WELCOME IN THE
VALAIS REGION
The ‘Upper Valais region’ association was established to make visiting our holiday region as pleasant as possible for our guests. The Upper Valais region includes ten other holiday destinations in addition to Unterbäch: Visp, Turtmanntal valley, Moosalp Region-Bürchen, Brig-Simplon, Leuk, Gampel-Bratsch, Heidadorf Visperterminen, Staldenried – Gspon, the Lötschberg region and the Lötschental valley. Anyone who spends at least one night in Unterbäch will receive an Upper Valais region guest card. With this card, you can benefit from numerous offers and discounts in all participating destinations.
VISPERTERMINEN
The Heida village of Visperterminen lies above Visp and is known for Europe’s highest vineyard. Up here, at 1,150 m above sea level, it grows, the Visperterminer Heida wine. An ancient grape variety that gives the village its name. In addition to wine, Visperterminen offers countless hiking opportunities in summer and a sunny skiing area in winter. A chairlift leads from the village directly to 2,000 m above sea level. Here, unspoilt countryside with clear mountain lakes and a breathtaking view of the Rhone Valley and the surrounding 4,000-metre peaks await you. Book a guided hiking tour at the tourist office or a wine tasting at the St. Jodern winery. With the family, a visit to the playhouses in the children’s world is particularly worthwhile. These are open every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon in summer. Visperterminen is easy to reach by car or by public transport from Visp railway station.
VISP
Situated at the foot of Europe’s highest vineyard in the Upper Valais valley, Visp is the central starting point for your stay in the middle of an unforgettable natural and cultural landscape. Use Visp as a starting point and destination for all the top destinations and benefit from the countless summer and winter offers throughout the Valais! Experience Visp also as a shopping and adventure destination. In addition to the farmers’ market (Pürumärt), which takes place every Friday evening, the spring exhibitions in the ice rink of Visp, the car-free and attractive Bahnhofstrasse of Visp with a wide range of shopping opportunities and the many inviting garden terraces, the culture and congress centre La Poste with regular performances and events, we also recommend a tour of the pretty old town of Visp with its numerous historic buildings.
TURTMANNTAL
The 5 municipalities: Agarn, Eischoll, Ergisch, Oberems and Turtmann-Unterems together form Turtmanntal Tourism. As a guest you will find everything your heart desires. In summer: pure nature in the Turtmanntal, hike along the valley path from Turtmann to Gruben/ Meiden and on to the Barrhorn at 3610 m above sea level, the highest mountain peak in the Alps. Play golf on the Leukerfeld near Agarn, hike along the irrigation channels in Ergisch and Eischoll, take herb walks with the herb witch in Oberems, hike along the bear trail and marvel at iron art objects in Unterems. Discover patrician houses from the 16th and 17th centuries in Turtmann and watch the water wheel turn and the power of the water saw logs into boards at the “Old Saw”. On the last Saturday in September, you will meet old friends from near and far at the Püru-Cultura Märt in Turtmann. In winter you will find first-class prepared pistes in Eischoll. You’re also in the right place for snowshoeing in our region; you’ll find well-marked trails in Eischoll and Oberems.
LÖTSCHBERGREGION
Situated at the foot of the Bietsch Valley, the Lötschberg region with its municipalities of Ausserberg, Baltschieder, Eggerberg, Niedergesteln, Raron/St. German and Steg-Hohtenn is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The three side valleys (Joli, Bietsch and Baltschiedertal) are fascinating for their wildness and the contrast they form with their humid, shady climate to the hot, dry southern slopes. Raron, with the castle church where Rainer Maria Rilke found his final resting place, the museum and the Felsenkirche, Europe’s largest church, which is located entirely inside the rock, is well worth a visit.
On the audio tour in Niedergesteln you will learn interesting facts about Gestelnburg Castle, and experience the secrets of the knights along the Ritterweg. The accessible ice age cave through the castle hill is an additional experience – the suspension bridge leading over the Jolischlucht gorge provides adrenaline. The hiking trail from Hohtenn to Ausserberg, Eggerberg to Brig takes you past impressive viaducts, over torrents, through tunnels along suonen. The Triel Museum in Eggerberg is one of the smallest in the canton. The museum in Ausserberg is shown during the free village tours. Known for its extremely mild climate, our region is nestled in vineyards. A wine tasting is worthwhile!
