{{Short description|Town in Valais, Switzerland}} {{Infobox Swiss town |coordinates={{coord|46|19|N|7|59|E|region:CH-VS_type:town|display=inline,title}} |canton=Valais |district=Brigue |demonym=Brigois |population=12,162 |area=38 |image_photo=Brigue du nord-ouest.jpg |altitude=691|subject_name=Brig |imagepath_coa=CHE Brig COA.svg |imagepath_flag = CHE Brig Flag.svg |website=https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/destinations/brig/}}

'''Brig''', known as '''Brigue''' in French and '''Briga''' in Italian, is a town and [[List of former municipalities of Switzerland|former municipality]] in the [[Valais|canton of Valais]]. It is part of the municipality of [[Brig-Glis]].

== Toponymy == The name Brig comes from the [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] ''Briga'', meaning “hill fortress” or “height, then castle”.<ref>{{Citation |title=Toponymie française |date=2024-01-04 |work=Wikipédia |url= |access-date= |language=fr}}</ref>

== History == Mentioned for the first time in 1215, Brigue was not recognized as a town until the 17th century. It underwent major development thanks to [[Kaspar Jodok von Stockalper]] (1609-1691), a shrewd businessman nicknamed “King of Simplon”.

Brig’s thermal springs were already renowned during the Middle Ages. Ruined by a landslide in the 15th century, they were cleared in 1471 and annexed to the public baths.

The Jesuit Collège du Saint-Esprit, built between 1673 and 1688, is a fine example of Baroque architecture.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kuonen Ackermann |first=Carmela |title=Die Kollegiumskirche zum Heiligen Geist in Brig. (Schweizerische Kunstführer, Nr. 569) |publisher=Hrsg. von der Gesellschaft für Schweizerische Kunstgeschichte GSK |year=1995 |isbn=978-3-85782-569-9 |location=Bern}}</ref>

On January 25, 1913, Brig was the starting point for [[Juan Bielovucic]]'s 28-minute [[monoplane]] flight across the [[Alps]] to [[Domodossola]].<ref>{{Cite news |date= |title=Excelsior from January 26, 1913 |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4601946n.r=%22L%C3%A9on%20Rodriguez%22?rk=42918;4 |work=Excelsior}}</ref>

On September 24, 1993, the town was partially devastated by flooding, following the overflow of the Saltina River.

== Population ==

=== Demonym and nicknames === This town’s inhabitants are called Brigois.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Fehlmann |first=Paul |title=Ethniques, surnoms et sobriquets des villes et villages en Suisse romande, Haute-Savoie et alentour, dans la vallée d'Aoste et au Tessin |publisher=Jullien |year=1990 |isbn=2-88412-000-9 |location=Genève |pages=19 |language=fr}}</ref>

They are nicknamed the Brigands, and are also known as ''Holzschüö, Sschüöblätza'' and ''Turugeuche'' in [[Swiss German]], i.e. the clogs, the bakers and those who take pride in their turreted houses.<ref name=":0" />

=== Demography === The community had 468 inhabitants in 1798, 412 in 1802, 596 in 1827, 721 in 1850, 1,012 in 1860, 1,172 in 1888, 2,182 in 1900, 3,132 in 1920, 3,854 in 1950, 5,191 in 1970, 9,608 (including Glis and Brigerbad) in 1980, 10,602 in 1990 and 11,590 in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carlen |first=Louis |title=Brigue (ville) |url=https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/fr/articles/002662/2013-07-17/ |website=Le Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse (DHS)}}</ref>

=== Famous people ===

* [[Pierre Emmanuel Jacques de Rivaz]] (1745-1827), Swiss general in the armies of the French Republic, was born in Brig. * [[Silvan Zurbriggen]] (1981-), former world cup alpine skier and runner-up in the world slalom. * [[Gianni Infantino]] (1970-), lawyer, [[FIFA]] President (2016). * [[Nico Hischier]], professional ice hockey player with the [[New Jersey Devils]]. * [[Henri Colpi]], French filmmaker born in Brig July 15, 1921, died January 14, 2006 in Menton, France. * [[Viola Amherd]], [[Federal Council (Switzerland)|Federal Councillor]] born June 7, 1962 in Brig-Glis, President of the Swiss Confederation for the year 2024.

