Zimmerwald was until December 31, 2003 an independent municipality in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland. It is located on a hill in the proximity of the city of Berne in the Bernese Mitteland. On January 1, 2004 Zimmerwald united with the municipality of Englisberg to form the new muicipality of Wald.

Population: 870 (December 31, 2002) coats of arms: To three firs on green three-mountain before silver background become green.

History

ZImmerwald was only settled in the late phase of the Germanic colonisation of Switzerland. Between 800 to 900 A.D. for the first time members of the Ciberni settling in Southern Germany took the length mountain in possession. The first mention of the town in documents occurs only in the later Middle Ages . In the year 1999 Zimmerwald celebrated its 700th anniversary.

Zimmerwald enters the annals of world history due to the Zimmerwald Conference held in 1915 . In September, prominent socialists met from throughout Europe, among them Leon Trotsky and Vladimir Lenin. The conference was called by Robert Grimm of Berne. The international workers' movement split as a result of the conference into social democratic and a revolutionary wings.

Sites of interest

Wind instruments museum:

The collection covers approximately 1000 instruments from the beginnings to the present. In addition belong both wood and sheet metal wind instruments in addition, percussion instruments. Among them rare pieces such as bull horns, old-Germanic Lure, Serpent and flap trumpet. Naturally also Alp horn belong to the collection.

External links

• http://www.guerbetal-bern.ch/gemeinden/zimmerwald.htm