AarwangenAarwangen is a village and a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Aarwangen is first mentioned in 1255 as villa Arwangen. Aarwangen grew from a fortified toll crossing over the river Aare, in a region where there were few realistic crossing places. The first bridge was built in the early years of the 13th century, and by the 16th century this had developed into a covered wooden bridge and customs post, defended by a castle.
HuttwilHuttwil is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the Swiss canton of Bern. Huttwil is first mentioned in the 9th Century as Huttiwilare. The Huttwil area was probably first settled in the 7th or 8th century, though it first appears in historic records in the 9th century. Initially it was part of the Upper Aargau lands of the Adalgoze family, though by the 11th and 12th centuries the Counts of Rheinfelden and Fenis-Neuchâtel owned land and rights in Huttwil.
SchwarzhäusernSchwarzhäusern is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Originally it was known as Rufshausen and that name was first recorded in 1100 as Rudolfshausen. It was first mentioned in 1677 as Schwartzenheüßeren, a name that would become Schwarzhäusern. Several mesolithic or neolithic flint tools have been found in sites around the municipality. There are several early medieval graves at Klebenrain.
AuswilAuswil is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Auswil is first mentioned around 855-860 as Ouvistwilare. During the High Middle Ages the villages were protected by a fort on the Rohrbachberg. Around 1300, this fort was occupied by a Ministerialis family (unfree knights in the service of the Kyburgs). In 1318 or 1323 this fort was destroyed by Bern. Through a series of gifts between the 9th and 14th centuries, Auswil was gradually given to the Abbey of St.
BannwilBannwil is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Bannwil is first mentioned in 1262 as Benwile. The area around Bannwil was inhabited during the Hallstatt era and the Early Middle Ages. During the Middle Ages, Bannwil was part of the low court of Aarwangen and the district court of Buchsgau. These two courts began to come under Bernese control in 1432 and by 1463 were completely part of Bern. Over the following centuries, Bannwil alternated between the bailiwicks of Bipp and Aarwangen.
BleienbachBleienbach is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Bleienbach is first mentioned in 1194 as Blaichinbach. Evidence of prehistoric settlements near Bleienbach include a Hallstatt grave mound in Oberbützberg, a High Medieval earthen fortress in Eggwald, and an ancient road near the village church. The low court and right to appoint priests to the village church were originally part of the Herrschaft of Langenstein-Grünenberg.
Busswil bei MelchnauBusswil bei Melchnau is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Busswil bei Melchnau is first mentioned in 1194 as Bouswillare. During the Middle Ages parts of the village were owned by local nobles and the Abbey of St. Gallen. In 1480, the Herrschaft of Grünenberg, which included Busswil, was acquired by Bern. Under Bernese control it was part of the court of Melchnau in the bailiwick of Aarwangen until 1798.
GondiswilGondiswil (local dialect Gumiswil) is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Gondiswil is first mentioned in the mid-9th century as Cundolteswilare. The only evidence of prehistoric people in Gondiswil are some scattered neolithic items that were found near Staldershaus. During the Middle Ages the major landowners were all local nobles. However, in 841-72 the Perchtgers donated land to the Abbey of St. Gallen. In 1194 the Baron of Langenstein granted some land in Gondiswil to St.
MadiswilMadiswil is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Since January 1, 2007, Gutenburg is part of the municipality. On 1 January 2011 Kleindietwil and Leimiswil were merged with the municipality of Madiswil. Madiswil is first mentioned in 795 as Madalestwilare. The ruins of Early Medieval ring fort at Weiherköpfli, an undated ring fort at Fuchsmatt and an undated fort at Grauenstein are the earliest evidence of settlements in Madiswil.
MelchnauMelchnau is a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. Melchnau celebrated its 900th anniversary in 2000. The earliest written evidence for the town dates from about 1100. Melchnau is first mentioned in 1194 as Melchinove. The Grünenberg-Schnabelburg-Langenstein complex of three ruined castles sit on a hill above the village. The Lords of Langenstein were first mentioned in 1194 when they helped found St. Urban's Abbey. The castle was likely built around that same time.
