Simplon: Cultural History and Historic Routes

Specific points of interest include a museum in the historic inn, guided walks and a seasonal presentation of traditional crafts.

Simplon Dorf and the history of transit traffic

Simplon is a municipality that includes Simplon Dorf, Simplon Hospiz and Gabi (Simplon). Simplon Dorf lies nine kilometres by road south of the Simplon Pass summit; the summit is also part of the municipality. The municipality is situated on the Simplon Pass road (N 9). This provides the geographical context for a stay, while the village itself has its own focus on architectural history and activities relating to local history.

The «Alte Gasthof» stands in the village square in Simplon Dorf. It was built between the 14th and 18th centuries. The former building was a «Sust», a traditional travellers’ inn and goods depot, and is the centrepiece of the Ecomuseum Simplon. Today it houses a museum about the history of transit traffic across the Simplon and its effects on the region. Topics include Stockalper, Napoleon, the miners who worked on the Simplon Tunnel and the daring Geo Chavez. Between 1992 and 1995, the «Ecomuseum Simplon» foundation restored the inn.

ViaStockalper also explores the history of crossing the Alps. The Stockalperweg is a mule track expanded by Kaspar Stockalper more than 300 years ago. The historic Alpine crossing follows four generations of roads: the Roman, Stockalper, Napoleonic and national roads. This succession makes the route a tangible point of interest for anyone interested in how transport routes across the Simplon have developed.

Village history, the church and crafts

The parish of Simplon has been documented since 1267 and is dedicated to Saint Gotthard. The present-day parish church in Simplon was built in 1725 and solemnly consecrated in 1736. The church is a two-minute walk from the «Simplon Dorf, Post» bus stop, which is nearby. Another chapter in the village’s history is the former Meierturm: it was a residence of the Lords of Simplon in the 13th century and was almost completely demolished in 1892 and 1893. The stone roofs of Simplon Dorf, in turn, are strongly reminiscent of nearby Italy.

On the «Dorfführung Simplon Dorf» village tour, local guides lead visitors through old Simplon Dorf and share information about its buildings and notable residents. «Simpilär Dorfgschichtä» is another walk through the village, during which the «Simpilär Ziegenhirt» tells stories from days gone by. These tales include anecdotes about various families, events and hamlets, told in the traditional «Simpilär Diitsch» dialect. Dates and times for both activities can be arranged on request.

«Simpilär Handwerk» adds a seasonal highlight. Local residents demonstrate traditional crafts in the village square in Simplon. During the summer months, the craftspeople work outdoors on their products once a week, usually on Friday afternoons. The summer season and usual day of the week help you plan when to visit.

A focus on nature

Those interested in nature as well as local and transport history will find another point of interest in the secluded Laggintal valley: it is considered one of Europe’s most interesting butterfly habitats. This gives you a choice of different interests when planning your trip—from museums, architectural history and storytelling to a butterfly area of significance beyond the region. You can use these themes to decide what you would most like to focus on during your trip to Simplon.

Discover more destinations: Simplon Hospiz, Belalp, Naters, Rosswald, Termen, Brig, Birgisch, Mund

Return to the main travel overview: Brig.