Page 120 - DIVA_MY WORKS 1918-2022

culture

“Today it is World Heritage area. Once there, you will his wife erected a memorial on the mountain over the villages, the two largest glaciers in
impossible to see a distant, extravagant building with a big slope above the village, between the Villa the Alps—the Aletsch and Fiescher—grew
imagine that glass terrace, looking as if it is hanging on the and the hotel Belalp, at an elevation of 2340 over the next two centuries, reaching their
the glacier cliff – the Belalp Hotel. If you go past it, you metres and in sight of the Aletsch Glacier. maximum lengths around 1850. The most
will see the stone border – the Aletschboard, Both the memorial and Villa can be visited
dangerous area was near Lake Marjelen, the
tongue came from which the tongue of the majestic Aletsch on the ‘Tyndall trail’. His writings showed that lowest point. When the lake overflowed, three
right up to glacier can be seen. Today it is impossible to he was attracted to the area by the glacier, the hundred and fifty-three million cubic feet (10
this wall just imagine that the glacier tongue came right stunning natural scenes thereabouts and the million cubic metres) of water inundated the
200-300 up to this wall just 200-300 years ago, as hospitable villagers. However, there may have valley below, damaging property and killing
years ago, as nowadays it is so far away. The view is still been another attraction. This area is also one people.
nowadays fascinating, however, and in summer you can of the most legendary places in Switzerland.
see how tragically far the tongue has moved
it is so far away - since 2000, it has retreated 1 km.
away..” The historic Bealp Hotel is an unusual
building. Although today it looks very
modern with the glass terrace overlooking
the cliff, it dates back to 1856, which explains “This will not work without sacrifice,
its imposing Belle Epoque appearance. It is
a mountain hotel, receiving mainly British Witch of Belalp but it means we will preserve the
guests, as well as the Irish alpinist and natural Since the Middle Ages, Belalp was known as wonders of our world for our children
scientist John Tyndall (1820-1893). Despite the land of witches because of the legend of Several times the local citizens had to rebuild
the obvious modernization of the hotel, it a witch who took the form of a black raven from scratch. The villagers of Fiesch and and grandchildren.”.
th
honours him with the original 19 century to wreak havoc across the region. To this Fieschertal in canton Valais offered prayers
furnishings in the ‘Tyndall Room’, which is day there is a belief that the witch must be against the advancing Aletsch glacier that
available to guests who want to breathe in the chased back to the glacier before she causes threatened their homes. They tried to stop great danger. Alps and pastures vanish, and
atmosphere of that time. more harm. She was accused of many local the glacier with crosses, some of which can towns die out.”
misfortunes, as well as killing her husband, still be seen today, and made formal vows to
John Tyndall and Belalp and was eventually burned at stake. live virtuously and pray against the growth Can the Pope and the reverse prayers save
John Tyndall’s writings greatly helped develop This became part of local folklore, and at the of the Aletsch glacier and the flooding of the Glacier today?
international Swiss Alpine tourism. He was beginning of each year people came here to Lake Märjelen. The bishop of Sion, the Pope’s Will even this be enough to tame Climate
fascinated by the Aletsch Glacier, and he chase the witch to ensure that the coming year ambassador in Bern, took their prayer to Pope Change? Researchers are predicting that by
studied glacier movements and climate change will be safe. Nowadays, the Belalp ski club has Innocent XI for his official approval. 2050 temperatures in the Swiss Alps will rise
on the Belalp. He was also a keen mountaineer an annual Witch Hunt, a week-long skiing In addition, since 1862, the local villagers by 1.8 degrees Celsius in winter and by 2.7
- on 19 August 1861, Tyndall, accompanied by event at the start of January. Skiers dress as have held an annual five-hour procession degrees Celsius in the summer.
two mountain guides, was the first to conquer witches, wear masks, and participate in the to Ernerwald chapel on July 31, St Ignatius’s
the difficult Weisshorn. A year later, he made 12km Witches’ Descent. With cries of “D’Häx feast day, to reinforce their prayers. Since that What can we do as individuals?
the first ascent of the southwest shoulder of isch los!” (“the witch is loose!”) they take part time the glacier has never flooded Fiesch, and Global rethinking is necessary to preserve
the Matterhorn, now called the Pic Tyndall. in this almost Olympic descent. The Witch over 300 years it has retreated 3,5 km – 1km glaciers worldwide, and this will be discussed
The Matterhorn had until then been regarded Hexe is the biggest winter sporting event since 2000. “We prayed for the ice to recede, during the upcoming meeting on Climate
as unclimbable. in Valais canton, with an official ceremony and our prayer worked – too well”, say the Change in Glasgow in November 2021. This
and presentation of awards. This year it was villagers. Today, the villagers no longer worry was also discussed in Switzerland in June,
However, it was Belalp that captivated Tyndall, cancelled due to the pandemic, but I still about floods, but about having less drinking and the vote decided that every person not
and he returned here for 44 years. Like Cassel, journeyed there at New Year, to chase the water, energy, and food for their animals, as only has responsibility but is deeply involved.
he wanted something more than the local Belalp witch down to the glacier and ensure well as more forest fires. We must become more sustainable in our
hotel, so he decided to build a chalet with a nothing bad would happen this year. Whether In 2009 the local parish council petitioned consumer behaviour and habits. This will not
view of the Aletsch Glacier. Belalp became I was successful, it is up to you to judge. the Vatican to allow a change in the prayer’s work without sacrifice, but it means we will
his mental and spiritual home, his small wording. A year later the Holy See agreed, and preserve the wonders of our world for our
Alpine university from where he could study And the Pope in all this? Pope Benedict gave his blessing for the vow to children and grandchildren. Admittedly, the
the glacier. The chalet, now called now Villa The people of the devoutly Catholic Fiesch and be reversed. Now, on 31 July, people in Fiesch situation looks catastrophic, but if we want
Tyndall, is one of the highest mountain villas Fieschertal villages have made an the annual pray, “The glacier is ice, ice is water and water our glacier to survive we are ideally placed to
in the Alps. It is at the height of Belalp and can pilgrimage here since 1676, when Europe is life. Without the glacier, the springs run dry see and reflect upon it. Visiting the Aletsch
just about be seen from Brig. After his death, was in the grip of the Little Ice Age. Looming and brooks evaporate. Men and women face Glacier is the first step in protecting it.

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