Flags and arms of municipalities of Switzerland

Like the cantons of Switzerland, the municipalities has an official flag and a coat of arms. The history of development of these designs spans the 13th to the 20th centuries.

Aargau edit

Name	Blazon and Symbolism	Date
Aarau	Under a red shield head in white, red armored and tongued black eagle. The municipal flag and the coat of arms from 1270 showed an eagle and a three-leaved linden tree with flowers. An illustration of the coat of arms in the Tschachtlan chronicle from 1470 does not contain the linden tree, but a red shield head can be seen above the eagle for the first time. The eagle owes its use as the heraldic animal of the city of Aarau to a folk etymological reinterpretation of the name as “Au des Aars”.	1270
Aarburg
Baden	Below the red shield head in white black pole. The first documented use of the city seal is on a certificate of 25 February 1311. It showed, washed by spring water and surrounded by vines, a swimming pool in which a man and a woman sit and eat grapes. It was in use until 1497; in addition, there were six similar seals, which were used until about 1800. The hospital had its own seals (a hand in front of the Greek cross that extends two fingers). The first documentary mention of the Baden city banner dates back to 1361. The municipal regiment took it to the Battle of Sempach in 1386; the oldest pictorial representation can be found in the Tschachtlanchronik in 1470. Its meaning is unknown but it is believed to come from the Counts of Lenzburg or Austria. In 1441, the first representation of the banner in a coat of arms, cast in iron, was placed above the gate of the city tower, with the exaggerated imperial eagle, which was to clarify the theoretical status as a Free Imperial City. The meaning of the coat of arms and the flag has not been handed down. It may be due to the Counts of Lenzburg-Baden, or it is a derivative of the red-white-red Austrian coat of arms. The coat of arms and the flag are still considered the district coat of arms and flag.	1311
Lenzburg		1333
Zofingen	Per bend argent and azure. The colours of the stripes come from the flag of Austria.	1387

Former municipalities edit

Name	COA	Flag	Colours	Blazon and Symbolism	Date
Elfingen				Red, on a green three-mountain tattooed^{[clarification needed]}, a white double cross. Elfingen's symbol comes from the coat of arms of Hungary in honor of the relationship between the Königsfelden Monastery and Agnes of Austria. Adopted on 5 May 1953.	1245–2022

Appenzell Ausserrhoden edit

Name	COA	Flag	Colours	Blazon and Symbolism	Date
Grub				A yellow bear striding on a gold grassland inside a black circle on a white background. The coat of arms and the flag, which has been held in Grub since the early 19th century, shows the green forest in blue. A black bear emerges from a cave in front of it. In order to bring the coat of arms and the flag closer into connection with coat of arms and flag laws as well as with its deeper meaning, the black circular symbol for pit was used. Since this is black, the bear had to be made yellow. This makes it different from those in other municipal coats of arms and flags in the canton.	19th century

Appenzell Innerrhoden edit

Appenzell District

Basel-Landschaft edit

Basel-Stadt edit

Name	COA	Flag	Colours	Blazon and Symbolism	Date
Basel				Argent, a crosier paleways sable	13th c.

Bern edit

Name	Blazon and Symbolism	Date
Aarwangen	Per pale sable and argent a bar of the first.	1341
Amsoldingen	Azure a buckle or.
Bern	Main article: Flag of Bern Gules, on a bend or a bear passant sable armed, langued, and pizzled of the field.	13th c.
Biel/Bienne	Gules two axes argent in saltire. The coat of arms and flag first appear on the city seal in the middle of the 13th century and show a man in a tunic with an ax in his right hand and a coat of arms with crossed axes in his left. The historian Heinrich Türler (1861–1933) assumed that this figure was the Meier von Biel and thus the former landlord: Biel was originally a manor (Fronhof) within a rule - probably the Count of Fenis-Neuenburg - which was administered by a Meier. As Lord of Biel he was raised to the knighthood. The coat of arms and flag with the crossed hatchets still represent the official coat of arms and flag today.	13th c.
Teuffenthal	Or, a pall gules. It is the coat of arms and the flag of a Thun mayor, Konrad von Teuffenthal, in 1322. It was adopted by the community in 1945.^[1]	1945

Fribourg edit

Name	Blazon and Symbolism	Date
Echarlens	Pally of six argent and gules overall in chief a mullet of five or
Fribourg	Azure a castle embattled and towered on dexter issuant from a semi annulet all argent	1225
Montagny	Paly of six or and gules and a chief argent
Tafers	Gules, a guard stantant afrontee clad azure and sable ensigned with a cross on sinister, holding in dexter a halberd argent.

