Boltigen is a municipality in the Obersimmental-Saanen administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.

[3] The oldest trace of a settlement in the area is the mesolithic shelter in the Ranggiloch cave.

During the Middle Ages there were forts or castles at Simmenegg, Eichstalden and Laubegg though all three have fallen into ruin.

Many of the villages and Bäuerten were founded in the Early Middle Ages and grew slowly over the following centuries.

When Bern acquired the lands, Adlemsried, Boltigen, Eschi, Schwarzenmatt and Weissenbach were all listed as villages.

The town of Boltigen experienced the trial of a man named Stedelen, who confessed under torture, the charges of summoning the devil between 1397–1406.

When Bern forced the Oberland to accept the Reformation, Boltigen also converted.

[3] Traditionally, the villagers imported grain from Bern and raised cattle on the valley floor and in seasonal alpine herding camps.

Beginning in the 18th century, they began breeding and milking Simmental cattle, which became major exports from the municipality.

The construction of the Erlenbach-Zweisimmen railway in 1902 made it easier to reach villages and allowed them to grow further.

[6] Boltigen lies in the Bernese Oberland in Obersimmental beneath Zweisimmen.

The neighboring communities to the North are, clockwise, Oberwil im Simmental, Diemtigen, Zweisimmen, Saanen, Jaun and Plaffeien.

[7] The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Argent a Semi Bear Sable langued Gules issuant from a Mount of 3 Coupeaux of the last.

[10] Most of the population (as of 2000[update]) speaks German (1,392 or 96.9%) as their first language, Albanian is the second most common (18 or 1.3%) and French is the third (7 or 0.5%).

[15] The historical population is given in the following chart:[3][16][17] The farm house at Adlemsried 85, the farm house at Weissenbach 543 and the Ranggiloch mesolithic shelter are listed as Swiss heritage site of national significance.

The entire village of Boltigen and the hamlet of Adlemsried are part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.

The number of jobs in the primary sector was 178, of which 174 were in agriculture and 3 were in forestry or lumber production.

In the tertiary sector; 26 or 23.4% were in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 21 or 18.9% were in the movement and storage of goods, 31 or 27.9% were in a hotel or restaurant, 2 or 1.8% were the insurance or financial industry, 3 or 2.7% were technical professionals or scientists, 15 or 13.5% were in education and 3 or 2.7% were in health care.

[25] From the 2000 census[update], 1,276 or 88.9% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church, while 39 or 2.7% were Roman Catholic.

The wettest month was July during which time Boltigen received an average of 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain or snow.

The driest month of the year was April with an average of 91 mm (3.6 in) of precipitation over 12 days.

This is followed by three years of obligatory lower Secondary school where the students are separated according to ability and aptitude.

Following the lower Secondary students may attend additional schooling or they may enter an apprenticeship.