Bettmeralp

Bettmeralp

Bettmeralp village and Bettmerhorn

Coat of arms
Bettmeralp
Coordinates: 46°23′N 8°5′E / 46.383°N 8.083°E / 46.383; 8.083Coordinates: 46°23′N 8°5′E / 46.383°N 8.083°E / 46.383; 8.083
Country Switzerland
Canton Valais
District Raron
Area[1]
 • Total 29.36 km2 (11.34 sq mi)
Elevation 1,970 m (6,460 ft)
Population (Dec 2015[2])
 • Total 452
 • Density 15/km2 (40/sq mi)
Postal code 3991 & 3994
SFOS number 6205
Surrounded by Fiesch, Fieschertal, Filet, Grengiols, Lax, Martisberg, Naters, Riederalp
Website gemeinde.bettmeralp.ch
SFSO statistics

Bettmeralp is a municipality in the district of Raron in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. On 1 January 2014 the former municipalities of Betten and Martisberg merged into the municipality of Bettmeralp.[3] Before the merger, Bettmeralp was the name of a village and ski resort in Betten.

Bettmeralp village

Above Bettmeralp

Bettmeralp is a car free village which can be reached by cable car from the Betten train station (Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn). From there another cable car leads near to the summit of Bettmerhorn, which lies directly above the Aletsch Glacier. Bettmersee is located above the village at 2006 m.

The position of Bettmeralp allows good view over the Pennine Alps, particularly the summits of Weissmies, Dom, Matterhorn and Weisshorn.

History

Betten is first mentioned in 1243 as Bettan.[4] Martisberg is first mentioned in 1311 as Martisperg.[5]

Geography

The former municipalities that now make up Bettmeralp have a total combined area of 29.36 km2 (11.34 sq mi).[1]

Demographics

The total population of Bettmeralp (as of December 2015) is 452.[2]

Historic population

The historical population is given in the following chart:[6]

Sights

The entire hamlet of Eggen is designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites[7]

Skilift system

Bettmeralp village can only be reached via a cable car. The main ski lifts are:[8]

Name or route type elevation
groundstation 		elevation
mountainstation 		slope length capacity in
persons/hour 		construction
year(s)
Betten
Betten Village 		aerial tramway 832 1199 872 350 1950
1965
Betten Village
Bettmeralp 		aerial tramway 1199 1931 1610 500 1951
1967
1979
Betten
Bettmeralp 		aerial tramway 832 1933 2446 970 1974
Bettmeralp
Bettmerhorn 		gondola 1991 2652 2324 2400 1975
1995
Wurzenbord chairlift 1966 2224 1075 2000 2003
Schönbiel chairlift 1956 2296 1669 2800 1998
Alpmatten 1 surface lift 1861 1951 294 650 1971
Alpmatten 2 surface lift 1861 1951 294 650 1971
Bettmeralp 1 surface lift 1940 2067 640 1000 1972
1955[9]
Bettmeralp 2 surface lift 1940 2067 640 1000 1971[10]
Tanzbode surface lift 1985 2016 488 720 1995
1992:Temporary lift
Trainerlift surface lift 1974 2026 303 820 1983
1st trainer:1969
Lager 1 surface lift 1974 2035 336 1000 1983
Lager 2 surface lift 1974 2022 223 720 1999

Panorama

The village:

View from the village:

References

  1. 1 2 Arealstatistik Standard - Gemeindedaten nach 4 Hauptbereichen
  2. 1 2 Swiss Federal Statistical Office - STAT-TAB, online database – Ständige und nichtständige Wohnbevölkerung nach institutionellen Gliederungen, Geburtsort und Staatsangehörigkeit (German) accessed 30 August 2016
  3. ↑ Nomenklaturen – Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz (German) accessed 13 December 2014
  4. ↑ Betten in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  5. ↑ Martisberg in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
  6. ↑ Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB Bevölkerungsentwicklung nach Region, 1850-2000 Archived 17 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. (German) accessed 29 January 2011
  7. ↑ "Kantonsliste A-Objekte". KGS Inventar (in German). Federal Office of Civil Protection. 2009. Archived from the original on 28 June 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  8. ↑ Website Bettmeralpbahnen about lift system details Archived 20 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine.. Visited 16 December 2008
  9. ↑ In 1951 a smaller lift opened on the same location as the groundstation
  10. ↑ Opening of dual surface lift

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Riederalp-Bettmeralp.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bettmeralp VS.
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