Former municipalities edit

Name	COA	Flag	Colours	Blazon and Symbolism	Date
Alterswil				Gules, a fleur de lis argent
Autafond				Per pale argent and gules three roses counterchanged barbed and seeded proper
Autavaux				Gules, a chevron or between two mullets of five and a crescent of the same and on a chief argent a rose of the first barbed and seeded proper
Bollion				Gules three mullets argent pierced in bend
Bussy				Gules, a lion rampant or, overall a bendlet compony or and azure
Corserey				Quartered gules and azure
Font				Gules, a mullet argent pierced
St. Antoni				Per fess or a tau cross issuant with two bells sabls and azure three annulets argent

Genève edit

Glarus edit

Name	Blazon and Symbolism^[2]	Date
Glarus	A bend wavy argent between: In chief, per pale sable and Or, over all a six-pointed star countercharged; and In base, gules with three six-pointed stars Or, arranged bendwise. The bend represents the Linth river. The three yellow stars represents Ennenda, Netstal and Riedern, while the black and white star represents Glarus. Both the coat of arms and the flag combine the symbols of all the former municipalities.	2011
Glarus Nord	On a yellow background is a blue wave that flanked by four six-pointed stars. The four stars to the left of the wave represents Bilten, Niederurnen, Oberurnen and Näfels while the four stars on the right represents of Mühlehorn, Obstalden, Filzbach and Mollis. The blue wave represents the Linth river. Yellow and blue is the traditional colours of the municipality.	2011
Glarus Süd	On a blue background is a golden sun with 17 rays above a silver wavy chevron. The sunrays represents Mitlödi, Sool, Schwändi, Schwanden, Nidfurn, Haslen, Leuggelbach, Luchsingen, Hätzingen, Diesbach, Betschwanden, Rüti, Braunwald, Linthal, Engi, Matt and Elm. The white V-shaped wave symbolizes the confluence of the Linth and the Sernftal rivers. Blue stands for water which is a vital resource for the municipality.	2011

