FRDEITEN
Villages / Valais / Östlich Raron district / Martisberg
Coat of arms of Martisberg

Martisberg

Canton of Valais · District: Östlich Raron · 27 inhabitants (2000, former municipality of Martisberg, last figure before the merger)
Part of the municipality of Bettmeralp
View of Martisberg
Photo: Cal at German Wikipedia (Original text: Michael Naef), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons · Coat of arms: Public domain
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Martisberg

The name first appears in 1311, as « Martisperg ». Its origin is not explained.[1]

Founding of Martisberg

Martisberg is a scattered settlement on the north slope of the Rhône valley. It was first part of the county of Mörel, until the bishop of Sion made it a castellany. Martisberg thus stayed largely outside the offices of the Östlich Raron tithing. A « communitas » is mentioned in the 14th century, when irrigation rules for the poor mountain land were also drawn up with the neighbouring communities. Derfji, the former main settlement, was supplanted by Hittubodu, lower down (1346 m). In church matters Martisberg depended on Mörel, then on Grengiols and finally on Lax. In the 19th century many inhabitants emigrated, mainly to Argentina, and rural depopulation continued in the 20th century: the population fell from 90 inhabitants in 1850 to 27 in 2000.[1][2]

History of Martisberg

1263. The bishop of Sion makes Martisberg, until then part of the county of Mörel, a castellany.[1]

1311. First mention as « Martisperg ».[1]

14th century. First irrigation regulations for the poor mountain land, drawn up with the neighbouring communities.[1]

1351. Mention of a « communitas ».[1]

1634. Martisberg moves from the parish of Mörel to that of Grengiols.[1]

1697. Mention of the chapel of Our Lady and St Martin.[1]

1795. Construction of a municipal house at Hittubodu, which supplants Derfji as the main settlement.[1]

1798. End of the episcopal castellany.[1]

19th century. Wave of emigration, mainly to Argentina.[1]

1950-1951. A chapel of St Anthony replaces the chapel of Our Lady and St Martin.[1]

1959. Martisberg is attached to the parish of Lax.[1]

2014. On 1 January, merger with Betten into the new municipality of Bettmeralp.[1][2]

Population of Martisberg

Sources and references: [1]

Population of Martisberg
185090 inhabitants
190086 inhabitants
195066 inhabitants
200027 inhabitants

Historic sites in Martisberg

Chapel of St Anthony. Built in 1950-1951 to replace the chapel of Our Lady and St Martin, mentioned in 1697.[1]

Hittubodu. Hamlet at 1346 m that became the main settlement in place of Derfji. A municipal house was built there from 1795.[1]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Martisberg » (Philipp Kalbermatter, trad. Monique Baud-Wartmann, version du 04.01.2017)
  2. Office fédéral de la statistique, Répertoire officiel des communes, mutation n° 3425 (01.01.2014)
  3. geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)

Other villages near Martisberg

Missing information, or do you have a source? Suggest a correction or addition. Every submission is checked before it's published.

Suggest a change