Zäziwil is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.

These include the ruins in the hills above the village, the earthen fortifications at Schwanden and Zwingherrenhubel and the castle site at Spitzer Chnubel.

The village appears in the historical record as a part of the Herrschaft of Signau.

The entire Herrschaft was acquired by the city of Bern in 1529 and became part of the bailiwick of Signau.

[4] The villages that make up Zäziwil were part of the large parish of Grosshöchstetten.

During the 19th century the villages' population grew and the parish was no longer able to meet the needs of the parishioners.

[4] Beginning in the 18th century mineral water spas opened in at Leimenbad and Brunnenbachbad.

During the 19th century many of the farmers began to raise grass for hay or dairy cattle for milk and cheese.

A local dairy opened during this period and remains in operation today.

The completion of a railroad station of the Bern-Lucerne line in the village allowed industry and commuters to settle in Zäziwil.

The village of Rütenen has remained generally rural and agricultural, while Zäziwil has become a regional commercial center.

Of the rest of the land, 0.52 km2 (0.20 sq mi) or 9.6% is settled (buildings or roads).

It consists of the villages of Zäziwil and Leimen and the hamlets of Rütenen and Länzligen as well as scattered farm houses.

[10] Most of the population (as of 2000[update]) speaks German (1,466 or 96.8%) as their first language, Italian is the second most common (16 or 1.1%) and Turkish is the third (9 or 0.6%).

[10] There were 844 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which females made up 41.9% of the workforce.

In the tertiary sector; 40 or 34.5% were in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 2 or 1.7% were in the movement and storage of goods, 13 or 11.2% were in a hotel or restaurant, 3 or 2.6% were the insurance or financial industry, 13 or 11.2% were technical professionals or scientists, 12 or 10.3% were in education and 15 or 12.9% were in health care.

[21] From the 2000 census[update], 1,228 or 81.1% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church, while 116 or 7.7% were Roman Catholic.

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.