Albinen: a paradise for tourists, but not for residents

Swiss Partner
2 min readDec 1, 2023

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Albinen is a charming village with a rich history and many attractions. The village is a popular tourist center that attracts visitors from all over the world.

Albinen is a village in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It is located at an altitude of 1,300 meters above sea level in the Rhone Valley. Albinen is a popular tourist center known for its scenic views, ski resorts and thermal springs.

Albinen Village, Switzerland

The history of Albinen dates back to Roman times. During the Middle Ages, the village was an important trading center. In the 19th century, Albinen became a popular vacation destination for wealthy Europeans.

Albinen is located in the picturesque Rhone valley. The village is surrounded by high mountains and green forests. Albinen offers a beautiful view of the Alps.

Albinen is also a popular ski resort. The village has several ski elevators that serve over 100 kilometers of ski slopes. It is a popular destination for skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports.

There are several thermal spas in the village that offer various spa treatments.

Here are some of the attractions in Albinen:

St. Martin’s Church is a Gothic church built in the 14th century.
Lady Minerva thermal springs are thermal springs that are known for their healing properties.
Torrent Ski Resort is a popular ski resort located near Albinen.

Albinen is a great place for relaxation and entertainment. The village offers something for everyone, from outdoor enthusiasts to history and culture lovers.

Tourists here are offered a large network of trails for walking and sightseeing. The highlight of the town is the “Albinenleitern”, a series of stairs that can be used to climb up the cliff.

Albinen is ready to pay the newcomers

However, the natural beauty still does not entice potential newcomers. For many years, the place is virtually empty. At the end of 2020, for example, there were just over 240 inhabitants. Most of the local population left for the big cities.

The fact is that the mountain town has problems with employment. Residents leave its borders due to lack of work, so the local administration is ready to pay potential newcomers.

But there are conditions. Only people under the age of 45 can apply for Albinen resident status. They must be either Swiss citizens or holders of residence permit C.

In addition, the house, which will buy a new resident of the town, must cost at least 220 thousand dollars. It is necessary to stay in Albinen for a minimum of 19 years.

Conclusion

Albinen is a picturesque village with a rich history and culture. It offers many opportunities for recreation and entertainment, but in recent years has suffered from population outflow. The local administration is willing to pay newcomers, but certain conditions must be met.

In the long term, if the Albinen authorities can solve the employment problem, the village could once again become an attractive place to live.

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Swiss Partner

Graduated from ETH Zurich and worked in technology and financial startups for over 20 years. Today I am a consultant and run my own blog about Switzerland.