{{Short description|Municipality in canton of Bern, Switzerland}} {{Redirect|Gsteig|other uses|Gsteig (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox Swiss town | subject_name = Gsteig bei Gstaad | image_photo = Gsteig Église Saint-Théodule.jpg | municipality_type = city | imagepath_coa = CHE Gsteig bei Gstaad COA.svg | imagepath_flag = CHE Gsteig bei Gstaad Flag.svg | canton = Bern | iso-code-region = CH-BE | district = [[Obersimmental-Saanen (administrative district)|Obersimmental-Saanen]] | coordinates = {{coord|46|23|N|7|16|E|display=inline,title}} | postal_code = 3785 | municipality_code = 0841 | area = 62.44 | elevation = 1184|elevation_description= | population = 970 | populationof = Dec 2011 | popofyear = 2011 | website = www.gsteig.ch | mayor = |mayor_asof=|mayor_party= | mayor_title = |list_of_mayors = | places = | demonym = | neighboring_municipalities= [[Château-d'Œx]] (VD), [[Lauenen]], [[Ormont-Dessus]] (VD), [[Saanen]], [[Savièse]] (VS) | twintowns = |}}
'''Gsteig bei Gstaad''' is a [[Municipalities of Switzerland|municipality]] in the [[Obersimmental-Saanen (administrative district)|Obersimmental-Saanen administrative district]] in the [[Cantons of Switzerland|canton]] of [[Bern (canton)|Bern]] in [[Switzerland]]. Gsteig was formerly known by the [[French language|French]] name of ''Châtelet''.
==History== [[File:Caspar Wolf - Holzsteg über die Lütschine bei Gsteig.jpg|thumb|left|Painting by Caspar Wolf from 1774 showing a wooden bridge over the Lütschine river near Gsteig]] [[File:ETH-BIB-Gsteig, Schluchhorn, Oldenhorn, Wildhorn, Lauenen-LBS H1-008815.tif|thumb|left|Aerial view of Gsteig with Schluchhorn and Oldenhorn (1946)]] Gsteig is first mentioned in 1312 as ''Chastelet''. In 1453, it was mentioned as ''Steig''.<ref name=HDS/>
The villages of Gsteig and Feutersoey grew up along the roads over the [[Col du Pillon]] and the [[Sanetsch Pass]]. During the Middle Ages, a castle was built in the valley to protect and control the passes. The castle is first mentioned in 1458 and today is in ruins. At one time there was a settlement at Ussers Gründ which was destroyed by a landslide. Originally Gsteig was part of the district and [[parish]] of [[Saanen]]. The village church of St. Theodul was consecrated in 1453. It became a [[filial church]] of Saanen in 1500. In the early 16th century, [[Bern]] adopted the new faith of the [[Protestant Reformation]], however Gsteig did not convert until 1556.<ref name=HDS/>
Traditionally the villagers practiced [[Transhumance in the Alps|seasonal alpine herding and farming]] and made a little money off trade over the passes. Beginning around 1900, tourism became a major part of the local economy. Today there are several hotels and a number of vacation homes in the municipality. Tourist sites include the [[Diablerets Glacier]], the castle ruins, the Arnensee and the nature preserve at Oldenhorn.<ref name=HDS/>
==Geography== [[File:Arnensee.jpg|thumb|The Arnensee reservoir near Gsteig]] Gsteig bei Gstaad has an area of {{Swiss area|0841|mi=on}}.{{Swiss area data|0841|QUELLE}}<!--62.44 - 62.41 km2--> As of 2012, a total of {{convert|23.16|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 37.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while {{convert|22.6|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 36.2% is forested. The rest of the municipality is {{convert|0.86|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 1.4% is settled (buildings or roads), {{convert|0.78|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 1.2% is either rivers or lakes and {{convert|15.01|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 24.0% is unproductive land.<ref name=BFS_land>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/02/03/blank/data/gemeindedaten.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office-Land Use Statistics] 2009 data {{in lang|de}} accessed 25 March 2010</ref>
During the same year, housing and buildings made up 0.7% and transportation infrastructure made up 0.6%. A total of 28.8% of the total land area is heavily forested and 5.4% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 8.7% is pasturage and 28.4% is used for alpine pastures. Of the water in the municipality, 0.8% is in lakes and 0.5% is in rivers and streams. Of the unproductive areas, 9.2% is unproductive vegetation and 14.6% is too rocky for vegetation.<ref name=BFS_land/>
The municipality lies in an upper valley of the river [[Saane]] in the [[Bernese Oberland]] and consists of the villages of Gsteig and Feutersoey, plus a number of outlying farms. The route to the [[Col du Pillon]], an alpine pass, runs through both villages. Near the pass is the locality of Reusch, where an aerial tramway to the [[Scex Rouge]] is operated.
