History
The earliest evidence of human settlement are scattered Roman era items. The modern municipality of Beinwil is first mentioned in 1153 as Beinwilare. Until 1950 it was known as Beinwil bei Muri. Originally, much of the property in the village was owned by Muri Abbey. In 1239 Hartmann Visilere granted all his possessions and rights in Beinwil to the Cistercian Kappel Abbey in Kappel am Albis. This property went to the city of Zurich in 1415. In 1527, Zurich also acquired the rights to the low courts in the municipality. In 1586 these rights went to the family of Holder Meyer in Lucerne, who sold them in 1614 to Muri Abbey. The Vogtei of Wiggwil was held by a Habsburg vassal, the Ministerialis (unfree knights) family of Gessler, until 1412.
The history of the parish is inextricably linked to the pilgrimage to the grave of St. Burkard of Beinwil, who died 18 May 1192(?) Burkard was the first pastor in Beinwil. His cult is documented by the 13th Century and he was canonized in 1817. The Church of Saint Peter and Paul is first mentioned in 1239. It was totally rebuilt in 1619-21. Since 1808 it has also been the Church of St. Burkhard. The Chapel of St. Lawrence, in the hamlet of Wallenschwil, was part of the Muri parish until 1856.
Economically, village life has always been dominated by agriculture. In 1990, 46% of the workers in the village were involved in agriculture.
Read more about this topic: Beinwil (Freiamt)
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—Evelyn Waugh (1903–1966)
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—Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874–1936)