Niedergesteln
Origin of the name Niedergesteln
The village appears as « Chastellon » (1179-1184), « Castellion » (1224) and « Castellio Inferior » (1420). Its former French name is Châtillon-le-Bas. The name reportedly comes from the Romance Latin « castellione », a diminutive of « castellum » (fortified camp, castle), but this is not confirmed.[1]
Founding of Niedergesteln
Niedergesteln stands against a rocky slope in the upper Rhone valley, on the right bank. The stone castrum along the old main road may have been founded by Savoyard merchants. From the end of the 12th century the place was an episcopal fief and the seat of a castellany of the barons de la Tour-Châtillon, who in the second quarter of the 13th century built a round tower on a nearby rock spur. After the five dizains of the Upper Valais occupied the Lötschental and drove out the lords de la Tour in 1375, the latter sold their property and rights in Niedergesteln to the counts of Savoy. The castle, which had meanwhile passed to the Bishop of Sion, was destroyed by the dizains in 1384. In 1430 the dizains made Niedergesteln a castellany against the bishop's will, until the subjects bought back the rights in 1790. Before 1798 Niedergesteln, Lötschen and Benken (now in the municipality of Steg-Hohtenn) formed the lower third of the Raron dizain.[1]
History of Niedergesteln
1179-1184. First mentioned as « Chastellon ».[1]
end of the 12th century. Niedergesteln becomes an episcopal fief and castellany of the barons de la Tour-Châtillon.[1]
1224. Mentioned as « Castellion ».[1]
13th century. In the second quarter of the century the barons de la Tour build a round tower on a nearby rock spur.[1]
around 1248. The parish becomes a priory of the canons' abbey of Abondance (Savoy), probably founded by Gérold de la Tour.[1]
1310. The parish church of Our Lady is recorded.[1]
1375. The five dizains of the Upper Valais occupy the Lötschental and drive out the lords de la Tour, who sell their property and rights in Niedergesteln to the counts of Savoy.[1]
1384. The dizains destroy the castle, which had meanwhile passed to the Bishop of Sion.[1]
1420. Mentioned as « Castellio Inferior ».[1]
1430. The dizains make Niedergesteln a castellany against the bishop's will.[1]
1564. Municipal statutes.[1]
1606. First mention of the town hall.[1]
1607. End of the priory dependent on Abondance.[1]
around 1704. The church is dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.[1]
1766. Eischoll separates from the parish of Niedergesteln.[1]
1790. The subjects buy back the rights of the castellany.[1]
1852 and 1860. Niedergesteln, Steg and Hohtenn divide their forests and communal property.[1]
1913. Steg and Hohtenn separate from the parish.[1]
1963. Opening of the aluminium plant in Steg, which provides jobs alongside farming.[1]
1984-1993. Excavation and partial restoration of the castle, with the help of the Pro Castellione foundation.[1]
Population of Niedergesteln
Sources and references: [1][2]
| 1850 | 176 inhabitants |
| 1900 | 240 inhabitants |
| 1950 | 344 inhabitants |
| 2000 | 573 inhabitants |
| 2025 | 731 inhabitants |
Historic sites in Niedergesteln
Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Parish church of Our Lady recorded in 1310, dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel since around 1704. From around 1248 to 1607 the parish was a priory of the abbey of Abondance, whose prior held the small castellany of Giesch from the 14th century until 1798.[1]
Hamlets of Ladu, Brägji and Tatz. Hillside hamlets whose inhabitants gradually moved down to the village after the drainage of the Rhone plain in the mid-19th century.[1]
Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn site. Since 2001 the municipal land above the Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon railway line has been part of this UNESCO World Heritage site.[1]
Remains in Niedergesteln
Castle of the lords de la Tour. Castle called Gestelnburg: a stone castrum along the old road on the right bank, completed in the second quarter of the 13th century by a round tower on a rock spur. Destroyed by the dizains in 1384, it was excavated and partly restored between 1984 and 1993 with the help of the Pro Castellione foundation.[1][4]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Niedergesteln » (Philipp Kalbermatter, trad. Florence Piguet, version du 04.05.2017)
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
- Stiftung Gestelnburg (Pro Castellione), « Der Tuff von Gestelnburg » (dépliant de promenade audio, publié par BLS)
Other villages near Niedergesteln
Missing information, or do you have a source? Suggest a correction or addition. Every submission is checked before it's published.
Suggest a change