Some important dates in the history of Leukerbad

4th century BC – Numerous finds from the Roman-Helvetian era (burials, brooches, pottery, etc.) are
2nd century AD evidence that settlements have existed in the Leukerbad area for two and a half thousand years.
5th century AD Burgundians occupy the Dala Valley.
up to 1200 The Gemmipass is crossed. Leukerbad becomes part of the town Leuk.
1229 The name “Boez” for Leukerbad is used in his first time. French is spoken in Leukerbad
1315 The oldest document in the Leukerbad municipal archives; the town is now independent. The baths are mentioned (via, qua itur ad balnea).
1449-1460 A mule trail is built from Leuk to Leukerbad
1478 The mineral water springs and baths became the property of the bishop of Sitten (Jost von Silenen). The first inns are established. The place gets a new Name: Balnea leucensia, thermale leucenses or “Baden”.
1484 Construction of a parish church began. Beginning Paracelsus describes the thermal springs of Leukerbad. XVI century 1501 The bishop Cardinal Schiner acquires the rights to the baths and publicises them during his travels. Tourism of the baths flourishes and the German language predominates.
1518 An avalanche destroys Leukerbad (61 dead). Leukerbad is quickly rebuilt. Many descriptions of the hot springs for example by Stumpf, Sebastian Münster and others are published.
1556 Baths for the poor are built. (Today known as the Volksheilbad).
1563 Thomas Platter and his son Felix stay at the hotel “Bären”.
XVI century 7 avalanches destroy Leukerbad. The town is discouraged. Visitors are no longer coming. The ownership of the baths gets to the Werra family (“Werrabad”). Construction of the “Weisses Haus” (Plaschy) This house is now known as the “Lindner Hotel Maison Blanche”.
1682 The community acquires the ownership of the thermal baths.
1719 Another avalanche destroys Leukerbad. It is rebuilt on the right side of the Dala. (“zur Gasse”) and below the church. The Russian scientist Mazomousky publishes a geological treatise on Leukerbad.
1738 Die Gemeinden Varen, Inden und Leukerbad schliessen den Vertrag zum Bau eines Weges durch die Varnerleitern
1739-1741 Stephan Matter builds new inns and, along with Landvogt Balet, a new road to the top of the Gemmipass. (The existing section)
1779 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe comes to Leukerbad
Seite 1ALBINEN – INDEN – VAREN
Leukerbad Tourismus, Rathaus, CH-3954 Leukerbad Telefon +41 27 472 71 71, www.leukerbad.ch, info@leukerbad.ch
L E U K E R B A D LOECHE-LES-BAINS
1813-1816 A musical society is established (“Gemmi” musical society)
1829 An avalanche wall is built on the village (engineer is M. Venetz). Another protection wall with the engineers Zen-Ruffinen, Loretan (since then the village has not been touched by avalanches).
1830-1845 Construction of several hotels; Croix d’Or, de France, des Alpes, Bellevue
1850 Opening of the road to Leukerbad (the village has a population of 577).
1865-1875 Construction of a hospital for the poor (today’s Volksheilbad).
1877 Guy de Maupassant in Leukerbad
1878 Mark Twain comes to Leukerbad
1889 Opening of the first electric power station in the Valais.
1895 Rates: by horse to Kandersteg CHF 20.- porter to Kandersteg CHF 10.-, Gemmi Pass CHF 4.-.
1896 Establishment of the hotel and bath company, the first hotel corporation in Switzerland.
1908 Establishment of the Company “Chemin de Fer Electric Leukerbad” (village population: 619).
1909 Opening of the electric powerstation at « Dalaloch ».
1915 Inaugural trip of the electric train to Leukerbad (1915 = 5’624 passengers).
Establishments of the agency for tourism, cures and sojourns.
1933 Pablo Picasso, Paul Valéry and Nikitinga stay at Schwarenbach
1940 35’544 overnight stays (village population: 514).
1948 Construction of the first ski lift (Obere Maressen).
1950 53’684 overnight stays (village population: 505).
1951-1953 James Baldwin the writer from Harlem, N.Y. stays at Leukerbad.
1957 Construction of the Gemmi cableways (enlarged in 1974).
1958 The citizens decide against the construction of baths for themselves in favour of a rheumatological clinic.
1959-1961 Construction of the rheumatological clinic and rehabilitation centre
1960 206’018 overnight stays (village population: 619).
1962 Construction of the institute for Paraplegics (Today: Rehabilitationszentrum Leukerbad).
1967 The train makes his last trip, bus service is started (159’372 passengers carried).
1968 The town development plan is approved. The outdoor municipal baths are opened.
1970 650’186 overnight stays (village population: 1’056).
