landscape with fields and hills
Empowering rural communities to act for change

Törbel-Moosalpregion, Switzerland

Territory: Mountainous
Inhabitants: 498
Area: 17.6 sqkm
Main occupations: Service sector, farming, nature-based tourism
Protected areas: Nature reserve Moosalp, and wildlife zone Märufälli.

Törbel is a Swiss mountain village with around 500 inhabitants situated at an altitude of 1497 meters above sea level on a south-facing slope high above the Visp Valley in the Canton of Valais. It is characterized by centuries-old sun-scorched houses and narrow passageways and is one of the few authentic Valais mountain villages, as it is rarely found today. The main sources of income for the village of Törbel stem from the primary sector, mainly agriculture, and the tertiary sector, with tourism and restaurants playing significant roles. This is evident as Törbel is part of the Moosalp region, a renowned tourist destination encompassing the independent communities of Bürchen, Törbel, Emd, and Zeneggen. Situated approximately 500 m above Törbel, the Moosalp boasts several moor biotopes protected by national nature conservation law.

In summer, the hiking area of Moosalp-Törbel offers an expansive network of trails spanning over 75 km. These trails include high-altitude paths, smaller mountain excursions, and leisurely hikes leading to neighbouring villages and picturesque viewpoints. Among these, the "Stand" vantage point stands out as particularly popular, offering an exceptional panorama of 12 surrounding peaks, many exceeding four thousand meters, in the Valais and Bern regions. The Moosalp also caters to winter sports enthusiasts with numerous winter activities.

Our ambition
Our aim is to develop innovative solutions that promote sustainability and development in the region of Törbel. This includes enhancing tourism experiences and increasing income opportunities. By working together with the local community, we aspire to create a vibrant and sustainable future for Törbel, where residents are motivated to stay, and new visitors as well as future inhabitants are drawn to explore its unique offerings.

This makes us unique
The village scenery of Törbel, with its historic centre and the sun-scorched houses, is unique and thus listed as part of the Swiss Inventory of Heritage Sites of national importance. This is why the association "Urchigs Terbil", founded in 1985, is trying to preserve what was at risk of disappearing from memory and from the village landscape due to economic and social changes since the 1950s. During a guided tour, visitors can explore a dwelling house and various farm buildings, including a bakehouse, a 300-year-old barn, a fulling mill, and a wine press from 1864. This provides insights into everyday life as it once was in this typical Valais village.

In the 1980s, Törbel was subject of scientific research by the anthropologist Robert Netting and later by Nobel Prize winner Elinor Ostrom. Ostrom studied the management of the Törbel commons with a specific focus on the regulations for sustainable use of pastures and forests, as well as the communal irrigation channels (so-called Suonen). Following her research in Törbel and other global communities, she proposed the theory that communal ownership is more effective in managing natural resources in the long term than private or state ownership, as demonstrated in her influential work "Governing the Commons."