Ulrichen

Ulrichen

Ulrichen ( Valais German: Üerliche ) was until December 31, 2008, a municipality in the district of Goms in the German-speaking part of the canton of Valais in Switzerland.

On 25 November 2007, a merger of the three Upper Goms communities Ulrichen, Obergesteln and upper forest was approved in a referendum. The new Obergoms existed since 1 January 2009.

Geography, city name and dialect

From Ulrichen it goes through the Äginatal up to Nufenenpass in the canton of Ticino. An old mule trail goes on Griessee over over the Gries Pass to Italy.

The locals speak the place name as " Üerliche " from. In fact, the location on old maps is listed as " Urlichen ". The name goes back to an Alemannic tribe elders and not to the holy Ulrich. For the first time the place is mentioned in 1235 as " Vlrighingen ", this was changed to 1354 in " Vlrichigen ". In the parish books usually the Latinized form " Ulringa " was used.

The Üerlicher Dialäkt is characterized in that, unlike all other forms of Gommertitsch here the ch or k soft as in High German is pronounced.

History

Until 1999, here is the highest military airfield in Switzerland was operated. After the departure of the military part of the airstrip was dismantled and turned into a pond and a lake. The excavation of the lake was used for increase of the avalanche protection dam of Geschinen. The remaining part of the runway is being used for leisure facilities, so among other things a go-kart track.

In the year 1211 here the first battle of Ulrichen occurred.

Pictures

Cross made ​​of granite with the inscription " The heroes of Ulrichen »