Meisterschwanden

Geschichte

Meisterschwanden is a municipality in the district of Lenzburg in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.HistoryThere were two neolithic lake side settlements, at Seerose and Erlenhölzli, near the modern Meisterschwanden. Both sites were discovered from archeological digs on the lake shore. Additionally, at the Erlenhölzli site, divers discovered traces of Pfyn culture ceramics, stone tools and several artifacts made of wood, including a bow and arrow fragment all from about 3,600 BC.Meisterschwanden is first mentioned in 1173 as Meistersvanc though this comes from at 14th Century copy of the original. In 1179 it was mentioned as Maestirwanch. In 1363 the Twingherrschaft transferred from the lords of Meisterschwanden to the Lords of Hallwyl. The high court rights came to Bern in 1415. During the second Villmergen war in 1712, Fahrwangen was used as a camp by the Reformed troops. As the Catholic troops attacked, according to legend, the women of Fahrwangen and Meisterschwanden marched out to join the soldiers. The Protestant Bernese troops were so impressed with the valor of the women, that they granted them a day when the women could command. Since then, on the second Sunday in January they have celebrated the Meitlisunntig (Girls' Sunday). On this day, women from both villages run through the streets carrying nets. Any man who is captured in a net must pay his Lösegelds or ransom (often in the form of alcoholic drinks) to get free.