Turtig
Origin of the name Turtig
The meaning of the name Turtig has not been explained. The local names Ober Turtig, Unner Turtig and Turtigdorf still carry it on the map.[6]
Founding of Turtig
Turtig is a small hamlet on the southern slope of the Rhône valley in the Upper Valais. It grew as a staging post on the old Valais road after the road was moved to the left bank of the river. Its sustes (warehouses) and taverns served travellers. The hamlet belonged to the parish of Raron. It was part of the community of Unterbäch before passing to the municipality of Raron, of which it is now a hamlet.[1][2][3][4]
History of Turtig
12th century. The Valais road is moved to the left bank of the Rhône. Turtig gains importance as a staging post.[1]
16th-17th century. The chapel is probably built, first dedicated to St Lawrence and St Sebastian.[1]
1599. The Kalbermatter house is built next to the chapel, replacing a medieval tower.[1]
17th century. Baroque chapels begin to line the steep mule track from Turtig to Bürchen, in the manner of a Lombard sacro monte.[2]
1670. First mention of the chapel, at the wedding of the court clerk Kalbermatten to Juliana Allet.[1]
18th century. A choir is added to the rectangular nave of the chapel.[1]
1820s. The new valley road takes away Turtig's role as a staging post.[1]
around 1846. The hamlet passes from the municipality of Unterbäch to that of Raron.[4]
second half of the 19th century. The name of St Agatha takes hold for the chapel.[1]
1930s. Julius Salzgeber repaints the interior of the chapel.[1]
early 1940s. The chapel vault collapses.[1]
1946. The cable car to Eischoll opens, followed in 1950 by the one to Unterbäch.[1]
1951. On 16 April the old chapel is sold for 1'010 francs to Walter Bregy. A new chapel is consecrated on 1 July.[1]
1999. On 16 July Otto Zumoberhaus buys the old chapel, which he plans to demolish.[1]
2000. In July the chapel is moved to the Ballenberg open-air museum, which has shown it since 2001.[1]
Historic sites in Turtig
Kalbermatter house. Stone house with a gateway passage. With former sustes and taverns, it recalls the hamlet's past as a staging post and the wealth of the burghers of Raron.[2][3]
Chapels on the path to Bürchen. The Baroque station chapels of the Wandfluh above Turtig line the mule track climbing to Bürchen.[2]
Remains in Turtig
Chapel of St Agatha (at Ballenberg). Dismantled at Turtig, the chapel has been re-erected at the Ballenberg open-air museum in Hofstetten (Bern), with a reproduction of its 18th-century Stations of the Cross.[1]
Sources
- Rahel Gugelmann et Eva Schäfer, « Kapelle St. Agatha, Turtig VS, 16./17. und 18. Jahrhundert », Ballenberg-Baudokumentation 1131, Freilichtmuseum Ballenberg, 2023 (BORIS, Université de Berne)
- Inventaire fédéral des sites construits à protéger en Suisse (ISOS), « Raron » (2e version, avril 1997)
- Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, « Raron (Gemeinde) » (Anton Riva, version du 16.12.2011)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Unterbäch » (Alois Grichting, trad. Florence Piguet, version du 12.01.2021)
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
- geo.admin.ch, service de recherche de swisstopo (Turtig)
Other villages near Turtig
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