Albinen
Origin of the name Albinen
The village is first mentioned in 1224 as « Albignun », later also « Albinnon ». The French name was formerly Arbignon. The name may derive from a Latin personal name, « Albinione », but this is uncertain.[1]
Founding of Albinen
Romance hamlet and field names point to settlement of Albinen (Arbignon) before the Alemannic one. Attested as a « communitas » in 1291, the community gradually freed itself in the 14th century from the bishop's vidame in Leuk and from then on elected two heads, the « procuratores », from among its members. It adopted statutes in 1552. In church matters Albinen remained under the mother church of Leuk until a parish was founded in 1737. Until 1930 Albinen remained a purely agricultural community with a multi-level mixed economy (arable farming, livestock and viticulture). The mountain village includes the alpine hamlets of Chermignon and Torrent, as well as Ober Dorbu and Tschingere, formerly seasonal settlements and now holiday settlements.[1]
History of Albinen
Before the Alemanni. Romance hamlet and field names point to settlement before the Alemannic one.[1]
1224. First mention as « Albignun ».[1]
1291. Albinen is attested as a « communitas ».[1]
14th century. The community gradually frees itself from the bishop's vidame in Leuk and from then on elects two « procuratores » from among its members.[1]
1552. The community adopts statutes.[1]
1737. The parish of Albinen is founded. Until then it belonged to the mother church of Leuk.[1]
1930. Until this date Albinen remains a purely agricultural community (arable farming, livestock and viticulture).[1]
1956. The building of the Leuk-Albinen road leads to a decline in farming and to commuting to Leuk, Chippis (aluminium industry) and Sierre.[1]
late 1970s. The Leukerbad-Albinen road opens.[1]
1982. A bus line opens.[1]
2000. Two full-time farms remain; tourism, with the Torrent ski area and the Albinen ladders, slows emigration.[1]
Population of Albinen
Sources and references: [1][2]
| 1850 | 370 inhabitants |
| 1900 | 380 inhabitants |
| 1950 | 323 inhabitants |
| 1990 | 242 inhabitants |
| 2000 | 261 inhabitants |
| 2010 | 275 inhabitants |
| 2020 | 243 inhabitants |
| 2025 | 245 inhabitants |
Historic sites in Albinen
Albinen ladders (Albinenleitern). Ladders linking Albinen with Leukerbad, now a tourist attraction. The hike that uses them is only suitable for walkers with a head for heights.[4]
Torrent and Chermignon. Alpine hamlets of the municipality. The Torrent ski area contributes to the tourism upswing.[1]
Ober Dorbu and Tschingere. Former seasonal settlements that have become holiday settlements.[1]
Traditional houses and barns. The village preserves many traditional Valais mountain farmhouses and barns.[4]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse (version allemande), « Albinen » (Alma Treyer, version du 30.06.2009)
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
- Valais/Wallis Promotion (valais.ch), « Über die Albinenleitern von Leukerbad nach Albinen » (échelles, village d'Albinen)
Other villages near Albinen
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