grnichen

Grnichen is a municipality in the district of Aarau, Canton of Aargau, Switzerland.

Historical population

1560 approx. 250
1850 3,038
1888 2,684
1950 3,727
1990 5,772
2004 6,413

The population of Grnichen is mainly German-speaking. 65% of its inhabitants are Reformed and 23% are Catholic.

Economy

One of the largest bakeries in Switzerland (Jowa) is located in Grnichen. Besides that, there is also a company which fabricates heaters (Zehnder), a haulage contracting firm (Treier), a gravel plant and several other smaller businesses.

Transport

There are four stations of the local public rail service (AAR-Bahn): Tndler, Grnichen-Dorf, Oberdorf and Bleien.

History

Around 1184 Grnichen was mentioned for the first time historically under the name of Cranechon. Findings from the Neolithic and the remains of a Celtic castle prove that the area around Grnichen has been settled for quite some time. In the 12th Century Grnichen belonged to the monastery of Engelberg and was later on reigned over by the Habsburgs, who passed the government of the village to the Lords of the Castle of Liebegg. After 1415 Grnichen belonged to Bern. The construction of the Wynentalbahn railway in 1904 promoted the settlement of local industries.

Art and Culture

Education

There are three schoolhouses for elementary school and a center for secondary education covering Realschule, Sekundarschule and Bezirksschule levels. The number of students is 894 (2004). Aside from the Castle of Liebegg there is also an agricultural school.

Museums and Castles

There is a small village museum in the "Chornhaus" (former parish hall). The Castle of Liebegg from the 11th Century is nowadays used as a center for culture, meetings and congresses.