiwick of Aarberg. The neighboring village (and now part of the municipality) of Werdthof, the right to hold the low court in Werdthof and the chapel of St. Margaret (mentioned between 1231–1300, now demolished) were all given to Frienisberg Monastery in the 13th century.