Beromünster
Intro
Beromünster is situated on a gentle hill between Lake Baldegger and Lake Sempacher. The little town is known today not only for its magnificent abbey district, but also for its former radio station – and for the first letterpress to be mentioned in Switzerland.
According to traditional lore, Count Bero of Lenzburg laid the foundation stone for the collegiate church in the 10th century because his son was killed by a bear here. A small town developed next to the abbey district, which was destroyed by a fire in 1764 and rebuilt in the years that followed.
Beromünster is situated on a hill between Lake Baldegger and Lake Sempacher and is clearly divided into a spiritual part in the west and a secular part in the east. There, the slightly elevated, Baroque-style abbey district with the church and impressive canons’ houses dominates the rest of the buildings. This is where the market is held. It has a surprisingly wide main street framed by stately townhouses.
The oldest-known letterpress in Switzerland, dating back to the year 1470, comes from Beromünster. The town gained nationwide fame in the 1930s, however, with “Radio Beromünster”. The former 215-metre-high broadcasting tower dominates the landscape and is an important witness to technical achievement. Today, the former broadcasting facilities are used to showcase works of art.
The nearby “Waldkapelle”, a baroque park with avenues lined with hornbeams and chestnut trees, is the ideal place for a stroll.
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.
