Täsch
Origin of the name Täsch
The village appears in 1302 as « Tech » (Latin « Pera »). No explanation has yet been found for this name.[1]
Founding of Täsch
Nobody knows who founded Täsch. In the 13th century the village was the seat of the lords of Täsch. With Randa it formed a castellany of the dizain of Brig, and for worship it first depended on Visp. Lying in the Mattertal (Nikolaital), in the district of Visp, it also includes the hamlets of Zermettjen and Täschberg and the Täschalp hiking area. Long given over to mountain farming, Täsch opened up to tourism in the 19th century under the influence of Zermatt. Many seasonal workers employed in Zermatt live here: in 2023, 62 % of residents did not hold Swiss citizenship.[1][2]
History of Täsch
13th century. Täsch is the seat of the lords of Täsch.[1]
1302. First mention as « Tech » (Latin « Pera »).[1]
before 1305. Täsch forms with Randa a castellany of the dizain of Brig.[1]
before 1400. The squire Johann, last descendant of the lords of Täsch, cedes his rights to the Am Hengart family.[1]
1423. Täsch becomes a parish.[1]
1552. The castellany of Täsch and Randa is attached to the majorie of St. Niklaus (free jurisdiction); until then the major, then the grand castellan of Brig exercised high justice.[1]
1555. The rules on usage rights on the Täschalp are put in writing.[1]
1560. The boundary with Zermatt is fixed.[1]
1798. Täsch and Randa are separated.[1]
1844. The boundary with Randa is fixed.[1]
1891. Täsch is connected to the railway network.[1]
1904. The Hotel Täschhorn is built, followed by six other establishments and many chalets and holiday homes.[1]
1939. A new parish church replaces the 15th-century one.[1]
1972. The valley road officially ends at Täsch. Cars are banned beyond it.[1]
1997. The Europaweg between Grächen and Zermatt is created, crossing the Täschalp.[4]
2005. The tertiary sector provides 88 % of jobs.[1]
2006. The Matterhorn Terminal Täsch car park was reportedly built that year.
2009. More than 90'000 overnight stays.[1]
Population of Täsch
Sources and references: [1][5]
| 1798 | 140 inhabitants |
| 1850 | 177 inhabitants |
| 1900 | 251 inhabitants |
| 1950 | 413 inhabitants |
| 2000 | 831 inhabitants |
| 2025 | 1'338 inhabitants |
Historic sites in Täsch
Parish church. Church built in 1939 to replace the 15th-century one. Täsch has been a parish since 1423.[1]
Täsch station and car park. End of the valley road since 1972: tourists leave their cars here and continue by train to Zermatt. The Matterhorn Terminal Täsch covered car park has 2'100 spaces. It was reportedly built in 2006.[1][3]
Täschalp. Hiking area and alpine pasture whose usage rights were put in writing in 1555. It is crossed by the Europaweg.[1][4]
Zermettjen and Täschberg. Hamlets of the municipality.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Täsch » (Bernard Truffer, version du 06.03.2012)
- SWI swissinfo.ch, Pauline Turuban, « Täsch, portugiesische Enklave im Herzen der Postkarten-Schweiz » (13.09.2025)
- Zermatt Tourismus (zermatt.swiss), « Matterhorn Terminal Täsch »
- Europaweg (europaweg.ch, communes de St. Niklaus, Grächen, Randa, Täsch et Zermatt), « The Europaweg between Grächen and Zermatt »
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées de Täsch)
Other villages near Täsch
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