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Coat of arms of Zeneggen

Zeneggen

Canton of Valais · 368 inhabitants (31.12.2025, provisional FSO figure)
View of Zeneggen
Photo: Manuae, 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 Remains Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Zeneggen

The village appears in 1283 as « Eccun » and in 1297 as « Zen eccon ». The name is said to come from the hamlet of Eggen (Egga) below the church, « Zen Eggen » meaning « at the Eggen ».[1]

Founding of Zeneggen

Zeneggen lies on a high terrace west of the entrance to the Visp valley (Vispertal). A Middle Bronze Age hilltop settlement on the Kasteltschuggen and a La Tène cemetery at Sisetsch bear witness to early occupation. The municipality includes the hamlets of Eggen, Im Esch, Schulmatten, Sisetsch, Stadlen, Unterbiel, Widum and Winkelried. Writings on irrigation from the Augstbord channel (Augstbordwasserleite) date from 1343 and 1400, and communal regulations (Bauernzünfte) from 1586 and 1604. Zeneggen formed a rectorate in 1716 and in 1754 separated from its mother parish of Visp. Until the early 20th century the population lived from crop farming, livestock and alpine farming. After the Visp-Zeneggen road was completed in 1905 and jobs became available at the Lonza chemical works in Visp from 1907, the small farms increasingly became part-time concerns.[1]

History of Zeneggen

Middle Bronze Age. Hilltop settlement on the Kasteltschuggen.[1]

La Tène period. Cemetery at Sisetsch.[1]

1283. Recorded as « Eccun ».[1]

1297. Recorded as « Zen eccon ».[1]

1343 and 1400. Writings on irrigation from the Augstbord channel.[1]

1586 and 1604. Communal regulations (Bauernzünfte) are adopted.[1]

1611. The burghers' house, still in use, is said to have been built in this year.

1716. Zeneggen becomes a rectorate.[1]

1754. Separation from the mother parish of Visp; Zeneggen becomes a parish.[1]

first half of the 19th century. The chapel of the Fourteen Holy Helpers is built on the Biel.

1879. The new church of the Assumption is built.[1]

1905. The Visp-Zeneggen road is completed.[1]

1907. Residents find jobs at the Lonza chemical works in Visp.[1]

1927. The village is said to have been connected to the electricity supply in this year.

Population of Zeneggen

Sources and references: [1][2]

Population of Zeneggen
1798170 inhabitants
1802160 inhabitants
1850194 inhabitants
1900228 inhabitants
1950201 inhabitants
2000235 inhabitants
2025368 inhabitants

Historic sites in Zeneggen

Church of the Assumption. Parish church rebuilt in 1879, more than a century after Zeneggen became a parish (1754).[1]

Chapel of the Holy Helpers. Chapel built on the Biel in the first half of the 19th century.[1]

Burghers' house. Building reportedly dating from 1611, still used by the burgher community.

Augstbord channel. Irrigation channel whose use is regulated in writings of 1343 and 1400.[1]

Remains in Zeneggen

Kasteltschuggen hilltop settlement. Middle Bronze Age settlement, one of the oldest traces of occupation in the area.[1]

Sisetsch cemetery. La Tène period cemetery in the hamlet of Sisetsch.[1]

Sources

  1. Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (version allemande du Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse), « Zeneggen » (Alois Grichting, version du 07.02.2014)
  2. Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
  3. geo.admin.ch, recherche de lieux (coordonnées)

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