Der Herisauer Schwänberg

The History of the Herisau Hamlet of Schwänberg

The hamlet of Schwänberg, located in the northwest corner of the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, is the first documented settlement of the Appenzellerland – evidenced in a certificate from the Abbey of St. Gall dating back to 820 or 821 in the form "suuueinperac." Following the Appenzeller Wars of Independence, Schwänberg developed into a prestigious residential area. After 1700, the settlement gradually lost its significance: textile home industry and agricultural self-sufficiency became the economic foundation for the population. By around 1920, when the era of classical home industry had come to an end, Schwänberg took on a predominantly rural character. Towards the end of the 20th century, the influx of younger people and the subsequent renovation of old buildings opened a new chapter in Schwänberg's history. The work spans from the Alemannic settlement to the early 21st century, focusing not only on the artistically significant buildings and politically influential individuals but also on the unremarkable houses and ordinary people.