Ernen is a municipality in the district of Goms in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.

In 2005 Ernen incorporated the formerly independent municipalities of Ausserbinn, Mühlebach, and Steinhaus.

In 1979, Ernen was awarded the Wakker Prize for the preservation of its architectural heritage.

[3] Ernen has an area, as of 2011[update], of 35.4 square kilometers (13.7 sq mi).

[4] The municipality is located on a moraine terrace above the left side of the Rhone.

[5] The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Per pale Gules and Argent, two Greek Crosses couped palewise counterchanged.

The entire village of Ernen is part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.

[15] In the 2007 Swiss Council of States election a total of 204 votes were cast, of which 6 or about 2.9% were invalid.

The number of jobs in the primary sector was 23, of which 18 were in agriculture and 5 were in forestry or lumber production.

In the tertiary sector; 18 or 20.7% were in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 7 or 8.0% were in the movement and storage of goods, 41 or 47.1% were in a hotel or restaurant, 6 or 6.9% were technical professionals or scientists, 2 or 2.3% were in education and 3 or 3.4% were in health care.

[4] From the 2000 census[update], 337 or 87.5% were Roman Catholic, while 25 or 6.5% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.

The education system in the Canton of Valais allows young children to attend one year of non-obligatory Kindergarten.

All the lower and upper secondary students from Ernen attend their school in a neighboring municipality.

[18] In 2016, Ernen hosts a musical festival (the 43rd edition) lasting most of July and August, with a widely varied program.