Tellenhaus

In the centre of Ernen, the Tellenhaus is one of the most photographed houses in the upper Valais, and it is a heritage building of national significance. It stands on the village square, which takes its name from it and is known as the Tellenplatz, and the house dominates the scene with its dark timber walls, stone base and painted decoration. The house dates from the late sixteenth century and belongs to a group of substantial buildings that reflect the prosperity of Ernen when the village was the administrative centre of the Goms valley.

The building follows the local tradition of wooden construction, in which a stone ground floor supports upper storeys of horizontally laid logs, usually of larch. Larch weathers to a deep brown in the strong mountain sun, and the burnt colour of the Valais houses is one of the most recognisable features of the region. The Tellenhaus has a broad facade with rows of small windows, carved details and a large, low roof, and it shows the skill of the carpenters of the period. Many neighbouring houses share the same style, which is why Ernen is considered one of the best-preserved villages in the canton.

The name comes from the paintings on the facade, which show scenes from the legend of William Tell, the hero who is said to have shot an apple from his son's head in defiance of a tyrannical bailiff. The story became an important part of Swiss national identity, and its appearance on a house in a remote Alpine village shows how widely it was known by the time the Tellenhaus was decorated. The painted scenes give the house a distinctive character that draws visitors to look closely at the wall.

The house is best enjoyed as part of a walk through the village. Lanes lead uphill from the square toward the parish church, and meadows and larch woods begin within minutes of the last houses, so built heritage and landscape stay close together here. The light is best in the morning and late afternoon, when the low sun brings out the grain of the timber and makes the painted scenes easier to read, and the colours look richer after rain. Ernen is quiet, and a stroll around the Tellenplatz takes in the church, the old houses and the large tree on the square. Visitors should not expect a museum with a ticket office: the house is mainly seen from outside, and access to the interior depends on local arrangements, so check with the village information if you hope to go in.

The village is also famous for its summer music festival, the Musikdorf Ernen, which uses historic spaces for concerts, and the surrounding Goms valley is a fine area for walkers and cross-country skiers.