Knowledge & culture

Lötschental - Experience culture and tradition

The Lötschental offers a wide variety of nature excursions and cultural experiences

Nestled between the Bernese and Pennine Alps, the 27-kilometre-long Lötschental is part of the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thanks to its secluded location, the original character of the valley has been preserved over centuries. To this day you can find many pristine landscapes and villages where ancient customs and traditions are still preserved, one of the many reasons that the Lötschental is often referred to as "the magical valley".

Travel directly from Bern to Goppenstein in just 70 minutes with the RegioExpress. From there, the journey continues with the postbus.

The villages of the Lötschental

Ferden, Kippel, Wiler and Blatten are the tourist destinations of the Lötschental. Each village has its own unique character and charm.

Audio adventures Discover each of the four Lötschental villages on individual audio tours. Experience fascinating stories and historical insights on the marked trails.
Valley Hike from Kippel to Blatten The trail leads from Kippel to Blatten. It follows the course of the Lonza mountain stream along the villages deeper and deeper into the wild and romantic Lötschental.
Valley Hike from Ferden to Kippel The trail takes you from Ferden, the first village in the Lötschental, leisurely to Kippel.

Ferden

Three kilometres into the Lötschental, the first village you encounter is Ferden. After Blatten, it is the largest village in the valley in terms of area. Ferden gets its name from the fields and meadows that surround it, which are among the most fertile in the Lötschental. With buildings dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries, the historic village centre of Ferden is a particular highlight and offers living evidence of the methods of architecture and construction used at the time.

Kippel

Discover Kippel's fascinating historic village centre with its beautiful wooden facades and the 16th Century St. Martinskirche. The unofficial cultural capital of the Lötschental is particularly popular with culture lovers of all kinds. Alfred Nyfeler, a well-known painter and photographer who settled in Kippel, was inspired by the magic of the Lötschental. His works can be admired at the Nyfeler Gallery in Kippel. Those interested in history can immerse themselves in the world of Alpine traditions and customs at the Lötschental Museum.

Wiler

Located in the heart of the Lötschental, Wiler is equally beloved by families and adventure seekers. The small village is where you’ll find the cable car station to Lauchernalp, located 1970 metres above sea level. Lauchernalp is the starting point for numerous hiking trails through beautiful mountain landscapes. Down in the valley, the Gsteinät leisure centre offers refreshments and numerous activities for the whole family.

Surrounded by beautiful landscapes, this mountain village is the ultimate insider's tip for nature lovers, romantics and anyone looking to unwind.

Blatten

Blatten is the last village in the valley and also the highest. Surrounded by pristine nature, the village is home to the region's traditional wooden storehouses and sun-blackened wooden houses. While Blatten's charming narrow streets and traditional architecture will transport you to another time, but you won't have to do without any of the modern world's amenities. The people of Blatten combine old traditions with modern tourism. Families and solo travellers alike feel at home in this unique environment.

Lötschental Museum

Immerse yourself in Lötschental life with a visit to the Lötschental Museum in Kippel.

Masks, traditional costumes and the Lötschental Grenadiers of God: Visit the Lötschental Museum and immerse yourself in a world full of local tradition. Over 60 wooden masks offer you a complete overview of the mask-making tradition of the Lötschental from 1900 to the present day.

Opening hours

1 June to 31 October: Tues–Sun from 2pm to 5pm
26 December until 31 March: Wed–Fri from 3pm to 5pm

Special opening hours: 26–31 December, daily from 3pm to 5pm

Guided tours for groups are available outside of opening hours on request.

Entry to museum

CHF 6.00 Adults
CHF 1.00 Children (up to the age of 16)

Entry and guided tour for groups

CHF 4.00 For groups (five or more people) per person
CHF 50.00 Guided tour for up to 15 people flat rate

Prices in CHF incl. VAT / Prices and products subject to alteration

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Get active in winter

Explore the enchanting Lötschental in winter. Whether on skis, snowboard, cross-country skis, snowshoes or on foot on the winter hiking trails - here you will find a fascinating mix of adventure, nature and relaxation in a unique landscape.

