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Coat of arms of Termen

Termen

Canton of Valais · District: Brig · 1'203 inhabitants (31.12.2025, provisional FSO figure)
View of Termen
Photo: Albins, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons · Coat of arms: Public domain
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Termen

The name appears in 1201 as « terman ». Its origin is not fully clear: it has been linked to « Thermen », because of the mineral springs, or more probably to Latin « terminus » (« end »), because of the location. In Upper Valais dialect the village is reportedly called « Tärmu ».[1]

Founding of Termen

Archaeological finds attest Celtic settlement, and the Romance population was Germanised by the Alemanni in the 8th century. In the Middle Ages Termen appears as a municipality, and in the 16th century it gave itself written burgher statutes. The village first belonged to the great parish of Naters, from which it gradually broke away. On its high plateau east of Brig, the municipality brings together the village of Termen, the hamlets of Hasel and z'Matt and the Rosswald leisure and ski area. No founder of Termen is known.[1]

History of Termen

Celtic period. Archaeological finds attest Celtic settlement.[1]

8th century. The Romance population is Germanised by the Alemanni.[1]

1201. Recorded as « terman ».[1]

1349. First mention as a municipality.[1]

1495. The chapel of St Bartholomew is built in the village.[1]

16th century. Burgher statutes are written down.[1]

1642. When Naters and Glis separate, Termen passes to the parish of Glis.[1]

1646. The boundary between Termen and Ried (today Ried-Brig) is fixed.[1]

1707. The first municipal hall is built.[1]

1748. The chapel of St Bartholomew is replaced by a new building.[1]

1755. Termen becomes a rectorate.[1]

1799. French troops burn the village.[1]

1911-1912. The church of St Joseph is built.[1]

1913. Termen becomes an independent parish.[1]

1920-1972. Slate for roofing is quarried above the village.[1]

2000. 79 % of the working population work outside the municipality, mainly in Brig, Visp and Naters.[1]

2008. Since this year Pearlwater Mineralquellen AG has bottled about 10 million bottles of mineral water a year at z'Matt.[1]

Population of Termen

Sources and references: [1][3]

Population of Termen
1798279 inhabitants
1850304 inhabitants
1900427 inhabitants
1950437 inhabitants
2000781 inhabitants
20251'203 inhabitants

Historic sites in Termen

Chapel of St Bartholomew. Village chapel built in 1495 and replaced by a new building in 1748.[1]

Church of St Joseph. The church was built in 1911-1912, or 1911-1913, as dates vary. Termen became a parish in 1913. Its columns are of granite from the Simplon area, and a chapel previously stood on what is now the village square. Its style is reportedly Neo-Romanesque.[1][2]

Rosswald. Leisure and ski area of the municipality, where holiday accommodation is concentrated.[1]

z'Matt. Hamlet where mineral water has been bottled since 2008.[1]

Sources

  1. Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, « Termen » (Bernard Truffer, version du 15.08.2012)
  2. Brig Simplon Tourismus (brig-simplon.ch), « Parish Church of St. Joseph Termen »
  3. Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
  4. geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)

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