The [[reservoir]] [[Arnensee]] is located in the municipality.
On 31 December 2009 Amtsbezirk Saanen, the municipality's former district, was dissolved. On the following day, 1 January 2010, it joined the newly created Verwaltungskreis Obersimmental-Saanen.<ref name=Mutation>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/nomenklaturen/blank/blank/gem_liste/02.html Nomenklaturen – Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz] {{in lang|de}} accessed 4 April 2011</ref>
==Coat of arms== The [[blazon]] of the municipal [[coat of arms]] is ''Gules a Crane rising Argent beaked and membered Or on a Mount of 3 Coupeaux of the second all dimidiated impaled with Azure a Tower embatteled Or.''<ref>[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ch-be295.html Flags of the World.com] accessed 11 March 2014</ref>
==Demographics== Gsteig bei Gstaad has a population ({{as of|{{Swiss populations YM|CH-BE}}|lc=on}}) of {{Swiss populations|CH-BE|0841}}.{{Swiss populations ref|CH-BE}} {{as of|2011}}, 13.0% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last year (2010-2011) the population has changed at a rate of -1.3%. Migration accounted for -1.7%, while births and deaths accounted for 0.3%.<ref name=SFSO>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/02/key.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105172441/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/02/key.html |date=2016-01-05 }} accessed 11 March 2014</ref>
Most of the population ({{as of|2000|lc=on}}) speaks [[German language|German]] (849 or 93.2%) as their first language, [[French language|French]] is the second most common (20 or 2.2%) and [[English language|English]] is the third (10 or 1.1%). There are 2 people who speak [[Italian language|Italian]] and 4 people who speak [[Romansh language|Romansh]].<ref name=STAT2000/>
Of the population in the municipality, 457 or about 50.2% were born in Gsteig bei Gstaad and lived there in 2000. There were 275 or 30.2% who were born in the same canton, while 85 or 9.3% were born somewhere else in Switzerland, and 74 or 8.1% were born outside of Switzerland.<ref name=STAT2000/>
{{as of|2011}}, children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 19.1% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 63.9% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 17%.<ref name=SFSO/>
{{as of|2000}}, there were 381 people who were single and never married in the municipality. There were 440 married individuals, 64 widows or widowers and 26 individuals who are divorced.<ref name=STAT2000>[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.3%20-%202000/40.3%20-%202000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=3&openChild=true STAT-TAB Datenwürfel für Thema 40.3 - 2000] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409212530/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.3%20-%202000/40.3%20-%202000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=3&openChild=true |date=2014-04-09 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 2 February 2011</ref>
{{as of|2010}}, there were 171 households that consist of only one person and 23 households with five or more people.<ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/04/blank/key/haushaltsgroesse.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office - Haushaltsgrösse] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006073036/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/01/04/blank/key/haushaltsgroesse.html |date=2014-10-06 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 8 May 2013</ref> {{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}}, a total of 382 apartments (67.3% of the total) were permanently occupied, while 155 apartments (27.3%) were seasonally occupied and 31 apartments (5.5%) were empty.<ref name=Housing>[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_09%20-%20Bau-%20und%20Wohnungswesen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen.asp?lang=1&prod=09&secprod=2&openChild=true Swiss Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB - Datenwürfel für Thema 09.2 - Gebäude und Wohnungen] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907111534/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_09%20-%20Bau-%20und%20Wohnungswesen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen.asp?lang=1&prod=09&secprod=2&openChild=true |date=2014-09-07 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 28 January 2011</ref> {{as of|2010}}, the construction rate of new housing units was 4.1 new units per 1000 residents.<ref name=SFSO/> The vacancy rate for the municipality, {{as of|2010|alt=in 2010}}, was 0.28%. In 2011, single family homes made up 33.4% of the total housing in the municipality.<ref>[http://www.atlas.bfs.admin.ch Statistischer Atlas der Schweiz - Anteil Einfamilienhäuser am gesamten Gebäudebestand, 2011] accessed 17 June 2013</ref>
