Aristau

The first traces of human settlement around Aristau are scattered La Tène culture artifacts. The modern municipality of Aristau is made up of three separate sections or villages. The three sections that make up the municipality were first mentioned in 1153 as Arnestowo, Althusern and Birchi. It was originally the seat of a vassal of the Lanzburg family. During the Late Middle Ages it was the possession of the lords of Baar and Muri Abbey. After 1285, the Abbey also owned the rights to hold courts and to collect tithes. In 1351 Catherine of Baar sold the rights and property in Aristau to Hartmann Heidegg. After the destruction of his tower in 1386 by troops from Lucerne and Zurich, the orchard at the foot of the tower was sold to the monastery of Hermetschwil. The remaining property was sold to Muri Abbey. The ruins of Werd Castle was possibly the home of the Lords of Aristau. In 1750 Aristau introduced a local tax. This tax led, in 1816, to the current community. However, the town councils of the three villages didn't unite until 1912.
Until 1942, Aristau was part of the parish of Muri. With the completion of the Wendelin Church in 1943, Aristau became the center of the newly independent Reusstalpfarrei . This was a long time in coming, the parish had been planned since 1845. The Chapel of St. John the Baptist and the Evangelist in the village center, was first mentioned in 1360/70 as a filial church of the parish church in Muri. The chapel was totally rebuilt in 1521, enlarged in 1734 and renovated in 1972.

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