Graubünden edit

Name	Blazon and Symbolism^[3]	Date
Albula/Alvra	In red, seven five-pointed golden stars (2, 2, 2, 1) arranged in a circle over two silver-blue waves. The seven former communities of Alvaneu, Alvaschein, Brienz/Brinzauls, Mon, Stierva, Surava and Tiefencastel have been united under the name Albula/Alvra since 2015. The seven stars refer to the number of congregations united. The wavy shield base is intended to symbolize the Albula River. Adopted on 1 January 2015.	2015
Andeer	Argent a bear rampant Sable langued and viriled Gules and a base embattled of the second. As a canting representation, the coat of arms refers to the Bärenburg castle and its historical significance for Andeer, with the bear alluding to the name and the crenellation to the castle (Bärenburg). Under the barons of Vaz and the Count v. Werdenberg-Sargans castle was the seat of the court and administration over the valley, at the time of the violent bailiff Hans v. Rechberg, it was stormed and destroyed.
Arosa	Azure a Sun in splendour Or and a base dancetty Argent. The coat of arms, approved by the local council resolution of December 12, 1934 and by community vote on February 22, 1935, was designed by Paul Ganz, art historian at the University of Basel, and Friedrich Pieth, history teacher at the Chur Cantonal School. The two mountains symbolizes the altitude of the mountain community as well as mining between the 14th and 15th centuries. The colors blue and gold indicate the former membership of the Zehngerichtebund. The golden sun on a blue background also represents the community as a holiday resort. Adopted on 22 February 1935.	1935
Avers	Per bend Argent an Ibex passant Sable langued and viriled Gules and Sable.
Bergün Filisur	Argent a Griffin rampant Sable beaked and membered Gules. When the former municipalities of Bergün/Bravuogn and Filisur merged in 2018 under the name Bergün Filisur, the former Bergün district coat of arms was used. The Bergün district emerged from the old Greifenstein court, which the Greif indicates in the sense of a “talking” coat of arms. The colors are those of the church association to which the court belonged. The districts of the canton of Graubünden were dissolved on December 31, 2015.	2018
Bever	Or St. James passant clad Azure holding in dexter a Crozier Gules and in sinister a Bible of the first. St. James the Elder was the patron of local church. It already appears on the community stamp and was also painted on the facade of the community center in 1927. Colors of the Upper Engadine district in reverse color sequence.
Bonaduz	Argent a Pall Azure and a Mullet Gules in chief. The drawbar symbolizes the importance of the landscape, which is characterized by the two arms of the Rhine and the union of the Rhine. At the same time, it points to the fork in the paths to the Splügen and Bernhardin, the Lukmanier and Oberalp passes and thus characterizes the location of the village at this key traffic point. The star represents the patronage of St. Anna or Maria. The coat of arms was proposed by the municipality of Bonaduz.
Bregaglia	Silver, with black salient ibex, red tongue, surmounting the black field crenellated in the Guelph style of 4 pieces. Bregaglia was created on 1 January 2010 and includes the previously independent municipalities of Bondo, Castasegna, Soglio, Stampa and Vicosoprano. The municipality of Bregaglia and the former Bergell district therefore cover the same area. The community adopted the district's coat of arms. The black, crenellated shield base symbolizes the former division of the valley into upper and lower portals and alludes to one of the valley's most striking landmarks, the “Müraia”. The heraldic animal and colors are those of the church association, to which Bergell belonged.	2010
Breil/Brigels	In blue over three silver peaks, the middle one covering the two outer ones and covered with a black-lined red crenellated tower, all elevated by a sixteen-rayed yellow sun. In 2018, the three communities Andiast, Breil/Brigels and Waltensburg/Vuorz merged under the previous name Breil/Brigels. In the new coat of arms, each of the three communities is represented with a motif. The three white peaks stand for Brigels and symbolize the Brigelser Horns that are distinctive for the village: Cavistrau Pign (3220 m), Cavistrau Grand (3252 m) and Piz Trumpiv (3101 m). Waltensburg is represented by a red tower, which refers to the largest and oldest castle complex in the Surselva, Jörgenberg Castle (Munt Sogn Gieri). The name refers to Saint George's patronage of the church, around which the castle complex later developed. Andiast is represented by a sun. According to reports, the Andiasters found it difficult to define their own motif for their village. Of the three communities on the sun terrace above the Vorderrheintal, Andiast is the highest, and so its residents are a little more sun-drenched than the others.	2018
Brusio	Gules a Cross Argent. After a seal from the second decade of the 17th century with the inscription: SVB HOC SIGNO VINCES, but adopted without inscription. The colors are those of the old common judicial community of Puschlav.
Buseno
Calanca
Cama
Castaneda
Cazis
Celerina/Schlarigna
Chur
Churwalden
Conters im Prättigau
Davos
Disentis
Domat/Ems
Domleschg
Falera
Felsberg
Ferrera
Fideris
Fläsch
Flerden
Flims
Furna
Fürstenau
Grono
Grüsch
Ilanz/Glion
Jenaz
Jenins
Klosters
Küblis
La Punt Chamues-ch
Laax
Landquart
Lantsch/Lenz
Lostallo
Lumnezia
Luzein
Madulain
Maienfeld
Malans
Masein
Medel (Lucmagn)
Mesocco
Muntogna da Schons
Obersaxen Mundaun
Pontresina
Poschiavo
Rhäzüns
Rheinwald
Rongellen
Rossa
Rothenbrunnen
Roveredo
Santa Maria in Calanca
St. Moritz
San Vittore
S-chanf
Safiental
Sagogn
Samedan
Samnaun
Scharans
Schiers
Schluein
Schmitten
Scuol
Seewis im Prättigau
Sils im Domleschg
Sils im Engadin/Segl
Silvaplana
Soazza
Sufers
Sumvitg
Surses
Tamins
Thusis
Trimmis
Trin
Trun
Tschappina
Tschiertschen-Praden
Tujetsch
Untervaz
Urmein
Val Müstair
Vals
Valsot
Vaz/Obervaz
Zernez
Zillis-Reischen
Zizers
Zuoz