LÖTSCHENTAL
The Lötschental is certainly one of the most beautiful valleys in the Valais and is nestled between the Bernese and Valais Alps in the UNESCO World Heritage Jungfrau-Aletsch region. The valley is about 30 km long and is thus the largest of the Valais side valleys branching off to the north of the Rhone. Imposing mountain peaks with their larch-covered foothills seem to hold the villages in their arms. The tourist facilities blend idyllically into the homely architecture. Rushing streams and quiet lakes set accents. The magical valley, as the Lötschental is also called, impresses with its unique natural beauty such as the Bietschhorn or the Lötschenlücke and captivates with its rustic charm. What counts is the intact nature, the peace and relaxation in a beautiful mountain world. The Lötschental is a true paradise for nature lovers and romantics! In the Lötschental you won’t find Hollywood – but a traditional cultural world with a strong meaning; no artificial buildings – but the original with the power of the houses; no barren nature – but a varied, lush natural spectacle with a diverse flora and fauna.
GAMPEL-BRATSCH
The municipality of Gampel-Bratsch, the easternmost part of the Pfyn/Finges National Nature Park, consists of the villages of Gampel, Niedergampel, Bratsch, Engersch and Jeizinen. Gampel, the gateway from the Lötschberg to the Valais, owes its fame not least to the annual Open Air Gampel festival. In contrast, the villages of Niedergampel and Bratsch stand mainly for tradition and culture. The best-known advertising media are the winter “Bradär-Roggubrot-Bachu” and the carnival “Gnooggärfüüdini”. Engersch and Jeizinen, holiday and local recreation areas, offer both guests and locals a small natural paradise with a multi-faceted mountain landscape. The “iischi Party” and “iischi Natur” cabins of the aerial cableway quickly take hikers and bikers “ä brüf” to the idyllic village of Jeizinen. Alternatively, those who prefer sporting activities can follow the well-known “Jeizibigärglauf”. Jeizinen, the ideal starting point for summer hiking and biking tours to the Lötschental, Leukerbad or the higher-lying Fesel and Meigge Alps.
LEUK-STADT, SUSTEN, ERSCHMATT
Stroll through medieval alleys in Leuk town, explore the Pfynwald forest from Susten, enjoy the world of mountains and rye in Erschmatt – Leuk makes all this possible. And offers much more. Susten is home to the only 18-hole golf course in the Upper Valais. Thanks to the mild climate, the golf course can be played 9 months a year. In the Pfynwald, the largest pine forest in the Alps, discover steppes, primeval forest-like sections, ponds, rich flora, and rare birds. Cross the Bhutan bridge over the wild Illgraben and immerse yourself from the German to the French way of life. In Leuk town, from Roman fireplaces to the medieval castle, numerous buildings bear witness to Leuk’s great past. The castle, restored by the world-famous architect Mario Botta and equipped with a walk-in glass dome, is proof of the openness of the people. The ossuary, which boasts an impressive 20-metre-long wall of skulls, can be visited daily.
STALDENRIED-GSPON
The unique view of the mountain world with the striking Bietschhorn, as well as the Balfring Group and the surrounding glaciers make Staldenried and the car-free Gspon a first-class hiking and skiing area. The cable car from Stalden takes you to the hiking paradise in no time at all. A wonderful starting point for many tours, such as the spectacular Gspon High Trail, which leads from the Saas Valley to the Simplon. Far away from all the excitement, the cosy inns invite you to indulge your palate and soul with a variety of regional specialities. Staldenried and the hamlet of Gspon are easy to survey – a wonderful holiday resort and particularly suitable for
families. Treat yourself to some time out and experience the tranquillity of nature without a care in the world, while your children let off steam on the Ottmar Hitzfeld Gspon Arena.
BRIG SIMPLON
Brig is situated at the foot of the Simplon Pass and, thanks to its central location in the middle of the Alps, is the ideal starting point for great excursions in the region. The beautiful old town with the Stockalper Palace invites you to stroll and linger. The Simplon Pass is praised as one of the most beautiful Alpine crossings. The Rosswald and Rothwald Alps are worth a trip in winter as well as in summer. Also discover the rich culture in the Italian-style villages on the south side of the Simplon, Simplon Dorf and Gondo-Zwischbergen. And with the Brigerbad thermal baths, the region has the largest open-air thermal baths in Switzerland.
TÖRBEL
Törbel is a rustic, typical, sunny, well-developed Valais mountain village in the Vispertal valley. Törbel, a hiker’s paradise, offers an extensive hiking network of over 75 kilometres, with high-altitude trails, small mountain tours and easy hikes in an impressive mountain world. The Moosalp is a popular destination. Secluded spots everywhere let us forget everyday life and recharge our batteries. From the end of June to the beginning of September, the belligerent Eringer and dairy cows graze on the lush meadows. The fine alpine cheese can be bought at the alpine dairy.
