Visperterminen
Origin of the name Visperterminen
The name appears as « Termenum » in the 11th century and « Terminum » in 1221. No explanation has yet been found for this name.
Founding of Visperterminen
Iron Age graves show that the slope above Visp has long been inhabited. The municipality stretches from the valley floor to the Mattwaldhorn and the Simelihorn, across the north-west slope and the upper Nanztal. The village, with the parish church, corresponds to the former hamlet of Ob dem grossen Stein. The other hamlets are Ober- and Unterstalden, Bitzinen, Niederhäusern, Parmili and Sattolti. In the Middle Ages the inhabitants owed dues to the cathedral chapter of Sion and belonged to the first quarter of the dizain of Visp. In the 16th century Ob dem grossen Stein, Niederhäusern, Parmili, Ober- and Unterstalden joined to form one municipality. This village of meadows, fields, vineyards and alpine pastures lived to the rhythm of seasonal migration: families followed their livestock from one hamlet to another and often spent only the winter in the village. At the start of the 21st century many inhabitants work at Lonza in Visp while still farming part-time.
History of Visperterminen
Iron Age. Graves attest early settlement.
11th century. Mention as « Termenum ».
1221. Mention as « Terminum ».
1255. An inhabitant named Johannes leases the Rimella and Rotunda alps, from which the Walser village of Rimella in Piedmont is said to have grown.
1256. The church of Saint Theodul is founded as a daughter church of the parish of Visp.
1360. Forest and grazing rights are defended against Visp.
16th century. The hamlets of Ob dem grossen Stein, Niederhäusern, Parmili, Ober- and Unterstalden join to form one municipality.
1619. Date of the organ preserved in the forest chapel.
1652. The pilgrimage chapel of Mariä Heimsuchung (Visitation) is founded in the forest.
1656-1782. The church holds a rectorate benefice, replaced in 1783 by a vicariate benefice.
1715. Visperterminen becomes a parish.
1756. An earthquake damages the forest chapel.
1850s. About a quarter of the population reportedly emigrates to Argentina and founds San Jerónimo Norte.
1855. Another earthquake damages the chapel.
1965. The forest chapel is restored.
1979. The St. Jodern Kellerei cooperative winery is founded.[2]
2005. The primary sector provides just over 44 % of jobs.
Population of Visperterminen
Sources and references: [4]
| 1798 | 450 inhabitants |
| 1850 | 511 inhabitants |
| 1900 | 630 inhabitants |
| 1950 | 968 inhabitants |
| 2000 | 1'357 inhabitants |
| 2025 | 1'301 inhabitants |
Historic sites in Visperterminen
Forest chapel of Mariä Heimsuchung. Pilgrimage site founded in 1652, with an organ from 1619, damaged by the earthquakes of 1756 and 1855 and restored in 1965. The path leading to it is lined with ten 17th-century station chapels.
Church of Saint Theodul. Parish church founded in 1256 as a daughter of the parish of Visp and dedicated to Saint Theodul, the seat of a parish since 1715.
Heida vineyard. Vines rising to 1'150 m, regarded as the highest vineyard in Europe. They start on the bank of the Vispa and climb in terraces held up by dry-stone walls.[3]
Hamlets. Ober- and Unterstalden, Bitzinen, Niederhäusern, Parmili and Sattolti, between which families moved with their livestock through the seasons.
Remains in Visperterminen
Iron Age graves. Burials showing early settlement of the municipal territory.
Sources
- Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, « Visperterminen » (Alois Grichting, version du 27.12.2014)
- Valais/Wallis Promotion (valais.ch), « St. Jodern Kellerei » (fondation en 1979)
- swissinfo.ch, « Europe's highest vineyard spins heads » (10.08.2009)
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
- geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées de Visperterminen)
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Visperterminen
Missing information, or do you have a source? Suggest a correction or addition. Every submission is checked before it's published.
Suggest a change