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Birgisch

Canton of Valais · District: Brig · 217 inhabitants (2000, former municipality of Birgisch, last figure before the merger)
Part of the municipality of Naters
View of Birgisch
Photo: pictures Jettcom, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons · Coat of arms: CC BY-SA 2.0
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Remains Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Birgisch

The oldest known form is « Burginse », in 1232, the year a « Chono de Burginse » also appears. The origin of the name is not explained.

Founding of Birgisch

Birgisch brings together many hamlets on the heights above the right bank of the Rhone, and its history follows that of the dizain of Brig. In the 14th century Unterbirgisch already appears as a municipality. It remained separate from Oberbirgisch until the early 19th century, but the two communities shared common land and alpine pastures. In church matters Birgisch belongs to the parish of Naters. Its chapel of St John the Baptist belonged to the Knights Hospitaller. The village was linked to the plain first by a cableway, then by a road.

History of Birgisch

Middle Ages. A fortified castle is built on the Kocherbiel, near the chapel; remains of it survive.

1232. First mention as « Burginse » and of a « Chono de Burginse ».

1320. Unterbirgisch is mentioned as a municipality.

1379. The chapel of St. John the Baptist, linked to a hermitage, belongs to the Knights Hospitaller.

1548. First mention of the St. John confraternity.

around 1550. Construction of the communal house.

1592. Renovation of the communal house.

1687. Restoration of the chapel of St. John the Baptist.

early 19th century. End of the separation between Unterbirgisch and Oberbirgisch.

around 1850. The St. John confraternity is dissolved and its assets pass to the school fund.

1905. Rebuilding of the chapel of St. John the Baptist.

1920-1921. Further renovation of the communal house.

1953. Opening of a cableway to the plain, in service until 1973.

1970. Opening of the access road.

1977. The road is extended to Mund.

1990. Three quarters of the working population work outside the municipality.

2013. Birgisch is incorporated into the municipality of Naters.[3]

Population of Birgisch

Population of Birgisch
1821122 inhabitants
1850191 inhabitants
1900252 inhabitants
1950238 inhabitants
1970152 inhabitants
2000217 inhabitants

Historic sites in Birgisch

Chapel of St. John the Baptist. Owned by the Knights Hospitaller in 1379 and linked to a hermitage, restored in 1687 and rebuilt in 1905. It holds a 14th-century crucifix, a Baroque altar and 18th-century relics.

Communal house. Built around 1550 and renovated in 1592 and in 1920-1921.

Nessjeri and Oberschta irrigation channels. Old irrigation channels. The Nessjeri is reportedly 7.5 km long, a length that is uncertain.

Remains in Birgisch

Kocherbiel castle. Remains of a medieval fortified castle on the Kocherbiel, near the chapel of St. John the Baptist.

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Birgisch » (Louis Carlen, version de 1998)
  2. geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
  3. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Naters » (Anton Riva, trad. Véronique Wezranowska-Jacot, version de 2008 remaniée le 04.01.2017)

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