Unterbäch
Origin of the name Unterbäch
The village is first recorded around 1280 as « Underbechque ». In Upper Valais dialect it is reportedly called « Unnerbäch », a form not yet confirmed. The meaning of the name is unknown.[1]
Founding of Unterbäch
Unterbäch is a settlement of hamlets on a high terrace on the left bank of the Rhône. In the 12th and 13th centuries the lords of Raron and of Visp and the Asperlin and de Bex families held property there. The lords of Unterbäch, later called Buchin or Bitschin, served the lords of Raron and held fiefs from the bishop of Sion. They owned a tower house of the 12th-13th centuries in the heart of the village. The community grew stronger in 1434 by acquiring from the lords of Raron the rights of justice at Holz, and gave itself statutes in 1490 and 1538. It belonged to the vidomnat until 1538, then to the great parish of Raron. Until around 1846 it also included the hamlet of Turtig, which then passed to the municipality of Raron.[1]
History of Unterbäch
12th-13th centuries. The lords of Raron and of Visp and the Asperlin and de Bex families hold property in Unterbäch. The lords of Unterbäch have a tower house there.[1]
around 1280. First recorded as « Underbechque ».[1]
1434. The community acquires from the lords of Raron the rights of justice at Holz.[1]
1490. First statutes.[1]
1538. New statutes; end of membership of the vidomnat, the community now belongs to the great parish of Raron.[1]
1554. Creation of the daughter parish of Unterbäch-Bürchen.[1]
1558. Construction of the Holy Trinity church.[1]
around 1846. The hamlet of Turtig passes to the municipality of Raron.[1]
1859. Unterbäch becomes an independent parish.[1]
1879. Bürchen separates from Unterbäch.[1]
1936. Opening of the road to Visp. Many inhabitants become worker-farmers in industry, notably at Lonza.[1]
1950. From this date, a cable car to Raron speeds up the shift from a farming to a tourist municipality.[1]
1957. Women take part in a federal vote for the first time. Their votes are declared invalid, and the village earns the nickname « Rütli der Schweizer Frau » (« Grütli de la femme suisse »).[1]
Population of Unterbäch
Sources and references: [1][3]
| 1798 | 238 inhabitants |
| 1850 | 228 inhabitants |
| 1900 | 385 inhabitants |
| 1950 | 415 inhabitants |
| 2000 | 426 inhabitants |
| 2010 | 401 inhabitants |
| 2020 | 444 inhabitants |
| 2025 | 483 inhabitants |
Historic sites in Unterbäch
Holy Trinity church. Church built in 1558, four years after the creation of the daughter parish of Unterbäch-Bürchen. Unterbäch has been an independent parish since 1859.[1]
Turtig. Hamlet that belonged to Unterbäch until around 1846, before passing to the municipality of Raron.[1]
Holz. Place whose rights of justice the community acquired from the lords of Raron in 1434.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Unterbäch » (Alois Grichting, trad. Florence Piguet, version du 12.01.2021)
- Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, « Unterbäch » (Alois Grichting, version du 12.01.2021)
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)
Other villages near Unterbäch
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