TheEmmental (German pronunciation:[ˈɛməntaːl]ⓘ, English:Emme Valley)[1][2][3] is a valley in west-centralSwitzerland, forming part of thecanton of Bern. It is a hilly landscape comprising the basins of the riversEmme andIlfis. The region is mostly devoted to farming, particularly dairy farming. The principal settlements are the town ofBurgdorf and the village ofLangnau.
ComprisingBurgdorf,Trachselwald, andSignaudistricts in the canton of Bern, the Emmental became part of theEmmental-Oberaargau administrative region on 1 January 2010. The district ofFraubrunnen is divided between Emmental andBern-Mittelland.
The region comprises relatively low mountains on the right bank of theAare. It includes the basins of the Emme and the Ilfis between Burgdorf and the boundary with the canton ofSolothurn. Its principal elevation is theNapf, a mountain massif dominating the northwestern part of theEmmental Alps.
The landscape is dominated by meadows and pastureland, with forest interspersed.
The originalEmmental cheese is produced there, and the dairy industry still dominates the local economy. Pottery from the region is also prized, and the ceramics of the region have endured practically unchanged since the 17th century.
Tourism has had less impact on the region than on other parts of Switzerland.
The novelistJeremias Gotthelf (1797–1854) was a pastor in the Emmental and wrote about the region.
The Emmental also played a dominant role in the history of theMennonites.
The typical Emmental farmhouse has a steep roof with a largeoverhang that almost reaches the ground.
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46°59′06″N7°45′48″E / 46.98494°N 7.76321°E /46.98494; 7.76321
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