Bettmeralp facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bettmeralp
Bettmeralp village and Bettmerhorn
Coat of arms
Bettmeralp Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Bettmeralp Location in Canton of Valais Show map of Canton of Valais
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Valais
District	Raron
Area
• Total	28.79 km2 (11.12 sq mi)
Elevation	1,970 m (6,460 ft)
Population  (Dec 2020 )
• Total	452
• Density	15.700/km2 (40.66/sq mi)
Postal code	3991 & 3994
Surrounded by	Fiesch, Fieschertal, Filet, Grengiols, Lax, Martisberg, Naters, Riederalp

Bettmeralp is a cool place in Switzerland, located in the Valais canton. It's a special kind of town called a municipality. On January 1, 2014, two smaller towns, Betten and Martisberg, joined together to form the new municipality of Bettmeralp. Before this, Bettmeralp was just the name of a village and a popular ski resort within the old town of Betten.

Bettmeralp Village: A Car-Free Paradise

Above Bettmeralp village

Bettmeralp is a very special village because you can't drive cars there! It's completely car-free, which makes it super quiet and safe. To get to Bettmeralp, you take a cable car from the Betten train station.

From the village, another cable car can take you even higher, close to the top of Bettmerhorn mountain. This mountain is right above the amazing Aletsch Glacier, which is the largest glacier in the Alps! You can also find a beautiful lake called Bettmersee just above the village, sitting at 2,006 meters (about 6,581 feet) high.

The village of Bettmeralp offers incredible views of the Pennine Alps. You can see famous mountain peaks like Weissmies, Dom, Matterhorn, and Weisshorn. It's a perfect spot for nature lovers!

An old photo from 1949 showing Bettmeralp from above.

A Glimpse into History

The area around Bettmeralp has a long history. The town of Betten was first mentioned in old records way back in 1243. Martisberg, the other town that joined Bettmeralp, appeared in records a bit later, in 1311.

Geography and Size

The whole area that makes up Bettmeralp today, including the former towns of Betten and Martisberg, covers about 29.36 square kilometers (about 11.34 square miles). This gives you an idea of how big the municipality is.

Who Lives in Bettmeralp?

As of December 2011, about 440 people lived in Bettmeralp. The number of people living in this area has changed quite a bit over the years. For example, in 1850, there were around 384 people, and by 2000, the population was about 476.

Special Places to See

One interesting spot in Bettmeralp is the small group of buildings called Eggen. This entire hamlet (a very small village) is considered a special part of Swiss heritage. It's protected because of its historical importance and beauty.

Ski Lifts and Winter Fun

Bettmeralp is famous for its amazing ski slopes! Since you can't drive cars in the village, the only way to get there is by cable car. Once you're there, a whole system of ski lifts helps you explore the mountains.

Here are some of the main ski lifts in Bettmeralp:

Images for kids

• 

  A view of the center of Bettmeralp village.

• 

  The amazing view from Bettmeralp village.

See also

In Spanish: Bettmeralp para niños