Wiler can be explored through three distinct themes: the neo-Gothic Sacred Heart Church, the garden of native plants and the poetry trail leading from the church to Rigge. Archaeological finds from several periods add to these attractions. These highlights can help you get your bearings when considering Wiler as a travel destination.
Sacred Heart Church: two dates in its history
The large neo-Gothic parish church of the Sacred Heart in Wiler was built in 1901–02 and dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1902. The church is owned by the TriPLUS Foundation. Eighteen landowners sold or donated land for its construction. On 10 August 1902, the church was blessed by the vicar general; the solemn consecration took place on 4 November of the same year, with Bishop Julius Mauritius Abbet. The two dates therefore mark different events in the church’s history.
Plant garden and practical travel information
The garden of native plants features a diverse collection of trees, shrubs, plants and flowers. The plant life thus offers another way to discover Wiler, complementing the church’s architectural history and the archaeological finds. The selection of plants may change over time.
There is parking in the church square for visitors to the garden; from there, it is about a five-minute walk. The garden is also accessible by public transport. The bus stop is directly in front of Haus Amarona. Please check the current timetable before travelling and, if arriving by car, take note of the local parking options.
The poetry trail between Wiler and Rigge
The poetry trail runs from the Sonnenberg restaurant and Wiler Church to Rigge via a hiking and biking path. It was created in collaboration with artists and the village associations of Guttet-Feschel and has eight stops. Each stop has a place to sit and an audio experience. Poems and thoughts by Rainer Maria Rilke are presented in German, French and Valais German; the trail is considered the first of its kind in the canton of Valais.
At the starting point by Wiler Church, you can start the audio experience on your mobile phone using a QR code. You can choose to start or end your walk with a picnic in the garden of native plants. As part of KUNST AUF DEM LYRIKWEG’s 2026 exhibition programme, the open-air exhibition along the trail in Guttet-Feschel brought together nature, literature and contemporary art. Rainer Maria Rilke’s “Quatrains Valaisans” were presented with an audio production and an experience combining walking, listening and looking.
Archaeological traces from several periods
In 1944, two Early Medieval slab graves were discovered accidentally in Wiler. A leather scabbard from one of the graves is decorated with rows of bronze nails; this decoration led to the proposal that the grave be dated to the 7th century AD. This is a proposed dating.
A rescue excavation in 2021 documented remains from the Early Neolithic, Iron Age and Roman periods. These included Iron Age and Roman terraces, as well as two Roman buildings with mortared masonry. Together with the church, the finds show that Wiler can be explored through a very diverse range of historical evidence: from a grave attributed to the medieval period to Roman remains and the church built in the early 20th century.
For the broader travel overview: Guttet-Feschel.
