Bellwald
Origin of the name Bellwald
The name first referred to the mountain, as « Beliwalt » (1273) and « Belwalt » (1293), then passed to the main village, called « Zblattun » in 1374. It is reportedly a compound with German Wald (« forest »), the first element coming either from Latin bellum (« pretty ») or from a Germanic personal name, Ballo or Pallo.[1]
Founding of Bellwald
Bellwald was born of a union of hamlets. On a height between the Rhone valley and the Fiesch valley, the village and the hamlets of Ried, Eggen, Bodmen and Fürgangen gave themselves a communal statute in 1384, the farmers' guild (Bauernzunft). Water regulations followed (1371 and 1436), the rules of the Richinen alp (1499) and the burgher statutes (1555). In the 14th century Bellwald belonged to the Raron family, and farmers paid a rent to the bishop of Sion. Until 1798 it formed, with the Fiesch valley, one of the nine quarters of the Goms dizain. Originally part of the parish of Ernen, it became an independent parish in 1697, with the building of the church of Our Lady of the Seven Joys. Long agricultural, the municipality turned to tourism after the opening of Fürgangen station (1915), the cable car (1956) and the road (1962). Approved by popular vote on 15 June 2025 and ratified by the Grand Council, the merger of Bellwald, Fiesch and Lax into the municipality of Unnergoms will take effect on 1 January 2027.[1][2][3]
History of Bellwald
1273. The mountain is recorded as « Beliwalt ».[1]
1293. Recorded as « Belwalt ».[1]
14th century. Bellwald belongs to the Raron family. Farmers there pay a rent to the bishop of Sion.[1]
1371. First water regulation, followed by another in 1436.[1]
1374. The main village is called « Zblattun ».[1]
1384. The hamlets unite under a communal statute (Bauernzunft).[1]
1499. Rules of the Richinen alp.[1]
1555. Burgher statutes.[1]
1697. Bellwald separates from the parish of Ernen and becomes an independent parish, with the building of the church of Our Lady of the Seven Joys.[1]
1798. End of the quarter formed with the Fiesch valley in the Goms dizain.[1][2]
1884. Ernen loses the right of collation (appointment of the priest) over the parish of Bellwald.[1]
1915. The railway opens, with a station at Fürgangen.[1]
1956. A cable car opens.[1]
1962. The road opens.[1]
1963. Fürgangen joins the parish of Bellwald.[1][6]
2002. The municipality has six ski lifts, 1'200 holiday apartments and 4'300 beds.[1]
2025. On 15 June the voters of Bellwald approve the merger with Fiesch and Lax by 79.1 %, effective 1 January 2027.[3]
Population of Bellwald
Sources and references: [1][4]
| 1850 | 266 inhabitants |
| 1900 | 285 inhabitants |
| 1950 | 265 inhabitants |
| 2000 | 427 inhabitants |
| 2025 | 364 inhabitants |
Historic sites in Bellwald
Church of Our Lady of the Seven Joys. The church was built when Bellwald became an independent parish, in 1697 (or 1698). It was consecrated on 10 September 1704 and renovated in 1976.[1][6]
Ossuary. Ossuary built in 1733-1734 next to the church.[6]
Chapel of Saint Apollonia. The chapel was probably built in 1666, the date carved in the medallion of the choir vault. It stands on the territory of the municipality of Niederwald. It reportedly lies in the Nesselschlucht and was dedicated to Saint Apollonia in the 18th century, though neither point is confirmed.[6]
Chapel of Maria zum Schnee at Richinen. The lintel of the Richinen alp chapel bears the date 1694. It was renovated in 1756 and in 1885-1886. An older chapel reportedly existed before 1633.[6]
Hamlet chapels. The hamlets of Bodmen and Eggen each have a 17th century chapel dedicated to the Virgin. Above Fürgangen, the Baroque chapel of Saint Anne, known as « Zmettjen », dates from the first half of the 17th century.[6]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Bellwald » (Philipp Kalbermatter, trad. Ursula Gaillard, version du 11.06.2004)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Fieschertal » (Philipp Kalbermatter, version du 29.11.2005 ; quartier du dizain jusqu'en 1798)
- Radio Lac / ATS, « Le parlement entérine une fusion à trois dans le Haut-Valais » (4.5.2026)
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
- Bellwald Tourismus, « Kirchen und Kapellen » (églises et chapelles de Bellwald)
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Bellwald
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