1970-1972 Establishment and construction of the Torrent facilities
Seite 1ALBINEN – INDEN – VAREN
Leukerbad Tourismus, Rathaus, CH-3954 Leukerbad Telefon +41 27 472 71 71, www.leukerbad.ch, info@leukerbad.ch
L E U K E R B A D LOECHE-LES-BAINS
1979-1980 Road construction with Albinen. Open all year (via Tunnel): construction of the purification plant.
1980 Opening of the thermal baths complex.
1981 1’033’318 overnight stays. Village population: 1’109.
1982 The citizens society becomes the majority shareholder of the hotel and bath corporation and of LLB. Construction and opening of the new tourist office
1984 New traffic regulations forbid night driving in town.
1985 Inauguration at the free “Ring Jet” bus service
1987 The two ski lifts on the Obere Maressen are replaced with a 4 seat chair lift. 3 FIS World Cup woman’s ski races
1988 The new elementary school and orientation building (with social hall and auditorium) is opened, athletics field, children’s playground, minigolf. 3 FIS World Cup ski races (men)
1989 Completion of the 3rd phase of the new baths of the citizens society (Burgerbad).
1990 Opening of the sports centre, 75th birthday of Leukerbad Tourism. 1’094’531 overnight stays.
1991 1’139’594 overnight stays
1992 The Swiss Chess Championship is held in Leukerbad.
1993 The St. Laurent Alpentherme 51°C opens (spa with thermal baths, Roman-Irish baths, treatment department, shopping street, bistro, tea room, nightclub, bank, estate agent, corner shop, pharmacy and much more). European Curling Championships are held in the Sportarena; the Klinik SVK is refurbished.
1994 Parking guidance system installed, fixed barriers / new traffic regulations, construction of village hall. Local Ring-Jet buses no longer free of charge. European Alpine and Nordic skiing championships for railway employees. 1’102’713 overnight stays, 1’500 inhabitants.
1995 Inauguration of new village hall on 22 September 1995 (contains the municipal authorities, transport office, post office, police station, telephone services, LLB bus station, Füeg watchmakers, apartments, immigration authorities and the civil registry office). New six-person gondola lift from Flaschen to Rinderhütte completed.
1998 Daubenhorn via ferrata opens. Leukerbad municipal authorities found to have invested too much in holiday complexes.
1999 Major landslide in Pischür on 25 February. Property damage in Noyer.
2000 Hotel Maison Blanche – Grand Bain, De France and Alpentherme spa become part of the German hotel chain, Lindner Hotels & Resorts.
2001 Celebrations to mark the 500th anniversary of local church community and spa tourism.
Seite 1ALBINEN – INDEN – VAREN
Leukerbad Tourismus, Rathaus, CH-3954 Leukerbad Telefon +41 27 472 71 71, www.leukerbad.ch, info@leukerbad.ch
L E U K E R B A D LOECHE-LES-BAINS
2002 The hospitals are merged. The rehabilitation centre runs both hospitals as an independent organisation. December: municipal authorities move to Schulzentrum. 919’560 overnight stays.
2003 Founding of Thermalquellenzunft (thermal springs guild) and opening of thermal springs trail. Village square is redesigned. Chairlift from Daubensee to Gemmi pass replaced with a cable car.
2004 Thermal springs path opens. 877’967 overnight stays.
2006 Gigathlon stage finish. July: the neurological rehabilitation unit moves from the “neuro building” to the main building. 857,486 overnight stays. 2008 September: Lämmeren glacier trail opens. Obere Maressen chair lift closes after 21 years of service. New Rinderhütte-Schwalbennest six-person chair lift. Renovations at Lindner Alpentherme: new indoor and outdoor pools, restaurant made accessible from the spa, sports pool replaced by 300 m2 Valais Sauna Village. Renovations at Burgerbad: new tube slide (120 m) and the first “x-tube” water slide in Switzerland (100 m). Old train station converted into a museum. 1,800 inhabitants. 2009 The six-person detachable chair lift in the Torrent winter sports area goes into commission in winter 2009, replacing two ski lifts. A few piste corrections were also made, resulting in the creation of another blue run. Miss Switzerland 2006, Christa Rigozzi, becomes the official ambassador of Leukerbad. 868,192 overnight stays.
2010 Dart European Championship in Leukerbad. Complete renovation of rehabilitation centre.
2011 The 111th Swiss Chess Championship is held in Leukerbad. Construction of the viewing platform on the Gemmi. Inauguration of Switzerland’s first adventure via ferrata on the Gemmi.