Münchenstein

Münchenstein (Swiss German: Minggestai) is a municipality in the district of Arlesheim in the canton of Basel-Landschaft in Switzerland.

==Historical records== thumb|left|Ruins of Münchenstein Castle. Münchenstein is first mentioned in 1196 as Kekingen. In 1270, it was mentioned as Geckingen and in 1279 as Munchenstein. 1259: The hamlet and the mill, between "Neue Welt" and St. Jakob, are mentioned in a deed as being owned by the Basel Dompropstei (Provost's Church). 1270: The village is named in the Bishop of Basel diocese certificate as Geckingen. 1295: The mention of the name in the current form "Munchenstein", which means the "rock of the castle of the Münchs". The first part of the name refers to the builders of the castle, and the second part means stone and refers to the foundations of the castle. 1324: The Münchs were not able keep the village and castle for long as their own Property, they had to hand over ownership to the Graf von Pfirt, who then lent it to the Münchs in fief. Following the death of the last Graf on Pfirt, Ulrich III., in March 1324 the castle and the village of Münchenstein went as inheritance to the Herzog of Austria, as heiress Johanna von Pfirt (Jeanne de Ferrette) (1300–1351) married with Herzog Albrecht II. von Habsburg (1298–1358). 1334: in the certificate of the Basel diocese the name is explained as " Geckingen que nunc Munchenstein appellatur" (Gekingen that is now referred to as Munchenstein). 1356: The Basel earthquake was on 18 October 1356. Many villages and castles in the area were badly damaged. The Münchenstein castle was also damaged but soon restored to its original condition. 1421: the mutated vowel "ö" is used and the village name is written as Mönchenstein. 1470: Due to financial problems the Münchs had to pawn the village and castle to the regency of the city of Basel. The bondage contract was signed on 18 July. The governance/sovereignty of Münchenstein passed into the authority of the city for the first time. 1797/98: Revolution and demolition of the castle. 1875: The inauguration of the railway line Jurabahn Basel-Delémont on 23 September [1875]. thumb|Munchenstein rail disaster in 1891 1881: the name Münchenstein is officially introduced in a scripted statute law. 1891: The Münchenstein rail disaster (on Sunday 14 June 1891) was among the worst ever to affect Switzerland. A crowded passenger train fell through a girder bridge constructed by Gustave Eiffel, killing 73 and injuring 171 people. 1957: Das Neue Haas Grotesk, otherwise known to the world for its subsequent font name, Helvetica, is born in Munchenstein. 1980: Münchenstein is the host municipality for the 2nd Swiss exhibition for garden and Landscaping "Grün 80". 1997: The Kuspo (a multi functional complex, sport and culture) is completed and opened. 2011: Europe's second longest tramline 10 operated by Baselland Transport (BLT) on the way to Dornach derails and crashes into a house at Tramstrasse after the Münchenstein Dorf stop on Wednesday 2 November at 23.35 injuring six and causing damages of over 100,000 Swiss Francs.