Blatten is the uppermost village in the Lötschental and the main village of the valley’s largest municipality by area. It lies at 1,540 m above sea level; the Bietschhorn dominates the village landscape. The long tradition of artificial irrigation using suonen (irrigation channels) and Valais building culture give the village both a cultural and a landscape perspective. At the same time, a major change is relevant to travel planning: a large landslide buried the village in May 2025. Blatten will be rebuilt over the coming years. Take this development into account and check local access conditions before travelling.

Building culture, suonen and pilgrimage

Blatten’s traditional building culture includes sun-blackened wooden houses, typical Valais granaries, and customs and traditions that have been preserved over time. Some timber-frame buildings made of larch date back to the 16th century. Three aspects provide different points of reference: larch as a building material, the timber-frame construction method, and the date as a historical indication. The suonen broaden the perspective from buildings to the use of the landscape: artificial irrigation using suonen has a long tradition in Blatten. Architecture and water management thus represent two distinct aspects of the local cultural history.

The Chapel of the Visitation of Mary in Kühmatt is another notable piece of cultural heritage. The present-day chapel was built under Prior Bartholomew Indergassen between 1646 and 1663; the Baroque building is a destination for regional pilgrimages. Its construction dates place the chapel in its historical context, while its role as a pilgrimage destination also reflects its religious significance. A path leads from Blatten along the wild Lonza to Kühmatt; along the way, there are reflection panels. Check the current trail conditions before setting out.

The old village includes a communal bread oven, a sawmill, mill and fulling mill, and the municipal building. Access to the old village is restricted following the landslide, so do not plan to visit these features as if they were fully accessible.

High-alpine landscapes and winter trails

The Lötschenlücke can be reached from Blatten. In this high-alpine region, there are opportunities to experience the glacier world and the peaks of the Aletsch Glacier. This is a different focus from the cultural buildings and Kühmatt: here, the high-alpine landscape and glaciers take centre stage, while there the focus is on the chapel, pilgrimage and historic building methods.

A ski tour from the Lauchernalp ski area over the Elwertätsch at 3,207 m above sea level, followed by a descent to Blatten, is possible. As a high-alpine undertaking, it depends on seasonal conditions and route safety. The moderately difficult Wiler–Blatten cross-country ski trail is 3.7 km long, connects the villages of the Lötschental and is listed as closed. It should therefore not be planned as an open trail; check its status again before travelling. The two winter activities differ both in type and classification: a high-alpine ski tour on the one hand and a moderately difficult cross-country ski trail on the other.

Discover more destinations: Ferden, Bitsch, Bettmeralp, Betten, Raron, Unterbäch, Grengiols, Wiler (Lötschen)

Back to the main travel overview: Raron.