Ulrichen
Origin of the name Ulrichen
The village is recorded in 1235 as « Vlrighingen » and in 1240 as « holriquinguen ». Where does the name come from? That is still unknown.[1][2]
Founding of Ulrichen
Ulrichen lies in the upper Goms valley at the foot of the Nufenen and Gries passes. A coin of the emperor Gratian found on the Nufenen pass bears witness to early traffic. The historically disputed battle of Ulrichen is said to have taken place in 1211 on the territory of Obergesteln: Duke Berthold V of Zähringen was reportedly defeated there by Bishop Landri de Mont in the struggle for the imperial advocacy over the county of Valais. In 1419 the men of Goms led by Thomas In der Bünden drove back near Ulrichen an incursion by the Bernese, allies of the lords of Raron. The community defended its alps against its neighbours (Aegina valley, 1395 and 1651; Blasalp against Obergesteln, 1435-1467), adopted three peasant regulations (1545, 1610, 1651) and local statutes in 1689. Belonging first to the parish of Münster, Ulrichen became a rectorate in 1720 and the parish of St Nicholas in 1868. The church built in 1878 had to be replaced as early as 1894. Until 1999 the village hosted the highest military airfield in Switzerland, built during the Second World War. At the start of the 21st century tourism, driven by traffic over the Furka, Grimsel and Nufenen passes and by the Matterhorn-Gotthard-Bahn, shapes the village. The Aegina AG company uses the water of the Gries reservoir (1963-1966) in the Altstafel power station. Since 1 January 2009 Ulrichen has formed the municipality of Obergoms with Obergesteln and Oberwald.[1][2]
History of Ulrichen
1211. Historically disputed battle of Ulrichen, said to have taken place on the territory of Obergesteln: Berthold V of Zähringen was reportedly defeated by Bishop Landri de Mont.[1][2]
1235. First recorded as « Vlrighingen ».[1][2]
1240. Recorded as « holriquinguen ».[1][2]
1395. Judgement in the dispute between Ulrichen and Geschinen, Münster and Obergesteln over the Aegina valley.[1][2]
1419. The men of Goms led by Thomas In der Bünden drive back near Ulrichen a Bernese incursion linked to the Raron affair.[1][2]
1435-1467. Disputes with Obergesteln over the Blasalp (1435, 1444, 1467).[1][2]
1465. An avalanche destroys the chapel of St Anne in the hamlet of Zum Loch.[1][2]
1545-1651. Three peasant regulations are adopted (1545, 1610, 1651).[1][2]
1651. The bishop of Sion gives the final judgement on the Aegina alp.[1][2]
1683-1686. The chapel of St Anne at Zum Loch is rebuilt.[1][2]
1720. Ulrichen becomes a rectorate of the parish of Münster.[1][2]
1868. Creation of the parish of St Nicholas.[1][2]
1878. Construction of a church, which has to be replaced as early as 1894.[1][2]
1963-1966. Construction of the Gries reservoir, whose water is used in the Altstafel power station.[1]
1999. Closure of the military airfield, the highest in Switzerland.[1][2]
2009. On 1 January Ulrichen merges with Obergesteln and Oberwald into the municipality of Obergoms.[1][2][3]
Population of Ulrichen
Sources and references: [1][2]
| 1798 | 36 (unconfirmed) |
| 1850 | 247 |
| 1900 | 233 |
| 1950 | 248 |
| 2000 | 221 |
Historic sites in Ulrichen
Chapel of St Anne at Zum Loch. Chapel in the hamlet of Zum Loch, destroyed by an avalanche in 1465 and rebuilt in 1683-1686.[1][2]
Parish church of St Nicholas. The parish was created in 1868. The church built in 1878 was replaced as early as 1894.[1][2]
Gries reservoir and Altstafel power station. The Gries reservoir, built between 1963 and 1966, feeds the Altstafel power station run by the Aegina AG company.[1]
Former military airfield. Built during the Second World War, it was the highest military airfield in Switzerland until 1999. Material from its dismantling was used for the Geschinen avalanche dam.[1][2]
Remains in Ulrichen
Coin of Gratian. A coin bearing the image of the Roman emperor Gratian was found on the Nufenen pass.[1][2]
Legends of Ulrichen
Thomas Riedi and the spring of 1419. The giant Thomas Riedi is the hero of Ulrichen's tradition. When the Bernese crossed the Grimsel in 1419, he led the men of the upper villages against them between Obergesteln and Ulrichen. Mortally wounded by treachery, he asked God for a sip of water: a spring burst out at his feet, he fought on, and died just as reinforcements from Münster put the enemy to flight. The «Riedibrunnen» is said to flow still, «as long as the Valais is free».[5]
The tree on the Waldbüel. On the Waldbüel a tree is said to have held an image of the Virgin «not made by human hand». At night bells, singing and an organ could be heard there. The clergy saw it as superstition, the bishop forbade a chapel to be built, and two young theologians felled the tree. Since then the night-time mass has fallen silent.[5]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Ulrichen » (Alois Grichting, trad. Florence Piguet, version du 05.01.2017)
- Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, « Ulrichen » (Alois Grichting, version du 05.01.2017, version allemande)
- Office fédéral de la statistique, Répertoire officiel des communes, mutation n° 2756 (01.01.2009)
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
- Walliser Sagen, Historischer Verein von Oberwallis, Brig, 1907, n° 27 et 45
Other villages near Ulrichen
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