Saas-Balen
Origin of the name Saas-Balen
The place is recorded in 1304 in the abbreviated form « baln. ». No explanation has yet been found for this name.[1]
Founding of Saas-Balen
A stone axe attests settlement or use of the site in the Neolithic. The village belonged to the large commune of Saas, in the mayoralty (Meiertum) of Visp. Around 1300 the valley's inhabitants bought from the Blandrate, counts of Visp, the alpine pastures between the Martiswald and Mattmark. When Saas was divided into four quarters in 1392, Saas-Balen became one of them. Its communal statutes (Bauernzünfte) regulated the use of forests, common land and alpine pastures as well as marmot hunting. Part of the parish of Saas and its church at Saas-Grund, the village formed its own parish in 1907. The smallest municipality by area in the Saas valley comprises the village, the hamlets of Niedergut (Ausser-Balen), Bidermatten and part of Tamatten (Inner-Balen), as well as twenty-five maiensäss (spring pastures). Opened up by a road in 1935, Saas-Balen remained a farming community with little tourism, many of whose inhabitants worked elsewhere.[1][2]
History of Saas-Balen
Neolithic. A stone axe attests settlement or use of the site.[1]
1291. The people of the St. Niklaus and Saas valleys conclude the so-called Monte Rosa peace with those of the Anzasca valley, to secure trade over the passes.[2]
around 1300. The valley's inhabitants buy from the Blandrate, counts of Visp, the alpine pastures between the Martiswald and Mattmark, with the seigneurial rights attached to them.[2]
1304. Recorded as « baln. ».[1]
1392. The large commune of Saas divides into four quarters: Saas-Balen, Saas-Grund, Saas-Almagell and Saas-Fee.[1][2]
around 1400. The parish of Saas is formed by separation from that of Visp, with its church at Saas-Grund.[2]
1511-1763. Communal statutes (Bauernzünfte) of 1511, 1561, 1606 and 1763.[1]
1812. The round church of the Assumption is built by Jean-Joseph Andenmatten.[1]
1907. Saas-Balen breaks away from the parish of Saas and the parish church of Saas-Grund to form its own parish.[1][2]
1935. A road opens the municipality up to the outside world.[1]
1958. A new church is built, replacing the round church for worship.[1]
2000. More than four fifths of the working population commute, mainly within the Saas valley or to the factories of Visp and St. Niklaus.[1]
2005. The primary sector still provides 39 % of jobs.[1]
2007. The municipality's official name, until then written without a hyphen, reportedly becomes Saas-Balen on 1 January.
Population of Saas-Balen
Sources and references: [1][3]
| 1850 | 162 inhabitants |
| 1900 | 215 inhabitants |
| 1950 | 414 inhabitants |
| 2000 | 397 inhabitants |
| 2025 | 340 inhabitants |
Historic sites in Saas-Balen
Round church of the Assumption. Built in 1812 by Jean-Joseph Andenmatten, it is one of the most original baroque buildings in Switzerland. It was used for worship until a new church was built in 1958.[1]
St. Anthony's chapel. Chapel on the territory of Saas-Balen, said to belong to the parish of Saas-Grund.
Fellbach waterfall. Waterfall that plunges onto the rocks below and freezes into an ice sculpture in winter. It is said to be over 40 metres high, and the Fellbach reportedly caused destruction in the village.[5]
Remains in Saas-Balen
Stone axe. Neolithic stone axe attesting settlement or use of the site long before the first written records.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Saas-Balen » (Paul Martone, trad. Florence Piguet, version du 09.02.2011)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Vallée de Saas » (Paul Martone, trad. Laurent Auberson, version du 06.01.2012)
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
- Suisse Tourisme (MySwitzerland), « Saas-Balen » (cascade du Fellbach, église ronde)
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Saas-Balen
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