Former municipalities edit

Name	COA	Flag	Colours	Blazon and Symbolism^[4]	Date
Almens
Bondo
Castasegna
Feldis/Veulden
Paspels
Pratval
Soglio
Stampa
Vicosoprano

Jura edit

Name	Blazon and Symbolism	Date
Basse-Vendline
Boécourt	Azure, a base vert, over all a yellow sheaf below three five-pointed yellow stars. The coat of arms and flag were taken from Bourquard de Boécourt, the eighth abbot of Bellelay from 1296-1316, with three additional stars in reference to the three villages of Boécourt, Montravon and Séprais.	1945
Damphreux-Lugnez
Grandfontaine	In yellow there is a black cross, the four fields are sown with five black shingles each (2,1,2). The coat of arms, adopted before 1900, goes back to the nobles of Grandfontaine, a branch of the Rocourt-Abbévillers, extinct in the 14th century.	Before 1900
Haute-Ajoie
Haute-Sorne
Saignelégier	Gold with a silver mirror bordered with sable, placed on six mountains of gules placed three by three. These are the old coat of arms and flag of the nobles of Spiegelberg, the remains of the castle of which are still visible at Rocher des Sommêtres, 2.5 km from Saignelégier.^[5]

Former municipalities edit

Lucerne edit

Former municipalities edit

Neuchâtel edit

Neuchâtel

Nidwalden edit

Obwalden edit

Schaffhausen edit

Schaffhausen

Schwyz edit

Towns and villages edit

Solothurn edit

Name	COA	Flag	Colours	Blazon and Symbolism	Date
Solothurn				Per fess gules and argent	1443

St. Gallen edit

Name	COA	Flag	Colours	Blazon and Symbolism	Date
Waldkirch				Or a Church Argent roofed Gules windowed and with a clock Sable between two Pine Trees Vert on a Base of the same. The coat of arms and the flag are canting arms and canting flags respectively with the trees (German: Wald) and the church (German: Kirch) symbolizing the municipal name.	1443

Former municipalities edit

Towns and villages edit

Bernhardzell

Thurgau edit

Former municipalities edit

Ticino edit

Name	Blazon and Symbolism	Date
Lugano	On a red background is a white cross and the letters L, V, G and A. The meaning of the letters is unknown. Interpretations suggest that they are either an abbreviation of the municipality, an acronym of "La Vera Giustizia Antica" or a symbol of a Roman legion. The cross on a red background alludes to both the symbols of Como in Italy and Switzerland.^[6]^[7]^[8]	1220
Mezzovico-Vira	Per pale, Dexter, a green hemp plant with a yellow bloom on a white background. Sinister, azure, a white shield (containing a red cross) attached to a gold crozier. The hemp plant represents the Canepas family (who are artists) and the crozier represents Bishop Enrico Silvio (1556–1612).^[9]
Mendrisio	On a red background is a white cross. The cross on a red background alludes to both the symbols of Como in Italy and Switzerland.^[10]

