The rockslide at Randa fundamentally changed the topography of the Matter Valley in 1991: over the course of three weeks, around 30 million cubic metres of rock broke away from the Längenfluh mountain. The event unfolded in three stages and has shaped the landscape as a visible natural and historical landmark.
Rockslide landscape and village history
Today, boulders the size of a detached house can still be seen on the debris cone. Larches are reclaiming the terrain as pioneer trees of the Alps. The landscape thus brings together traces of the event and the gradual return of plant life.
The Lorihiischi residential museum is a historic building dating from the 15th to the 18th century. It offers insights into everyday farming life in a Valais mountain village during the period from the 17th to the 20th century. The building’s history and the everyday life it depicts therefore cover different time periods.
The Baroque church also highlights a distinct historical period: the enlarged church dates from 1717 and was adorned with murals by J. Salzgeber in 1932. It is dedicated to Saint Sebastian and is listed in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of Regional Significance. The high altar was created in 1735 by sculptor Anton Sigristen from Glis.
Church, residential museum and exhibition
The Rockslide Randa exhibition is housed in a converted parish stable right next to the church. It has been on display as a permanent exhibition since 2018. Images, short texts, stories from people affected and newspaper clippings explore the 1991 rockslide. Two large openings in the exhibition building offer views of the rockslide. Check current access to the exhibition before your visit.
This offers different ways to shape a cultural stay: the residential museum focuses on farming life across several centuries, while the church and exhibition centre on religious art and the history of the rockslide.
From the village trail to the mountain huts
The Randa Village Trail (No. 133) starts and ends at the railway station and leads through the village. From higher up, it offers views of Randa and the surrounding mountain panorama. It provides a different kind of route for a short orientation in the village than the trails to the higher-altitude huts.
The Randa Stations of the Cross, with its 14 stations, was built in the summer of 1937 along the path from the Fluh Bridge to the little chapel. It is a destination for pilgrims and hikers. From there, you can see the Dom and Weisshorn, as well as the mountain landscapes around Zermatt, Täsch and Randa.
There are several different destinations for alpine excursions. The Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge is 494 metres long and lies on the Europaweg trail between Grächen and Zermatt. The Europahütte is also located directly on the Europaweg, above Randa. It has 42 beds and can be reached from Randa by various trails in around two to 2¼ hours.
The Kinhütte lies at an altitude of 2,584 metres, amid the four-thousand-metre peaks of the Mischabel group, on a rocky ridge high above the Kintole Gorge. It is a starting point for many high-alpine tours and hikes, as well as a stop on the Europaweg. The route to the hut begins at Randa railway station and passes through Hauspil and Grüengarten. The hike from Randa to the Domhütte takes around 4½ hours; the hut lies at an altitude of 2,940 metres below the lateral moraine of the Feschtigletscher. The approximate walking times to the Europa and Dom huts give a concrete indication of the difference in time required.
Winter activities, treasure hunt and golf
Winter activities in Randa include winter hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and an ice rink. The Randa treasure hunt is a family activity that takes you through the village: clues on a treasure map lead to a final riddle and the treasure. It can be played year-round and is available in German, English and French. As programme details may change, check them before your visit.
Between Täsch and Randa, on the valley floor, lies the Matterhorn Golf Club’s 9-hole-plus course, with nine greens and 18 tees. Golf beginners can also try their first swings at the driving range. Check the availability of the course and its facilities before travelling.
You can also include Zermatt in your travel plans: it takes around 15 minutes to reach by train from Randa. Whether you focus on village history, a hike or a side trip depends mainly on how you balance the different themes and time requirements of your stay.
Discover more destinations: Saas-Balen, Saas-Fee, Saas-Grund, Grächen, Saas-Almagell, Visperterminen, Zermatt, Embd
For the main travel overview: Visp.
