Selkingen
Origin of the name Selkingen
The form « villa de Selgingen » is recorded in 1374. The etymology of the name is unexplained.[1]
Founding of Selkingen
Selkingen is a clustered village in the Goms valley, on the right bank of the Rhône by the Walibach. The hamlets of Zeit and Sechshäusern on the left bank, now abandoned, also belonged to the municipality. Until 1798 Selkingen and Biel together formed one third of the quarter of Grafschaft, first mentioned in 1344, which had its own high justice. In 1510 Wilhelm Gestiler was the first ammann of the Grafschaft from Selkingen. The oldest surviving peasant statute (Bauernzunft) dates from 1600. In 1660 Selkingen adopted that of Biel. In church matters the municipality belonged to Münster until Biel separated in 1678. It then stayed with Biel and finally bought itself free from Münster in 1836. The village chapel, dedicated to St Theodulus, dates from 1678. The chapel of St Anthony, built above the village in the third quarter of the 18th century, recalls the dangers of avalanches and floods. In 1827 an avalanche killed twelve people. For livestock breeding and cheesemaking, Selkingen is linked with Biel in a cooperative. In 2000 Selkingen formed the municipality of Grafschaft with Biel and Ritzingen. In 2017 it was joined with Blitzingen, Münster-Geschinen, Niederwald and Reckingen-Gluringen in the municipality of Goms.[1][2][3]
History of Selkingen
1344. First mention of the quarter of Grafschaft, of which Selkingen and Biel form one third.[1][2][3]
1374. Mention of the « villa de Selgingen ».[1]
1510. Wilhelm Gestiler is the first ammann of the Grafschaft from Selkingen.[1]
1600. Date of the oldest surviving peasant statute (Bauernzunft).[1]
1660. Selkingen adopts the peasant statute of Biel.[1]
1678. Biel separates from the parish of Münster and Selkingen stays with Biel. The chapel of St Theodulus is built.[1][3]
18th century. In the third quarter of the century the chapel of St Anthony is built above the village.[1]
1798. End of the old quarter of Grafschaft.
1827. An avalanche kills twelve people.[1]
1836. Selkingen finally buys itself free from the parish of Münster.[1]
1990. The municipality has 52 inhabitants.[1]
2000. Selkingen forms the municipality of Grafschaft with Biel and Ritzingen.[1][2][3]
2017. Grafschaft is joined with Blitzingen, Münster-Geschinen, Niederwald and Reckingen-Gluringen in the municipality of Goms.[1][2][3]
Population of Selkingen
Sources and references: [1]
| 1802 | 130 |
| 1850 | 119 |
| 1900 | 109 |
| 1950 | 97 |
| 1990 | 52 |
Historic sites in Selkingen
Chapel of St Theodulus. Village chapel dedicated to St Theodulus, built in 1678, the year Biel separated from the parish of Münster.[1]
Chapel of St Anthony. Chapel built above the village in the third quarter of the 18th century. It recalls the dangers of avalanches and floods, including the avalanche of 1827 that killed twelve people.[1]
Remains in Selkingen
Abandoned hamlets of Zeit and Sechshäusern. These two hamlets on the left bank of the Rhône belonged to the former municipality of Selkingen; they are now abandoned.[1]
Sources
- Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, « Selkingen » (Bernard Truffer, version du 13.01.2017, version allemande)
- Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, « Grafschaft » (Bernard Truffer, version du 13.01.2017, version allemande)
- Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, « Biel (VS) » (Alma Treyer, version du 13.01.2017, version allemande)
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
Other villages near Selkingen
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