Uri edit

Name	Blazon and Symbolism	Date
Altdorf	Split by yellow with a half, red-armored and -tongued black eagle at the split and by red with two white diagonal bars to the left. The coat of arms and the flag can be traced back to 1684. The left half of the shield with the three red tinctures is intended to commemorate the three village fires of 1400, 1693 and 1799, while the black eagle in yellow indicates the former imperial affiliation.^[11]
Andermatt	In yellow a rising, red-armored and -tongued black bear, accompanied by a black paw cross in the upper left corner. The coat of arms and the flag was used by the community in the seal around the middle of the 19th century at the latest, but was not precisely defined until 1968. The bear as a municipal animal originated from the valley name Talnamen Ursern (Bear Valley in Latin).^[12]^[13]	1968
Attinghausen	Divided; Above in yellow a growing, red-tongued black eagle, below divided three times by black and yellow. The coat of arms and the flag corresponds to that of the baronial family of Schweinsberg-Attinghausen (which lived in the 13th and 14th centuries) occupied a powerful position in Uri and lived in the castle of Attinghausen. The precise formal determination was made by the local council in 1990.^[14]	1163
Bürglen	In blue, on green ground, a white wall with four red-roofed towers and a red gate The coat of arms and the flag depicts the four residential and defensive towers from the 12th century, of which the defiant Meierturm is still preserved in its original form. The second tower houses the much-visited Tell Museum since its restoration in 1966. The still visible remains of the third and fourth towers form the foundations of the Tell restaurant and the rectory.^[15]	1901

Former municipalities edit

Name	COA	Flag	Colours	Blazon and Symbolism	Date
Bauen				In black there are yellow deer antlers, with a tongue of red flame emerging from the grind and the ends. The coat of arms and the flag was used for the Schützenhaus as early as 1843. The image refers to the church patroness St. Ida of Toggenburg, whose attribute is the deer with twelve light-bearing antler ends.	1900

Valais edit

Former municipalities edit

Vaud edit

Former municipalities edit

Zug edit

Name	COA	Flag	Colours	Blazon and Symbolism	Date
Zug				Argent, a fess azure	1319

Zürich edit

Name	COA	Flag	Colours	Blazon and Symbolism	Date
Zürich				Per bend argent and azure	13th c.

References edit

^ "Kurzbeschreibung". Teuffenthal.
^ "Kantons- und Gemeindewappen". Kanton Glarus.
^ "Gemeindewappen". Kanton Graubünden.
^ Jenny, Rudolf (1982). Wappenbuch des Kantons Graubünden (PDF). Chur: Standeskanzlei Graubünden.
^ "Situation politique". Saignelégier.
^ "Corporate Identity". Lugano.
^ "Storia". Lugano.
^ "STEMMI E SIGILLI ANTICHI E NUOVI DEL CANTONE TICINO". E-Periodica.
^ "Stemma". Mezzovico-Vira.
^ "Mendrisio". Mendrisio.
^ "Gemeinde Altdorf". Urikon.
^ "Gemeinde Andermatt". Urikon.
^ "Wappen". Andermatt.
^ "Gemeinde Attinghausen". Urikon.
^ "Wappen". Bürglen UR.

Galliker, Joseph; Giger, Marcel (2004). Gemeindewappen Kanton Aargau. Lehrmittelverlag des Kantons Aargau. ISBN 3-906738-07-8.
Angst, Walter (1992). A Panoply of Colours: The Cantonal Banners of Switzerland and the Swiss National Flag.
Signer, Jakob (1916). Die Wappen der Gemeinden des Kantons Appenzell A./Rh., mit einer Wappentafel von R. Münger. Separatdruck aus dem Schweiz. Archiv für 1916 N^o 2 und 3.
Stadler-Planzer, Hans (1990). Die Urschweiz und ihre Wappen: die Gemeinden von Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden und Nidwalden. Ketty & Alexandre.

External links edit

Schweizer Gemeindefahnen

[1] "Kurzbeschreibung". Teuffenthal.

[2] "Kantons- und Gemeindewappen". Kanton Glarus.

[3] "Gemeindewappen". Kanton Graubünden.

[4] Jenny, Rudolf (1982). Wappenbuch des Kantons Graubünden (PDF). Chur: Standeskanzlei Graubünden.

[5] "Situation politique". Saignelégier.

[6] "Corporate Identity". Lugano.

[7] "Storia". Lugano.

[8] "STEMMI E SIGILLI ANTICHI E NUOVI DEL CANTONE TICINO". E-Periodica.

[9] "Stemma". Mezzovico-Vira.

[10] "Mendrisio". Mendrisio.

[11] "Gemeinde Altdorf". Urikon.

[12] "Gemeinde Andermatt". Urikon.

[13] "Wappen". Andermatt.

[14] "Gemeinde Attinghausen". Urikon.

[15] "Wappen". Bürglen UR.

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