Bettmeralp

Bettmeralp
Municipality
Bettmeralp village and Bettmerhorn
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Bettmeralp
Bettmeralp Show map of Switzerland Bettmeralp Show map of Canton of Valais
Coordinates: 46°23′N 8°5′E
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Valais
District	Raron
Area [1]
• Total	29.36 km^2 (11.34 sq mi)
Elevation	1,970 m (6,460 ft)
Population  (31 December 2018)[2]
• Total	462
• Density	16/km^2 (41/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (Central European Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (Central European Summer Time)
Postal code(s)	3991 & 3994
SFOS number	6205
ISO 3166 code	CH-VS
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.

Historic aerial photograph by Werner Friedli from 1949

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 28.79 km^2 (11.12 sq mi).[6]

Demographics

The total population of Bettmeralp (as of December 2020^[update]) is 452.[7]

Historic population

The historical population is given in the following chart:[8]

Sights

The entire hamlet of Eggen is designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.[9]

Skilift system

Bettmeralp village can only be reached via a cable car. The main ski lifts are:[10]

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
Schräglift Alpmatten	inclined lift	1920	1950	130	100	2000
Bettmeralp 1	surface lift	1940	2067	640	1000	1972 1955[11]
Bettmeralp 2	surface lift	1940	2067	640	1000	1971[12]
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. "Arealstatistik Standard - Gemeinden nach 4 Hauptbereichen". Federal Statistical Office. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
2. "Ständige Wohnbevölkerung nach Staatsangehörigkeitskategorie Geschlecht und Gemeinde; Provisorische Jahresergebnisse; 2018". Federal Statistical Office. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
3. Nomenklaturen – Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz Archived 13 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine (in German) Retrieved 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. Arealstatistik Standard - Gemeindedaten nach 4 Hauptbereichen
7. "Ständige und nichtständige Wohnbevölkerung nach institutionellen Gliederungen, Geburtsort und Staatsangehörigkeit". bfs.admin.ch (in German). Swiss Federal Statistical Office - STAT-TAB. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
8. Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB Bevölkerungsentwicklung nach Region, 1850-2000 Archived 17 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine (in German) Retrieved 29 January 2011
9. "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.
10. Website Bettmeralpbahnen about lift system details Archived 20 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Visited 16 December 2008
11. In 1951 a smaller lift opened on the same location as the groundstation
12. Opening of dual surface lift

External links

• Betten in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
• Martisberg in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
• Official website