Ritzingen
Origin of the name Ritzingen
Neither the date of the first mention nor the etymology of the name Ritzingen is known.
Founding of Ritzingen
Ritzingen stretches along an alluvial fan on the north side of the Goms valley. A Celtic grave was found there in 1980. In the 13th century its inhabitants, farmers and stockbreeders, formed a community. From 1367 at the latest the village belonged to the free court of the Grafschaft (county) of Biel, with Biel, Selkingen and Gluringen. In the 16th century peasant statutes (Bauernzünfte) wrote down customary law: forests (1539), alpine pastures and commons (1543), burgher rules (1555), water (1592). In 1678 Ritzingen left the parish of Münster for the new parish of Biel. The baroque chapel of St Anne was consecrated in 1732, and in 1958 the burgher alpine pastures of Biel and Ritzingen merged. Almost entirely agricultural until the mid 20th century, by the early 21st century the population mostly works outside the village in services. A few mountain farmers and craftsmen remain. In 2000 Ritzingen formed the municipality of Grafschaft with Biel and Selkingen, which joined Blitzingen, Münster-Geschinen, Niederwald and Reckingen-Gluringen in the municipality of Goms in 2017.[2][3]
History of Ritzingen
13th century. The inhabitants, farmers and herders, form a community.
1367. From this date at the latest, Ritzingen belongs to the free court of the Grafschaft of Biel.
1539. Peasant statute on the use of forests.
1543. Statute on the use of alpine pastures and commons.
1555. Burgher regulations.
1592. Statute on the use of water.
17th century. In the first half of the century the present pilgrimage chapel of Our Lady on the Ritzingerfeld is built.
1678. Ritzingen leaves the parish of Münster for the new parish of Biel.[2][3]
1732. Consecration of the baroque chapel of St Anne.
18th century. At the end of the century St Anne's chapel receives ceiling paintings.
1958. Merger of the burgher alpine pastures of Biel and Ritzingen.[2][3]
1980. Discovery of a Celtic grave in Ritzingen.[2][3]
1990. The municipality has 84 inhabitants.
2000. Ritzingen forms the municipality of Grafschaft with Biel and Selkingen.[2][3][4]
2017. Grafschaft is joined with Blitzingen, Münster-Geschinen, Niederwald and Reckingen-Gluringen in the municipality of Goms.[2][3][4]
Population of Ritzingen
| 1802 | 132 |
| 1850 | 113 |
| 1900 | 95 |
| 1950 | 104 |
| 1990 | 84 |
Historic sites in Ritzingen
St Anne's chapel. Baroque village chapel, consecrated in 1732 and decorated with ceiling paintings at the end of the 18th century.
Chapel of Our Lady on the Ritzingerfeld. Pilgrimage chapel outside the village, regarded as the heart of the Grafschaft of Biel: the county elected its ammann in front of it. A first chapel may go back to the 15th century. The present building dates from the first half of the 17th century.
Remains in Ritzingen
Celtic grave. A Celtic grave was unearthed in Ritzingen in 1980.[2][3]
Sources
- Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, « Ritzingen » (Robert Walpen, version du 13.01.2017, version allemande)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Biel (VS) » (Alma Treyer, version du 13.01.2017)
- Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, « Biel (VS) » (Alma Treyer, version du 13.01.2017, version allemande)
- Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, « Grafschaft » (Bernard Truffer, version du 13.01.2017, version allemande)
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Ritzingen
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