Ideas for groups and schools

Lötschental mountain and Alpine games

A nostalgic outdoor experience for families, companies, groups and clubs! Nothing beats fun and games in the great outdoors. Experience five different traditional Lötschental games. On request, you can also enjoy an "apéro riche" or a surprise menu featuring a typical 3-course Lötschental meal in an authentic setting.

This offer is available all year round on request.

Location: all year round in all the municipalities of the Lötschental
Group size: at least 10 people
Playtime: approx. 2.5 hours
Minimum age: 6 years
Food & drink: request a "natural Lötschental" aperitif or an aperitif of your own choosing.

CHF 30.00 Per person

Prices in CHF incl. VAT / Prices and products subject to alteration

Baking rye bread in the Lötschental

Bake rye bread together at Blatten's village oven - a unique experience for groups, clubs, companies and school classes alike.

The mountainous terrain, altitude and extreme temperatures of Valais have for centuries provided the ideal conditions for the cultivation of rye. In villages throughout Valais, including in Blatten in the Lötschental, communal ovens were typically only fired up once a month. This meant that the bread being baked had to be stored for long periods of time. Today, the traditional AOP rye bread of Valais looks exactly the same as it did 100 years ago – and it's still just as tasty, not to mention rich in fibre.

You can buy the region's traditional rye bread at the Bäckerei Ebener in Kippel.

The Burgergemeinde Blatten offers groups a unique experience.

By appointment, the municipality of Blatten organises group rye bread baking experiences at the village oven for groups of 6 to 20 people. Duration approx. four hours. The offer includes:
• Preheating and stoking the village oven.
• Ingredients for about 40 loaves of rye bread.
• Making dough and baking bread.
• Aperitif during baking
• A guided tour of the village on request
• And of course, you can take home your homemade bread afterwards

Registration

At least 10 days before your desired appointment with the municipal administration of Blatten, phone number 027 939 12 05 or by email.

CHF 700.00 Per batch (approx. 40 loaves)

Included in the price

All participants can take away the rye bread they have made themselves

Prices in CHF incl. VAT / Prices and products subject to alteration

Gemeinde Blatten Roggenbrotbacken

Mask carving

Follow in the footsteps of the Tschäggättä and create your own Lötschental mask. Group mask carving under expert guidance at the carving workshop in Ferden.

Availability: This offer is available all year round on request
Registration: at least two days before the desired date
Group size: 5–20 people per course
Minimum age: 6 (accompanied by parents)
Duration: approx. three hours

CHF 49.00 Adults
CHF 43.00 Children

Prices in CHF incl. VAT / Prices and products subject to alteration

"Zur Blauen Stube" carnival exhibition

The "Blaue Stube" is an immersive exhibition on the Lötschental's carnival tradition. In a largely preserved residential building dating from 1912,
visitors are immersed in an interactive, multi-sensory journey. Each visitor can design his or her own experience following a series of themes. Pay a visit to the "Blaue Stube" and immerse yourself in an engrossing world of materials, shapes, sounds and sensations.

Visitors can also request a "Natürlich Lötschental" aperitif or a small meal to enjoy at the exhibition.
The "Blaue Stube" can also be rented for events such as meetings and birthdays, or enjoy a relaxed evening in style.

The "Blaue Stube" is available on request for groups of 6 people or more.

CHF 10.00 Adults
CHF 5.00 Children
CHF 100.00 Groups 6−10 people Outside opening hours

Prices in CHF incl. VAT / Prices and products subject to alteration

Tschäggättä in the Lötschen Valley

The Lötschental, a place full of secrets and legends. Its remote location has given rise to a multitude of myths and legends. Wild creatures roamed the valley's history and left their traces behind. They are regarded as the origin of the Tschäggättä tradition, which is still celebrated with devotion today. The Tschäggättä appear in the period between "Maria Lichtmess" and "Gigiszischtag".

The Tschäggättä wear masks made of Swiss stone pine, sheepskins or goatskins over their shoulders and cowbells around their bellies. They do not normally form up in parades or organized groups. There are only two occasions when they get up to mischief together: The traditional Tschäggättu-Loif from Blatten to Ferden and the big Lötschental carnival parade in Wiler. Information and the dates can be found at: www.loetschental.ch