Gemmi Pass
Origin of the name Gemmi Pass
The name «Gemmi» first appears on the map of the Confederation drawn by Konrad Türst in 1495-1497. The plateau of the pass, together with today's Spittelmatte, was commonly called «Curmiz». The meaning of the word Gemmi has not been explained.[1]
Founding of Gemmi Pass
The Gemmi Pass crosses the northern main ridge of the Alps between the Daubenhorn and the Plattenhörner. It links the Dala valley and Leukerbad, at the foot of the pass, with the Kandertal, the Bernese Oberland and, beyond, the Confederation, of which the Valais was an associate until 1798. On the Valais side the route has to overcome the Daubenwand, the 600 m cliff that closes off the Leukerbad basin. It is not known since when the pass has been used. The crossing lies within the municipality of Leukerbad.[1][2][4]
History of Gemmi Pass
1318. A hospice as well as paths and roads are mentioned on the Gemmi.[1]
around 1329-1334. Felling of the tree for a lintel beam found in a cave castle in the cliff, near the «Schwiibalmu». The structure reportedly served as a guard post.[1]
1515. Before the Marignano campaign, Bern judges that the Gemmi route saves three days.[1]
1549. The date is carved into the rock at the section of path renewed that year.[1]
1686. In a 25-year fief contract, Leukerbad undertakes to Leuk to keep the Gemmi path in good condition.[1]
1739-1741. The Gemmi path is rebuilt with the help of miners from Tyrol (1739-1743 according to another source). The last boundary markings take place in 1762.[1][2]
1878. The Hotel Wildstrubel is built on the Daube.[1]
1957. A cable car now links Leukerbad with the Gemmi.[2]
Historic sites in Gemmi Pass
Daubenwand. A 600 m rock wall separating the high valley of the pass from Leukerbad. For a long time it made the crossing difficult on the Valais side.[1][2]
Gemmi-Wägelchen. Before 1914, in the heyday of tourism, travellers could ride from Kandersteg up to the Daube in small narrow carts built for a single person.[1]
Remains in Gemmi Pass
Cave castles of the Daubenwand. Medieval ruins of castles hollowed into the cliff and of defensive works, listed in category A of the cultural property protection inventory.[1][3]
Sources
- Office fédéral des routes (OFROU), Inventaire des voies de communication historiques de la Suisse (IVS), « VS 32 Leuk - Leukerbad - Kandersteg (- Thun), Gemmipass » (état novembre 2002)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse (version allemande), « Leukerbad » (Philipp Kalbermatter, version du 17.01.2008)
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population (PBC), « Révision Inventaire PBC 2021 : liste cantonale Canton du VS » (état au 1.1.2026)
- geo.admin.ch, service de recherche de swisstopo (Gemmipass)
Other villages near Gemmi Pass
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