Unterbäch
Intro
The quaint mountain village of Unterbäch, with its panoramic views of the Bietschhorn, is a relaxing, family-friendly place. Thanks to its first-class location atop a sunny high plateau, the hamlet basks in over 2,000 hours of sunshine each year.
Unterbäch’s approximately 450 inhabitants have found a little corner of paradise to call home. Since nature reigns supreme here, it is the perfect starting point for hikers and mountain bikers, with lush, brightly coloured flower-filled meadows and irrigation channels lining the trails. In the winter, this small winter sports resort, where snow is guaranteed, offers ample space on its broad, sunny slopes. There is a snow sports school for children and those trying out snow sports for the first time.
Thanks to its central location, you can also use Unterbäch as a base from which to explore the entire Canton of Valais.
Historical aspects – the birthplace of women’s suffrage
Just over 60 years ago, in March 1957, the women of the Valais mountain village of Unterbäch cast their votes illegally and against the will of local government – 14 years before Swiss women were officially granted the right to vote. Katharina Zenhäusern was the first woman in Switzerland to deposit a ballot slip in a ballot box. A further 32 women followed suit in the face of deafening protests by opponents. This historic event playing out in Unterbäch was even reported in the New York Times. That is why Unterbäch is still considered the Rütli of Swiss women, since it formed the foundation of women’s suffrage just as the Rütli was the site on which Switzerland itself was founded.
