You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
THE TIRELESS PASTOR<br />
Tourism pioneer. Hotelier. Mountain guide.<br />
Botanist. Father Johann Josef Imseng<br />
(1806-1869) filled the winter months with<br />
scientific work that is still admired to this day.<br />
Text: Christoph Gysel<br />
Photo: Saastal Tourismus AG<br />
The Saas Valley’s pioneer of tourism never saw winter as an excuse<br />
to take a break. Even when he had no guests to entertain, Father<br />
Imseng kept himself busy. He goes down in history as the firstever<br />
skier in the Alps. On 20 th December 1849, the valley pastor,<br />
who was living in Saas-Fee at the time, fastened two boards to his<br />
mountain boots and skied down to Saas-Grund as quickly as he<br />
could to care for a dying man.<br />
But that wasn’t all. Father Johann Josef Imseng was also a<br />
scientist and he used the less busy winter months for numerous<br />
research projects. Canon Berchtold of Sion inspired him with his<br />
works, and as time went by, Imseng spent more and more time on<br />
his research. He studied the formation of the Saas Valley’s glaciers,<br />
their historical ebb and flow and the impact of these changes<br />
on the topography of the Saas Valley. He catalogued the various<br />
geographical features of the Saas Valley: its mountain ranges,<br />
passes, glaciers, and alps. The valley floor and its villages and<br />
hamlets were also noted down. He logged the various paths as well<br />
as what land was cultivated, and uncultivable, as well as examining<br />
the forests in depth. He described each village in detail and noted<br />
the location of each building within.<br />
The pastor also knew the ins and outs of the Saas Valley’s<br />
flora and its healing properties like no other. He was a great scientist<br />
of the time. In fact, many of his works are still relevant today, some<br />
of which can be found in the ‘Saaser Chronicle’. Imseng, a treasured<br />
natural scientist. A theologian true to his faith. A great person, and<br />
still an inspiration today.<br />
Dorfweg 1<br />
3901 Saas-Fee<br />
Improve your Health and Fitness in the heart of the Swiss alps<br />
24 Hours Open Gym | Personal Training | Group Trainings<br />
www.crossfit-saas-fee.ch<br />
info@crossfit-saas-fee.ch<br />
Find us at Hotel<br />
Walliserhof Grand-Hotel & Spa<br />
An oil portrait of the young Pastor Johann Josef Imseng (1806-1869).<br />
According to the owner, both the artist and date are unknown.<br />
The memorial exhibition marks the<br />
150 th anniversary of Pastor Johann<br />
Josef Imseng’s death:<br />
Old Rectory Altes Pfarrhaus,<br />
Saas-Grund<br />
8:30 am to 8:00 pm<br />
pfarrer-johann-josef-imseng.ch<br />
The exhibition book is available<br />
from all tourist offices in the valley.<br />
SAASTAL<br />
WITH LOVE<br />
44<br />
erlebnisbank.ch/liebe<br />
45
Change language