add site
services
publishers
database
health videos
toolbar
stats
live show
health store
more stuff
JOIN/LOGIN
| advertise add site services publishers database health videos
| | about toolbar stats live show health store more stuff JOIN/LOGIN |
Appenzell Innerrhoden (German:
[edit] HistoryThe name Appenzell (Latin: abbatis cella) means "cell (i.e. estate) of the abbot". This refers to the Abbey of St. Gall, which exerted a great influence on the area. By the middle of the 11th century the abbots of St Gall had established their power in the land later called Appenzell, which, too, became thoroughly teutonized, its early inhabitants having probably been romanized Raetians. But as early as 1377, this portion of the abbots' domains formed an alliance with the Swabian free imperial cities and adopted a constitution of its own. The repeated attempts of the abbots to put down this independence of their rule were defeated in the battles of Vögelinsegg (1403), north-west of Trogen, and of the Stoss (1405), the pass leading from Gais over to Altstätten in the Rhine valley. In 1411 Appenzell was placed under the "protection" of the Swiss Confederation, of which, in 1452, it became an "allied member," and in 1513 a full member. Religious differences broke up the land after the Reformation into two portions, with Appenzell Ausserrhoden being the other half. [edit] GeographyMost of the canton is pastoral, this despite being mountainous. The Säntis peak in the Appenzell Alps is one of the main attractions of the canton. There are three small mountain lakes in the canton: Seealpsee, Sämtisersee and Fälensee. [edit] Political subdivisionsIn Appenzell Innerrhoden districts are the lowest administrative division: the canton is not subdivided in municipalities. Because of that, for firefighting, energy and water, the town Appenzell has a special-purpose municipality, the Feuerschaugemeinde. The Canton is divided into 6 districts: [edit] Government Appenzell is the capital of this canton. The constitution was established in 1872. Citizens from the canton assemble every last Sunday of April for the Landsgemeinde (general assembly) in a square in Appenzell, vote on laws and elect the Governing Council. In 1991, following a decision by the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland, Appenzell Innerrhoden became the last Swiss canton to grant women the vote on local issues.[1] [edit] DemographicsThe population of the canton was 15,471 as of 2007, of which 1,510 (or 9.76%) were foreigners.[2] Due to the split of Appenzell along religious lines, the population (as of 2000[update]) is nearly all Roman Catholic (81%), with a small Protestant minority (10%).[3] [edit] EconomyCattle breeding and dairy farming are the main agricultural activities: Appenzeller cheese is widely available throughout Switzerland. By the early 2000s, the idyllic countryside of Appenzell Innerrhoden apparently became popular with nudists, but at the 2009 Landsgemeinde the canton's residents voted to prohibit naked hiking. Violators will be fined.[4] It is common for cars rented in Switzerland to be registered in Appenzell Innerrhoden, and thus having license plates starting with "AI", because of the reduced tax on automobiles in this canton. [edit] External links
[edit] References
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ↑ top of page ↑ | about thumbshots |
Media related to 