The historical population is given in the following chart:<ref name=HDS>{{HDS|477|Gsteig bei Gstaad}}</ref><ref>[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.4%20-%201850-2000/40.4%20-%201850-2000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=4&openChild=true Swiss Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB Bevölkerungsentwicklung nach Region, 1850-2000] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140930162751/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.4%20-%201850-2000/40.4%20-%201850-2000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=4&openChild=true |date=2014-09-30 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 29 January 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/news/04/01.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office - Ständige Wohnbevölkerung in Privathaushalten nach Gemeinde und Haushaltsgrösse] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718073109/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/news/04/01.html |date=2014-07-18 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 12 August 2013</ref> <timeline> Colors= id:lightgrey value:gray(0.9) id:darkgrey value:gray(0.8) ImageSize = width: auto height:200 barincrement:45 PlotArea = top:20 left:40 bottom:20 right:35 AlignBars = justify DateFormat = x.y Period = from:0 till:980 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical AlignBars = justify ScaleMajor = gridcolor:darkgrey increment:200 start:0 ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightgrey increment:40 start:0 PlotData= color:yellowgreen width: 35 mark:(line,white) align:center bar:1764 from:start till:627 text:"627" bar:1850 from:start till:706 text:"706" bar:1860 from:start till:697 text:"697" bar:1870 from:start till:805 text:"805" bar:1880 from:start till:713 text:"713" bar:1888 from:start till:768 text:"768" bar:1900 from:start till:802 text:"802" bar:1910 from:start till:820 text:"820" bar:1920 from:start till:854 text:"854" bar:1930 from:start till:760 text:"760" bar:1941 from:start till:714 text:"714" bar:1950 from:start till:739 text:"739" bar:1960 from:start till:937 text:"937" bar:1970 from:start till:865 text:"865" bar:1980 from:start till:824 text:"824" bar:1990 from:start till:867 text:"867" bar:2000 from:start till:911 text:"911" bar:2010 from:start till:979 text:"979" </timeline>
==Heritage sites of national significance== The farm house at Saali 594 and the farm house in Feutersoey at Zelg 408 are listed as Swiss [[Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance|heritage site of national significance]]. The entire village of Gsteig is part of the [[Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.html |title=Kantonsliste A-Objekte |year=2009 |work=KGS Inventar |publisher=Federal Office of Civil Protection |language=German |accessdate=25 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628110559/http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar/a-objekte.html |archivedate=28 June 2010 }}</ref>
==Politics== In the [[2011 Swiss federal election|2011 federal election]] the most popular party was the [[Swiss People's Party|Swiss People's Party (SVP)]] which received 61.9% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the [[Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland|Conservative Democratic Party (BDP)]] (14.5%), the [[Green Liberal Party of Switzerland|Green Liberal Party (GLP)]] (7.1%) and the [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|Social Democratic Party (SP)]] (4.9%). In the federal election, a total of 363 votes were cast, and the [[voter turnout]] was 49.5%.<ref name=election_2011>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/02/blank/data/05/03.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office 2011 Election] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114214422/http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/02/blank/data/05/03.html |date=2013-11-14 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 8 May 2012</ref>
==Economy== {{as of|2011|In 2011}}, Gsteig bei Gstaad had an unemployment rate of 1.05%. {{as of|2008}}, there were a total of 350 people employed in the municipality. Of these, there were 133 people employed in the [[Primary sector of the economy|primary economic sector]] and about 53 businesses involved in this sector. 73 people were employed in the [[Secondary sector of the economy|secondary sector]] and there were 15 businesses in this sector. 144 people were employed in the [[Tertiary sector of the economy|tertiary sector]], with 28 businesses in this sector.<ref name=SFSO/> There were 494 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which females made up 40.5% of the workforce.
