The Lötschberg Southern Ramp hiking route passes through Birgisch; in the old village, Valais wooden houses and historic Spycher granaries shape the townscape. For planning, you can choose from hikes with different stated durations. There are also Suonen trails, views from the Old Mule Track and dedicated stops exploring the village’s history.

Hiking between Suonen and the Mule Track

The Lötschberg Southern Ramp hiking route, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site, runs from Ausserberg via Eggerberg, Mund, Birgisch and Rossegga to Naters. It can generally be hiked year-round, although some sections may be closed seasonally. Check which sections are accessible before setting out. Around Birgisch, hiking routes along historic irrigation channels, known as Suonen, invite you to explore; these are fed by glacial streams.

One route described in detail begins at Birgisch village square and runs via Geimen and Blindtälli to Blatten bei Naters. This hike is listed as 6.65 kilometres long, of medium difficulty and taking about two hours and 20 minutes. Near Moos, the path follows a Suone before joining the mule track. This gives you an approximate duration for the route, without treating it as an exact timetable.

Another option with a stated distance and duration is the Hoffnungspur Naters (Tal): it is 3.5 kilometres long and listed as taking one to one and a half hours. Its seventh stop is the Birgisch rectory chapel. The Old Mule Track from Naters to Birgisch offers views of the Rhône Valley, Belalp and the Simplon area. These viewpoints are therefore part of a different hike from the route to Blatten.

Climbing is also offered as a separate activity: the Birgisch climbing area lies below the hamlet of Bodmuachre. It features a black rock face with three steep routes for athletic climbing. These details give the area a different profile from the hiking trails, without suggesting that the activities are the same.

The old village and its cultural history

A walk through the old village takes you past traditional Valais wooden houses, built mainly from larch. The village also has Spycher granaries: raised on pillars, these were once used to store food. A former gondola can be viewed in Birgisch. The wooden houses and granaries make the village’s architectural styles a topic in their own right, alongside the hikes.

The Chapel of St John the Baptist was built in 1687 and renovated in 2011. It was owned by the Knights Hospitaller in 1379 and associated with a hermitage. The chapel contains a 14th-century crucifix, a Baroque altar and various 18th-century relics. It is available for religious ceremonies. The municipal building adds to the historic architecture: it dates from around 1550 and was renovated in 1592 and 1920–1921.

A digital resource also offers a way to explore the region’s cultural history. The “Living Geteilschaften” project documents the intangible cultural heritage of the municipality of Naters, particularly in the villages of Blatten, Mund and Birgisch. The digital museum makes the knowledge, stories and memories it has gathered accessible, along with photographs, documents and films. This offers a perspective beyond individual buildings, encompassing the community’s inherited stories and materials.

Location and how to get there

Birgisch is a part of the municipality of Naters in the district of Brig, in the German-speaking part of the Swiss canton of Valais. Located on a slope above the Rhône’s right bank, the village includes numerous hamlets. Take the train to Brig, then continue to Birgisch on PostBus route 624. Checking the timetable before you travel can help you plan your journey.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ried-Brig, Zwischbergen, Simplon, Rothwald, Eggerberg, Termen, Naters, Belalp.

For the main travel overview: Brig.