History Schwyz

fountain in central plaza in schwyz

while few roman era coins have been found in schwyz, earliest evidence of settlement comes 8th century. alamanni cemetery @ parish church , church both first half of 8th century. first church followed second ottonian church around 1000, may have been destroyed 1117 verona earthquake. in 1121 third church building, romanesque building, consecrated. followed in 15th century larger fourth church destroyed, along of village, fire in 1642. fifth church, baroque church replaced because of serious structural defects current late baroque church dedicated in 1774.

because schwyz capital of canton, many of government organizations administered both town , canton @ same time, , history of town closely tied history of canton.

according chronicle of johann stumpf 1548, old town consisted of village square, church , cemetery, town hall, inn, archive tower , number of scattered wooden houses. around 1500, distinguish canton of schwyz, schwyz town called kilchgassen, meant village around church not surrounding villages. fire of 1642, destroyed 47 buildings in center of village, allowed town totally rebuilt. new, larger town square major roads radiating out built in front of new church , new city hall. houses rebuilt urban townhouses , ring of 30 large patrician farm houses grew surrounding village center.