- 12 km
- 3 h 15 min.
- Medium
Short info
- Starting point
- Mund, Dorf,
1186 m a.s.l. - Endpoint
- Brig,
674 m a.s.l. - Track
- 12 km
- Duration
- 3 h 15 min.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Ascent
- 252 m
- Descent
- 764 m
- Lowest point
672 m a.s.l. - Highest Point
1342 m a.s.l.
The tour
This hike takes you along dry southern slopes that nonetheless feature lush green meadows and pastures thanks to traditional irrigation methods. You’ll be hiking along the „Stigwasser“ Suone (water conduit) into the rugged Gredetschtal valley and then along the „Oberschta“ to Oberbirgisch. After that you’ll cross the dry meadows above Birgisch. Towards the end you’ll be able to admire the trail-building skills of our ancestors, with a particularly impressive section between Moos and Naters.
Alternative Route
Start from Birgisch; Access the Gredetschtal valley via the Wyssa in Mund, which is more spectacular but also more exposed (requires a sure footing), Detour into the Gredetschtal valley
Meals
Restaurant Birgisch, on the trail itself no restaurant available
General Tips
dark tunnel (flashlight recommended), along the suones the trail is at some parts highly exposed
Note the signage and any information boards on the spot. Further information about the Swiss footpath network and the signposting can be found here.
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Point of interest
Apollo Butterfly
The large black spots on the forewings and red eye-spots with white core on the hindwings are characteristic for the Apollo butterfly (Pa
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Point of interest
Southern Alpine Tulip (Gredetschtal)
The Southern Alpine Tulip (Tulipa australis – Fam. Liliaceae) is a perennial plant and gets 8 – 45 cm high. The 2 – 3 g
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Point of interest
Totuplata (Dead Plate)
In Naters, as well as in most localities in the Catholic Valais, it was a religious custom, to lay out the dead at home for 2-3 days, so
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Point of interest
Bishop's Castle
The castle on the “Flüe” was built in the 12th century and was the residence of various noble families in the Upper Vala
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Point of interest
World Heritage Info Point - Birgisch
Well informed about the World Heritage Region: The info point of the UNESCO World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch offers a large pan
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Point of interest
Ornovasso Tower
The Ornavasso tower’s origin is in the 13th century and it is named after the former owner's family «von Ornavasso»
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Point of interest
World Heritage Info Point - Mund
Well informed about the World Heritage Region: The info point of the UNESCO World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch offers a large pan
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Point of interest
The Gentile’s Stone in Naters
On the surface of this stone, four small and one larger shell shaped hollows were rubbed. The local historian Paul Heldner interpreted th
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Point of interest
Saffron Thematic Trail
Did you know why the saffron from Mund is more valuable than gold? And how it was smuggled, according to a legend, in a curious way to Mu
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Point of interest
Ossuary in Naters
The ossuary in Naters goes back to the year 1514 and was built by the renowned Master of sacred building Ulrich Ruffiner. Ossuaries are u
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Point of interest
Suone Stigwasser
The bisse Stigwasser is the second lowest of four irrigation channels, which were directed from the Gredetsch valley to the hillside of M
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Point of interest
The old Lime Tree
The lime tree of almost 900 years in the old village centre of Naters makes each inhabitant pride, since it is one of the oldest trees in
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Point of interest
The Klingele House
The family Klingele had built the stately home as a hotel in 1902, which was never put into operation for lack of guests. It was intended
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Point of interest
Rough pasture Moos
On the mountain pasture, between the valley and the alpine pastures, most of the farmland are so-called rough pastures. The mostly dry me
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Point of interest
Suone d'Oberschta
Similar to the slope of Mund there are also several irrigation channels on the slope of Birgisch, conducting water from the river M
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Point of interest
Eschulbrunnu (Sumpter’s fountain)
A bowl cut into the rock, containing a wooden channel filled up with water served the mules and donkeys in earlier times as drinking trou
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Point of interest
Chapel St. Antonius
The chapel at the very back of Klosi at the northern edge of the village of Naters was built in 1750. To raise money for the first restor
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Point of interest
Säumerweg Moos
At the time when the residents of Naters, Birgisch and Mund were living from mountain agriculture and moving back and forth in accordance
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Point of interest
Ancient bakery house Birgisch
Until the 19th century most of the inhabitants of the World Heritage Region were almost entirely self-sufficient. In the focus of the foo
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Point of interest
World Nature Forum
The Alps are at risk! The Alpine space loses its importance as economic territory, the agriculture in mountain areas is weakening and the
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Point of interest
Saffron Museum
The Zehndenstadel is a barn from 1437, one of the oldest wooden structures in the Valais. The Saffron Museum is located therein since 200
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