- Murten
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Murten/Morat Country Switzerland Canton Fribourg District See 46°55′N 7°07′E / 46.917°N 7.117°ECoordinates: 46°55′N 7°07′E / 46.917°N 7.117°E Population 6,074 (Dec 2009)[1] - Density 505 /km2 (1,309 /sq mi) Area 12.05 km2 (4.65 sq mi)[2] Elevation 453 m (1,486 ft) Postal code 3280 SFOS number 2275 Surrounded by Bas-Vully, Büchslen, Courgevaux, Galmiz, Greng, Haut-Vully, Lurtigen, Meyriez, Münchenwiler (BE), Muntelier, Müntschemier (BE), Ried bei Kerzers, Salvenach Website www.murten.ch
SFSO statisticsMurten (French: Morat) is a municipality in the See district of the canton of Fribourg in Switzerland.
It is located on the southern shores of Lake Morat. Morat is situated between Bern and Lausanne and is the capital of the Lake District of the canton of Fribourg.
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Geography
This small medieval town lies in the Swiss "Midlands" on the edge of the Great Marsh, on a gentle hill (450 metres above sea level) and on the shore of Lake Morat (or Murtensee in German). Numerous attractions from a significant past have been well preserved here, such as the castle, the ring wall, the street scene and the arcades. Lake Morat is a smaller lake located in between Lake Biel and Lake Neuchâtel.
Mount Vully is situated on the western side of the Seeland's largest plain and resembles a pearl gently placed among the three lakes of Morat, Neuchâtel and Biel/Bienne. Already long ago, the Celtic and Helvetic tribes appreciated the region's temperate climate and the local countryside's particular charm. Today, the Vully vineyards take up a large part of the south face of Mount Vully. The over 100 hectares of vineyards are facing towards Lake Morat.
Murten/Morat is also famous in history for the defeat of Charles the Bold by the Swiss. The former fortified city, which has kept most of its ramparts and towers, has picturesque charm.
The first language of 73% of the population is German, of 14% French, and of 3% Italian. Before 1800 the main language of the city was French.
History
The town's name derives from the Celtic word moriduno, meaning "lakeside fortress". It was first mentioned in 515 as a defensive place called "Muratum". By 1013 the site had a reputation as a fortress. Duke Berchtold IV of Zähringen founded the town in 1159 next to the fortress. After his death the German emperor Frederic II recognized Murten as a "Free Imperial Town". At that time the emperor himself lived in the south of Italy and a small town north of the Alps was not his concern. It did not last long – in 1255 Murten fell under the protection of Count Peter of Savoy.
A fire in 1416 led to rebuilding in stone.
On June 22, 1476, Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, laid siege to the place in an action known as the Battle of Murten. The town hung on for 13 days but finally was saved by the Bernese army. The enemy's army was destroyed completely — some 10,000 Burgundians were killed. Since then, Murten celebrates the victory every year on June 22.
From 1484 on, and for 300 years, Morat was ruled by the two cantons — Bern and Fribourg. In 1803 Napoleon gave the town to the canton of Fribourg. Today Morat remains part of the Canton of Fribourg.
Population
Estimated Growth of Population Year Inhabitants 1900 2645 1910 2418 1930 2570 1950 3106 1960 3610 1970 4512 1980 4657 1990 4718 2000 5578 2004 5651 World heritage site
It is home to one or more prehistoric pile-dwelling (or stilt house) settlements that are part of the Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps UNESCO World Heritage Site.[3]
References
- ^ Swiss Federal Statistical Office, MS Excel document – Bilanz der ständigen Wohnbevölkerung nach Kantonen, Bezirken und Gemeinden (German) accessed 25 August 2010
- ^ Arealstatistik Standard - Gemeindedaten nach 4 Hauptbereichen
- ^ UNESCO World Heritage Site - Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps
External links
- Official website (German) (English) (French)
- The panorama of the battle of Murten
- Photo Gallery from Murten
Barberêche | Bas-Vully | Büchslen | Courgevaux | Courlevon | Courtepin | Cressier | Fräschels | Galmiz | Gempenach | Greng | Gurmels | Haut-Vully | Jeuss | Kerzers | Kleinbösingen | Lurtigen | Meyriez | Misery-Courtion | Muntelier | Murten | Ried bei Kerzers | Salvenach | Ulmiz | Villarepos | Wallenried
Fribourg | Districts of Canton Fribourg | Municipalities of the canton of Fribourg
Categories:- Municipalities of the canton of Fribourg
- Municipalities of Switzerland
- Cities in Switzerland
- Former condominiums of Switzerland
- Imperial free cities
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