=== Places and monuments === [[File:Brig Stockalperpalast (Nov. 2013).jpg|thumb|Stockalper Palace]] * [[Stockalper Palace|Stockalper Castle]] * [[Simplon Tunnel|Brig tunnel on the Simplon line]] * The Gamsen town wall dates back to the 14th century. * A monument to aviation pioneer [[Jorge Chávez|Jorge Chávez Dartnell]] has been built on the Place Saint-Sebastien.

== Transportation ==

=== Main roads ===

* Brig is crossed by [[Main road 9 (Switzerland)|main road 9]]. * In Brig, [[Main road 19 (Switzerland)|main road 19]] leads to the [[Gomm Valley|Goms valley]]. * Via the [[A9 (Switzerland)|A9]] [[Vallorbe-Lausanne]]-Brigue freeway. * The [[European route E62|E62]] via the [[A9 motorway (Switzerland)|A9]], then [[Main road 9 (switzerland)|main road 9]] over the [[Simplon Pass]]. * [[Swiss Federal Railways|SBB]] offers [[car loading (Autoverlad)]] to [[Italy]], via the [[Simplon Tunnel|Simplon tunnel]] and [[Iselle di Trasquera railway station|Iselle di Trasquera]].

=== Railway lines ===

[[File:Bahnhof Brig-IMG 9427.jpg|thumb| Brig railway station and station square with trains of the Matterhorn-Gotthard Railway]] * By [[Swiss Federal Railways|SBB]] line ([[Simplon Railway|Simplon line]]), [[Lausanne]]-[[Sion, Switzerland|Sion]]-Brigue-[[Simplon Tunnel|Simplon]]-[[Domodossola]]-[[Milan]] * By [[BLS AG|BLS]] line ([[Lötschberg railway|Lötschberg line]]), [[Zürich Hauptbahnhof|Zürich HB]] or [[Basel]]-[[Bern]]e-[[Spiez]]-Brigue-Simplon-Domodossola-[[Milan]] * Only in winter, the town is served by a [[TGV Lyria]], [[Paris]]-[[Lausanne]]-Brigue * By the [[Glacier Express|Glacier Express line]], [[St. Moritz|Saint-Moritz]]-[[Chur]]-[[Disentis]]-[[Andermatt]]-Brigue-[[Zermatt]] * At regional level, the [[Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn|Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn]] serves the city to [[Andermatt]] and [[Zermatt]] destinations.

==== Road level (Bus) ==== ● [[PostBus Switzerland|PostBus]] offers connections to [[Saas-Fee|Saas Fee]], [[Naters]], [[Visp]] and [[Domodossola]] in [[Italy]] via the [[Simplon Pass]].

== Tourism == It is located near the resorts of [[Belalp]], [[Saas-Fee]], [[Zermatt]], [[Fiesch]], [[Bettmeralp]], etc. The thermal baths at Brigerbad attract many visitors.

== See also ==

* [[Brig railway station]]

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links ==

* Louis Carlen, [https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/fr/articles/002662/2013-07-17/ Brigue (ville)] in the [[Historical Dictionary of Switzerland]] online, October 15, 2004 version. * [https://www.rts.ch/archives/tv/information/tele-journal/5854662-brigue-sous-l-eau.html Brigue sous l'eau], ''Télé journal'' of September 25, 1993, accessed March 30, 2015, 2 min, rts.ch/archives

== See also ==

* [[Brig-Glis]] * [[Valais]] * [[Switzerland]]

[[Category:Brig-Glis]] [[Category:Cultural property of national significance in Valais]] [[Category:Former municipalities of Valais]]