Herbriggen: Hiking Trails, Village History and the Vispa

Herbriggen is a large, permanently inhabited clustered settlement in the municipality of St. Niklaus in the Visp district of the canton of Valais. The village lies on the right bank of the Mattervispa at an altitude of 1,260 metres, below the 2,400-metre-high Nieschfäd. The village centre consists almost entirely of old buildings and a church; the surrounding area can therefore be explored through both its settlement history and its hiking and cycling trails.

Hiking around Herbriggen

The hike from Randa via Herbriggen to St. Niklaus takes about two and a half hours. On this route, you cross the Vispa below Herbriggen railway station and can visit the village. The trail thus combines a specific stage with a detour through the village.

The first stage of the Europaweg also leads from Grächen via Herbriggen to the Europahütte. The Europaweg includes a suspension footbridge: it is 494 metres long and stands 85 metres above the abyss at its highest point. Route conditions and access to the bridge may change; check the latest notices before setting out on a hike.

A challenging mountain hike leads from Herbriggen to the Weisshornweg at point 2232. The steep, varied mountain trail runs via Reckholder and Guggini. This route is about an hour shorter than the approach from Randa. If you choose this route, take its challenging nature into account when planning and check the current conditions before setting out.

Cycling Trails and Tours

The Matterhorn Valley Trail is a moderate mountain bike tour rated S2. Between Randa and Mattsand, it passes through Herbriggen and offers views of the Vispa’s wild waters and snow-covered mountain peaks. You can shorten the trail at various railway stations by using the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn. Before setting off, check the train service and the conditions for taking your bike on board and boarding with it.

The Mattsand Enduro runs from Grächen to Mattsand. As a classic enduro descent, it has a significant proportion of trail riding and offers views of the Mattertal mountain scenery. It is a different tour from the Matterhorn Valley Trail, whose route explicitly passes through Herbriggen.

Village Centre and Religious Architecture

On 21 December 1933, Herbriggen was separated from the mother parish of St. Niklaus and officially established as an independent parish. The former chapel in Herbriggen was built in 1800 and rebuilt in 1855. Later, the old chapel was demolished and replaced by a new church built by local residents. The church’s high altar was donated by Bishop Bieler and depicts Mary with the infant Jesus.

The surrounding area includes other chapels, each with its own historical connections. The nearby chapel in Mattsand was built in 1748 in honour of Saint Margaret. The nearby chapel in Breitmatten is dedicated to Saints Simon and Jude. In the hamlet of Zenachern, you can visit several old houses that have been carefully restored.

River Landscape and Getting There

In this area, the valley floor consists of sand to a depth of up to two metres; the nearby hamlet of Mattsand takes its name from this. Together with its location on the right bank of the Mattervispa, this gives the landscape a character distinct from the historic buildings in the village centre.

SBB operates a railway station in Herbriggen and provides information on travel planning and available services. If you are taking your bike, the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn’s special bike ticket covers the train journey with your bike loaded by yourself, as well as the return journey from Herbriggen railway station. Check the ticket conditions before travelling, as they may change.

For the wider travel overview: St. Niklaus.