{{as of|2008|alt=In 2008}} there were a total of 269 [[full-time equivalent]] jobs. The number of jobs in the primary sector was 79, all of which were in agriculture. The number of jobs in the secondary sector was 67 of which 21 or (31.3%) were in manufacturing and 43 (64.2%) were in construction. The number of jobs in the tertiary sector was 123. In the tertiary sector; 49 or 39.8% were in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 6 or 4.9% were in the movement and storage of goods, 38 or 30.9% were in a hotel or restaurant, 3 or 2.4% were technical professionals or scientists, 9 or 7.3% were in education.<ref>[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_06%20-%20Industrie%20und%20Dienstleistungen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen.asp?lang=1&prod=06&secprod=2&openChild=true Swiss Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB Betriebszählung: Arbeitsstätten nach Gemeinde und NOGA 2008 (Abschnitte), Sektoren 1-3] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225013454/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_06%20-%20Industrie%20und%20Dienstleistungen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen.asp?lang=1&prod=06&secprod=2&openChild=true |date=2014-12-25 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 28 January 2011</ref>
{{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}}, there were 55 workers who commuted into the municipality and 264 workers who commuted away. The municipality is a net exporter of workers, with about 4.8 workers leaving the municipality for every one entering. A total of 230 workers (80.7% of the 285 total workers in the municipality) both lived and worked in Gsteig bei Gstaad.<ref name=commuter>[https://archive.today/20120804043150/http://www.media-stat.admin.ch/stat/pendler/pop.php Swiss Federal Statistical Office - Statweb] {{in lang|de}} accessed 24 June 2010</ref> Of the working population, 8.7% used public transportation to get to work, and 62.3% used a private car.<ref name=SFSO/>
In 2011 the average local and cantonal tax rate on a married resident, with two children, of Gsteig bei Gstaad making 150,000 [[Swiss franc|CHF]] was 12.3%, while an unmarried resident's rate was 18.1%.<ref>[http://www.atlas.bfs.admin.ch Statistischer Atlas der Schweiz - Steuerbelastung, 2011 Politische Gemeinden] {{in lang|de}} accessed 15 May 2013</ref> For comparison, the average rate for the entire canton in the same year, was 14.2% and 22.0%, while the nationwide average was 12.3% and 21.1% respectively.<ref>[http://www.estv2.admin.ch/d/dokumentation/zahlen_fakten/karten/sb-2011_rangliste/index-d.htm Swiss Federal Tax Administration - Grafische Darstellung der Steuerbelastung 2011 in den Kantonen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016062122/http://www.estv2.admin.ch/d/dokumentation/zahlen_fakten/karten/sb-2011_rangliste/index-d.htm |date=2013-10-16 }} {{in lang|de|fr}} accessed 17 June 2013</ref>
In 2009 there were a total of 410 tax payers in the municipality. Of that total, 99 made over 75,000 CHF per year. There were 5 people who made between 15,000 and 20,000 per year. The greatest number of workers, 118, made between 50,000 and 75,000 CHF per year. The average income of the over 75,000 CHF group in Gsteig bei Gstaad was 112,324 CHF, while the average across all of Switzerland was 130,478 CHF.<ref>[http://www.estv.admin.ch/dokumentation/00075/00076/00701/01362/index.html?lang=de Federal Tax Administration Report Direkte Bundessteuer - Natürliche Personen - Gemeinden - Steuerjahr 2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006202236/http://www.estv.admin.ch/dokumentation/00075/00076/00701/01362/index.html?lang=de |date=2014-10-06 }} {{in lang|de|fr}} accessed 15 May 2013</ref>
In 2011 a total of 2.1% of the population received direct financial assistance from the government.<ref>[http://www.atlas.bfs.admin.ch Statistischer Atlas der Schweiz - Bezüger/-innen von Sozialhilfeleistungen (Sozialhilfeempfänger/-innen), 2011] accessed 18 June 2013</ref>
