Bitsch combines cultural history and a technical past with trails in the surrounding area. The Zen Hohen Flühen Chapel is a Baroque building; the Hennebique Canal tells the story of the infrastructure used during the construction of the first Simplon Tunnel. There are also significant differences in elevation between the valley floor and Oberried, as well as connections to Naters and Brig-Glis. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Bitsch can tailor their trip to their own interests: chapel and industrial history, hiking, or a mix of both.
Valley and higher elevations
The municipality extends from the valley floor at 692 metres above sea level to an elevation of 2,000 metres. Oberried, the upper part of the village, lies at around 1,400 metres. These figures show Bitsch from three perspectives: as a place in the valley, with a higher-lying part of the village, and as a municipality extending to considerably higher elevations. For orientation, Oberried is therefore a distinct reference point alongside the valley floor.
Connections and trails
The Matterhorn Gotthard Railway and the local bus connect Bitsch with the neighbouring municipality of Naters and the town of Brig-Glis every 15 minutes. The Rote Meile also leads in the direction of Naters and Brig. It is part of Bitsch’s well-developed slow-traffic network; the route from Bitsch to Brig follows the former Furka-Oberalp railway line. The 40-metre-long Massegga suspension bridge provides a pedestrian connection between Naters and Bitsch and affords a view of the rocky entrance to the Massaschlucht gorge.
Zen Hohen Flühen Chapel
The Zen Hohen Flühen Chapel, also known as the Chapel of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, stands on the cantonal road between Bitsch and Mörel, at the foot of a steep rock face. The water of the Rieder-Abschlacht cascades down the face. The present Baroque building was constructed between 1726 and 1731 and is of cultural and historical significance. During construction work to secure the road and railway, the chapel was badly damaged in 2009; in 2011, a foundation saved the building. Its history thus links its construction in the 18th century with a more recent chapter of damage and rescue.
Hennebique Canal and hydropower
The Hennebique Canal was built in 1898/99 during construction of the first Simplon Tunnel and is 3.2 kilometres long. Before the SBB power station was built, it carried water from Mörel beneath the Roman bridge and across a wooden Rotten bridge to a point in front of the Simplon Tunnel, where the water was used to supply the turbines. The surviving section has been out of service since 1950 and has become a popular hiking trail over the past few decades. The canal thus brings together its former function and its later use as a hiking trail.
The Gebidem Reservoir is also part of the area’s hydropower history: it dams the waters of the Great Aletsch Glacier. At the power station 750 metres below, in Bitsch, this water is used to generate electricity. Together with the canal, the reservoir offers another perspective on the theme of water, this time with the power station in Bitsch forming part of the relationship described.
Hiking around Bitsch
In summer, hiking trails lead directly from Bitsch into the surrounding area. The route from the Bitsch Wasserschloss to Biel is designated as an SBB experience trail. An easy route from Naters via Bitsch to Brig is 10.12 kilometres long, takes about 2 hours and 23 minutes, and ranges in elevation from 677 to 891 metres. This offers practical guidance for a hike that passes through Naters, Bitsch and Brig.
An older hiking map of Bitsch also shows an Oberriederi panoramic trail and a route from the railway station over the Biel-Aspen suspension bridge to Naters. Since these route listings come from an older map, check current trail conditions locally. The Massaweg has been repaired and is once again open to hikers, as the municipality announced on 26 August 2026. Check the trail conditions before your visit here as well.
Shop for regional products
The Walker Shop is on the cantonal road in the centre of Bitsch. Its products include cheese under its own brand and cheese from surrounding alpine pastures, as well as Zermatter Bergführerbrot and Valais pasta. The shop also sells gift baskets of regional products, along with raclette and fondue sets. This specific shopping address complements the village’s cultural and hiking attractions.
Discover more destinations: Ausserberg, Betten, Steg, Grengiols, Wiler (Lötschen), Mörel, Kippel, Eischoll.
Back to the main travel overview: Raron.
