Inden
Origin of the name Inden
The village is first recorded in 1242 as « Indes ». No explanation has yet been found for this name.[1]
Founding of Inden
Inden lies on a terrace along the road from Leuk (Loèche) to Leukerbad and the Gemmi pass. Recorded in 1242, the place is mentioned as a community (communitas) in 1322, run by two « Gewaltshaber ». Until 1798 Inden belonged to the « von Zuben auf » third of the Leuk dizain and, in the Middle Ages, to the parish of Leuk. A St Anthony chapel was built around 1500 and in 1539 Ulrich Ruffiner built a bridge over the Dala. The fire of 1741 devastated the village. The municipal house was rebuilt in 1742. The church of Our Lady of Good Counsel dates from 1767 and the parish was founded in 1775. In 1850 the Rumeling bridge connected the village to the Leuk-Leukerbad road, and from 1915 to 1967 Inden was also served by the railway.[1]
History of Inden
1242. First recorded as « Indes ».[1]
1322. Inden is mentioned as a community (communitas), run by two « Gewaltshaber ».[1]
Middle Ages. The village belongs to the parish of Leuk.[1]
around 1500. Construction of the St Anthony chapel.[1]
1539. Ulrich Ruffiner builds a bridge over the Dala.[1]
16th century. Probable construction of the municipal house.[1]
1741. A fire devastates the village.[1]
1742. The municipal house is rebuilt.[1]
1767. Construction of the church of Our Lady of Good Counsel.[1]
1775. The parish is founded.[1]
1779. Goethe mentions in his travel account « the village of Inden with a white church » on the edge of the rocks.[2]
1798. End of membership of the « von Zuben auf » third of the Leuk dizain.[1]
1850. Construction of the Rumeling bridge over the Dala. The village is connected to the Leuk-Leukerbad road.[1]
1915-1967. Inden is served by the Leuk-Leukerbad railway.[1]
1967. The village school moves to Leukerbad.[1]
Population of Inden
Sources and references: [1][3]
| 1850 | 77 inhabitants |
| 1900 | 93 inhabitants |
| 1950 | 82 inhabitants |
| 1970 | 48 inhabitants |
| 2000 | 89 inhabitants |
| 2025 | 118 inhabitants |
Historic sites in Inden
Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel. Late Baroque church of 1767, parish church since 1775. The white church on the edge of the rocks described by Goethe in 1779.[1][2]
St Anthony chapel. Chapel built around 1500, the oldest place of worship in the village.[1]
Municipal house. Probably built in the 16th century and rebuilt in 1742, after the fire of 1741.[1]
Former station. Former station building of the Leuk-Leukerbad railway, which served Inden from 1915 to 1967.[1][2]
Dala gorge. Crossed by Ulrich Ruffiner's bridge of 1539 and the Rumeling bridge of 1850. A cultural trail leads down the gorge to the vineyards above the Rhone.[1][2]
Sources
- Dizionario storico della Svizzera (version italienne), « Inden » (Philipp Kalbermatter, version du 22.01.2008)
- Leukerbad Tourismus, « Inden » (Goethe 1779, église baroque tardive, ancienne gare, gorge de la Dala)
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
Other villages near Inden
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