==Religion== From the {{as of|2000|alt=2000 census}}, 737 or 80.9% belonged to the [[Swiss Reformed Church]], while 81 or 8.9% were [[Roman Catholic]]. Of the rest of the population, there was 1 [[Orthodoxy#Christianity|member of an Orthodox church]], and there were 21 individuals (or about 2.31% of the population) who belonged to another Christian church. There were 14 (or about 1.54% of the population) who were [[Muslim]]. There was 1 person who was [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] and 1 individual who belonged to another church. 41 (or about 4.50% of the population) belonged to no church, are [[Agnosticism|agnostic]] or [[Atheism|atheist]], and 14 individuals (or about 1.54% of the population) did not answer the question.<ref name=STAT2000/>
==Education== In Gsteig bei Gstaad about 54.2% of the population have completed non-mandatory [[Education in Switzerland#Secondary|upper secondary education]], and 8.2% have completed additional higher education (either [[List of universities in Switzerland|university]] or a ''[[Fachhochschule]]'').<ref name=SFSO/> Of the 46 who had completed some form of tertiary schooling listed in the census, 65.2% were Swiss men, 10.9% were Swiss women, 19.6% were non-Swiss men.<ref name=STAT2000/>
The Canton of Bern school system provides one year of non-obligatory [[Kindergarten]], followed by six years of Primary school. This is followed by three years of obligatory lower Secondary school where the students are separated according to ability and aptitude. Following the lower Secondary students may attend additional schooling or they may enter an [[apprenticeship]].<ref>{{Cite report |title=Kantonale Schulstrukturen in der Schweiz und im Fürstentum Liechtenstein / Structures Scolaires Cantonales en Suisse et Dans la Principauté du Liechtenstein |url= http://edudoc.ch/record/35128/files/Schulsystem_alle.pdf |author= EDK/CDIP/IDES |year= 2010 |accessdate= 24 June 2010 }}</ref>
During the 2011–12 school year, there were a total of 71 students attending classes in Gsteig bei Gstaad. There was one kindergarten class with a total of 7 students in the municipality. Of the kindergarten students, 14.3% were permanent or temporary residents of Switzerland (not citizens). The municipality had 2 primary classes and 54 students. Of the primary students, 11.1% were permanent or temporary residents of Switzerland (not citizens) and 9.3% have a different mother language than the classroom language. During the same year, there was one lower secondary class with a total of 10 students. There were 20.0% who were permanent or temporary residents of Switzerland (not citizens) and 20.0% have a different mother language than the classroom language.<ref name=School>[http://www.erz.be.ch/erz/de/index/direktion/organisation/generalsekretariat/statistik/schul-_und_gemeindetabellen.html Schuljahr 2011/12 pdf document] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602073606/http://www.erz.be.ch/erz/de/index/direktion/organisation/generalsekretariat/statistik/schul-_und_gemeindetabellen.html |date=2012-06-02 }}{{in lang|de}} accessed 9 May 2013</ref>
{{as of|2000|In 2000}}, there were a total of 96 students attending any school in the municipality. Of those, 95 both lived and attended school in the municipality, while one student came from another municipality. During the same year, 27 residents attended schools outside the municipality.<ref name=commuter/>
==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20190616150411/http://www.gsteig.ch/ Official website] {{in lang|de}} * {{HDS|477}}
{{Municipalities of the administrative district of Obersimmental-Saanen}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Municipalities of the canton of Bern]] [[Category:Cultural property of national significance in the canton of Bern]]