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Oberems

Canton of Valais · District: Leuk · 141 inhabitants (31.12.2025, provisional FSO figure)
View of Oberems
Photo: CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Oberems

The village is first recorded in 1101 in the Latin form « superiori Emesa », the upper part of Ems as opposed to Unterems. The form « Ober-Ems » reportedly appears in the first municipal regulation of 1457. In the Upper Valais dialect the village is said to be called « Oberäms ». No explanation has yet been found for this name.[1]

Founding of Oberems

Oberems stretches across a terrace at the entrance to the Turtmanntal, above the Rhone valley. The municipality brings together the former municipalities of Ahorn and Bodmen, a few hamlets and half of the Turtmanntal. Recorded in 1101, it is attested as a community (communitas) in 1238 and adopted a first farmers' guild (Bauernzunft) in 1457. Later statutes were partly adopted together with Unterems in 1548, 1558, 1642 and 1776. In 1728 Oberems and Unterems separated from the parish of Leuk (Loèche) to form the parish of Ems, with its church in Unterems. Oberems only got its own church in 1951. Farming and alpine pasturing long remained the basis of local life, until the construction of the Illsee-Turtmann AG power plant in 1922-1925 brought jobs and tax revenue.[1]

History of Oberems

1101. First recorded as « superiori Emesa ».[1]

1238. Oberems is mentioned as a community (communitas).[1]

around 1350. First plague epidemic, perhaps in this year.

1457. Adoption of a first farmers' guild (Bauernzunft). The regulation of 18 January reportedly bears the form « Ober-Ems ».[1]

1548. Statutes partly adopted together with Unterems, as again in 1558, 1642 and 1776.[1]

1728. Oberems and Unterems leave the parish of Leuk and form the parish of Ems, with the parish church in Unterems.[1]

1818. On 12 March an avalanche from the Emshorn reportedly killed six people.

1891. A fire reportedly destroyed the hamlet of Widenbrunnen completely.

1922-1925. Construction of the Illsee-Turtmann AG power plant, bringing jobs and tax revenue.[1]

1925. Construction of the lighting and electricity network.[1]

1926. Construction of the public water supply.[1]

1951. Oberems gets its own church, dedicated to the Assumption.[1]

1953. A cable car links Oberems with Turtmann.[1]

2000. A large share of the working population works outside the municipality.[1]

2002. The Council of State settles an old boundary dispute and awards the contested area of the Turtmanntal in equal shares to Oberems and Turtmann.[1]

Population of Oberems

Sources and references: [1][2]

Population of Oberems
1802153 inhabitants
1850166 inhabitants
1900202 inhabitants
1950150 inhabitants
2000125 inhabitants
2025141 inhabitants

Historic sites in Oberems

Church of the Assumption. Oberems' first church of its own, built in 1951. Until then the faithful went to the Ems parish church in Unterems.[1]

Turtmanntal. The municipality owns half of this side valley. The division of the contested area with Turtmann was settled in 2002.[1]

Ahorn and Bodmen. Former municipalities merged into Oberems, which together with a few hamlets make up the municipal territory.[1]

Turtmann-Unterems-Oberems cable car. Opened in 1953, it links the village with the Rhone plain at Turtmann.[1]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse (version allemande), « Oberems » (Bernard Truffer, version du 20.01.2009)
  2. Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
  3. geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)

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