Bremgarten is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Aargau. It serves as seat of the district of Bremgarten. The medieval old town is listed as a heritage site of national significance. In 2013, Bremgarten was the first municipality in Europe to introduce laws forbidding asylum seekers from visiting certain public places such as libraries, swimming pools, schools and churches.

On 1 January 2014 the former municipality of Hermetschwil-Staffeln merged into the municipality of Bremgarten.

History

left|thumb|upright|Spittel tower in Bremgarten

The area was known before 1140 as Bremgarten, though the city wasn't founded until almost a century later. In 1230, a settlement was founded near the present location of Bremgarten. Then, in 1238/39 it was mentioned as Bremegarten. In 1258, it was granted city right by Rudolf I of Habsburg. Bremgarten's population grew rapidly, and it became an important market town with an outstanding Latin school. Because it was part of the Habsburg lands, the residents of Bremgarten fought at the Battles of Morgarten (1315) and Sempach on the Habsburg side.

Demographics

Bremgarten has a population (as of ) of . , 21.9% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 17%. Most of the population () speaks German (86.2%), with Albanian being second most common (3.0%) and Italian being third (1.9%).

The age distribution, , in Bremgarten is; 651 children or 10.4% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 692 teenagers or 11.1% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 852 people or 13.6% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 909 people or 14.6% are between 30 and 39, 1,069 people or 17.1% are between 40 and 49, and 834 people or 13.4% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 648 people or 10.4% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 383 people or 6.1% are between 70 and 79, there are 180 people or 2.9% who are between 80 and 89, and there are 29 people or 0.5% who are 90 and older.

, there were 358 homes with 1 or 2 persons in the household, 1,283 homes with 3 or 4 persons in the household, and 623 homes with 5 or more persons in the household. The average number of people per household was 2.12 individuals. There were a total of 115 empty apartments for a 3.8% vacancy rate.

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Heritage sites of national significance

There are nine sites in Bremgarten that are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance. Before the 2014 merger with Hermetschwil-Staffeln, seven were in Bremgarten while two came from Hermetschwil-Staffeln. There are two government or administration buildings, the former Muri-Amthof at Antonigasse 2 as well as the addition to the Muri-Amthof at Antonigasse 4. Two churches are on the list, the Roman Catholic City Church with St. Klara Chapel, and the St. Anna Chapel together with the Mother of God Chapel () on Pfarrgasse / Kirchgasse. Two fortifications are part of the inventory, the Schlössli at Schlossgässli 2 and the city walls. The final building on the list is the Weissenbach house at Antonigasse 24. The two from Hermetschwil-Staffeln were the Benedictine Convent of St. Martin, and the former Gasthaus (hotel-restaurant) at Dorfstrasse 9.

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File:Bremgarten Muri-Amthof.jpg|Muri-Amthof

File:Bremgarten Schloessli Mauer.jpg|The Schlössli or little castle

File:Stadtkirche Bremgarten Gesamtansicht.jpg|City Church

File:Bremgarten Klarakapelle.jpg|St. Klara Chapel

File:Bremgarten Muttergotteskape.jpg|Mother of God Chapel ()

File:Bremgarten Kapellen.jpg|Mother of God Chapel, Organist house and St.Anna Chapel

File:Bremgarten Bollhaus 02.jpg|Bollhaus, part of city wall

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Economy

, Bremgarten had an unemployment rate of 3.32%. , there were 49 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 9 businesses involved in this sector. 876 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 75 businesses in this sector. 2,345 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 316 businesses in this sector. Of the working population, 17.2% used public transportation to get to work, and 45% used a private car.

The line is served by route S17 of the S-Bahn Zürich, with a typical frequency of four trains per hour between Dietikon and Bremgarten West, of which two trains per hour continue to and from Wohlen. All trains stop at all stations, except in the morning, where two express trains only serve the most important stations.

Culture

Markets

thumb|Christchindlimärt 2007 (View from the Spittelturm)

Bremgarten is famous for its four large markets, which attract tens of thousands of visitors and are important for tourism. The Easter Market on Easter Monday (including an agricultural machinery market) and the Whitsun Market on Whit Monday have a tradition of more than 750 years. The Old Town Market is held over two days at the end of October and focuses on arts and crafts. Since 1995, the Christchindlimärt has been held over four days in early December. With over 100,000 visitors and more than 300 stalls, it is now the largest Christmas market in Switzerland and has gained international renown. There are also weekly markets every Wednesday and Saturday from March to November.

Alternative culture

In June 1990, young people occupied a textile factory that had been abandoned for 16 years. The following year, the Verein KulturZentrum Bremgarten KuZeB was founded with the aim of creating a small version of the Wohlgroth in Zurich. Since 1992 the association has held a tenancy agreement with the owner of the factory building. KuZeB's cultural programme ranges from concerts of alternative and subculture of international format to readings and political lectures. In parts of the population, the appearance of the building has led to rejection.

Notable people

140px|thumb|Heinrich Bullinger, 1550

  • Werner Schodoler (1490-1541) a Swiss chronicler, author of Swiss History, the earliest of the Swiss illustrated chronicles
  • Johannes Aal (ca.1500–1553) a Swiss Roman Catholic theologian, composer and dramaturg
  • Heinrich Bullinger (1504–1575) a Swiss reformer, an influential theologian of the Protestant Reformation
  • Johann Melchior Gletle (1626–1683) a Swiss organist, Kapellmeister and composer
  • J.M. Brunswick (1819-1886) a Swiss Jewish immigrant to the U.S. who founded the J.M. Brunswick Manufacturing Company
  • Hans Hutmacher (1921–1956) a Swiss racing cyclist, he rode in the 1949 Tour de France
  • Cesar Lüthi (1930–2002) a Swiss international sports marketing businessman
  • Stephan Joho (born 1963) a Swiss former professional cyclist, competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics

References

  • Verkehrsverein Bremgarten—the Tourist association in Bremgarten