Reckingen
Origin of the name Reckingen
Early form « Requinguen » in 1225. The etymology remains unexplained.[1]
Founding of Reckingen
Reckingen was the only municipality of the Goms valley stretching across both banks of the Rhône, and the village consists of three barely connected parts. It is the furthest place up the valley whose settlement goes back to prehistory. A Romanised Celtic population preceded the Alemanni. The oldest feudal rights belonged to the bishop of Sion, but in the 13th century peasant associations managing alps and common land led to the formation of the municipality, which then bought out dues, acquired seigneurial rights and adopted statutes. Reckingen was one of the nine quarters of the tithing (dizain) of Goms and one of the four quarters of the old mother parish of Münster, before becoming a parish itself. After the Second World War crafts gradually disappeared and small farms declined sharply. At the start of the 21st century tourism plays an important role, and the Walpen construction company and the DDPS (anti-aircraft firing range at Gluringen) are the main employers. From 2004 to 2016 Reckingen formed with Gluringen the municipality of Reckingen-Gluringen, which then joined the municipality of Goms.[1][2]
History of Reckingen
8th century. Arrival of an Alemannic population after a Romanised Celtic one.[1]
1225. Recorded as « Requinguen ».[1]
1266. Feudal dues bought out.[1]
1339. Seigneurial rights acquired.[1]
1414. Mention of a chapel, older than the parish church.[1]
16th century. First municipal statutes.[1]
1690. Construction of the chapel of St Anthony.[1]
1696. Reckingen becomes a parish.[1]
1743-1745. Construction of the parish church of the Nativity of the Virgin. Reckingen becomes the artistic centre of the valley (organs, woodcarving, bells).[1]
1749. An avalanche destroys the new presbytery and claims several victims.[1]
1838. Discovery of Hallstatt-period stone graves (around 500 BC).[1]
1941. Discovery of tools, pottery and two Roman oil lamps.[1]
1970. Two avalanches destroy several houses and the chapel of St Anthony; 48 people are buried, 30 of whom die.[1]
2004. On 1 October Reckingen merges with Gluringen to form the municipality of Reckingen-Gluringen.[1][2][3]
2017. Reckingen-Gluringen merges with Blitzingen, Grafschaft, Münster-Geschinen and Niederwald into the municipality of Goms.[1][2]
Population of Reckingen
Sources and references: [1]
| 1802 | 390 |
| 1850 | 342 |
| 1900 | 314 |
| 1950 | 365 |
| 2000 | 356 |
Historic sites in Reckingen
Church of the Nativity of the Virgin. Built in 1743-1745, the leading Baroque religious building of the Upper Valais. Its construction coincides with Reckingen's rise as a centre of organ builders, woodcarvers and bell founders.[1]
Chapel of St Anthony. Built in 1690 and destroyed by the avalanches of 1970.[1]
The village and its three parts. The village consists of three barely connected parts.[1]
Remains in Reckingen
Hallstatt-period graves. Stone graves from around 500 BC, discovered in 1838, make Reckingen the furthest place up the valley settled as early as prehistory.[1]
Roman finds. Tools, pottery and two Roman oil lamps were unearthed in 1941.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Reckingen (VS) » (Robert Walpen, trad. Florence Piguet, version du 13.01.2017)
- Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, « Gluringen » (Philipp Kalbermatter, version du 13.01.2017, version allemande)
- Office fédéral de la statistique, Répertoire officiel des communes, mutation n° 2302 (01.10.2004)
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
Other villages near Reckingen
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