Ennenda
Intro
Nestled in the valley between the Glarus Alps, the village of Ennenda offers a host of contrasts. On the one hand, it is characterised by its factory buildings and workers’ houses, and on the other hand, by stately villas and a monumental community centre that can be found here.
Ennenda developed from a farming village into a carpentry village and finally, with the upswing of the Glarus textile industry in the 19th century, into a factory village. This development is still well evidenced today by the diverse architecture in the village. The old farming village with typical Glarus log houses and winding alleys lies on the hillside. In the plain in front of it, the more recent workers’ residential districts are spreading out. The long rows of buildings with similar-looking residential houses are very typical of this area. Between the narrow rows of houses are large squares that break up the workers’ districts. And then there are the magnificent villas of the factory owners, which are surrounded by expansive gardens and create a contrast against the small workers’ houses. On the northern edge of the village is the former Jenny printing works with its mighty factory buildings, altogether one of the most valuable historic factory complexes in Switzerland. Thanks to the once flourishing industry, Ennenda was known as one of the wealthiest communities in Switzerland in 1904. Among other things, the monumental, classicist town hall with a concert hall dating back to 1890 bears witness to this.
Visitors of Ennenda can also stop by the Anna Göldi Museum, which can be found in an old industrial building. Anna Göldi was the last woman accused of witchcraft to be executed in Europe.
ISOS
ISOS is the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites of national importance. The inventory is maintained by the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) and lists the most significant settlements in Switzerland. Today, some 1,200 places are included in the inventory, from hamlets right through to cities. The inventory provides information on the development and identity of the settlements listed in it, thereby contributing to the preservation of architectural diversity in Switzerland and promoting both sustainable planning and a high-quality Baukultur.
