Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
D6
Simplonpass » Zwischbergen
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6h10 |
17.9 km
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1246 m
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1890 m
Leave the Simplon pass and take the old mule track – also called the "Stockalperweg" - heading south and passing the old hospice. Just after Simplon village, cross the pass road and go down to Gabi chapel, from where a climb starts up to the Furggu pass. Here, walk down over the left side of the valley to Zwischbergen, the stage destination.
Leave Simplon Kulm behind on the right-hand side of the pass road, passing the Steinadler. This is a monument built by a mountain brigade during the border occupation of the second World War. The Simplon pass was already an important pass crossing in the Middle Ages, and connected the Wallis region with North Italy. The well-known tradesman Jodok von Stockalper used the route for his business in much the same way as Napoleon later did. The hospice, commissioned by Napoleon and today home to canons and used as a community centre, bears witness to this. It can be seen to the left on leaving the pass and descending onto the wide pass plateau. The trail runs close alongside the pass road. It soon reaches the Alte Spittel (old hospital) building. It was built in 1650 by Jodok von Stockalper and sheltered hikers and tradesmen until the year 1831. Afterwards, the hospice on the pass took over. The route leads further on the Stockalperweg trail alongside old trail fortifications, walls, meadows and sparse woodland. Again and again, it comes across stone houses in which goods used to be stored or horses traded. Pass Engiloch and Egga to reach Simplon village on an easy walk. Here, the eco-museum is worth a visit in order to gain another insight into the turbulent history of the Simplon pass. Follow the old pass road, passing by the underpass of the new pass road and heading downhill to Gabi, where the mule track once branched into Gondo or to the Feerberg mountain. Continue from here following the partly paved trade route over the Furggu pass. Here again, you will repeatedly come across traces from the Stockalper days. After the pass crossing, take the mountain trail down into the Zwischbergental valley, to the eponymous hamlet of Zwischbergen. (Schweizer Wanderwege)
Natural and cultural heritage
Simplon Village Simplon village, the little mountain village south of the pass standing at 1,470m in altitude, is known for the Italian influence reflected in its buildings. The imposing granite-tiled rooftops and the narrow streets paved in stone give the village its characteristic appearance. Simplon village has a long and interesting history. Even the great Stockalper had his storehouses here. He purchased the lower part of the old tower and set up a trans-shipment centre there. Unfortunately, this construction can no longer be seen today. It collapsed in October 1892. In Simpelen, as Simplon village was also called, Stockalper owned a salt house among other buildings. Today, Simplon village is left behind on the left of the pass road, but you can also choose the alternative of the old route through the village. And it comes highly recommended: the “Alte Gasthof” (old inn) accommodates the museum and operations centre of the Simplon ecomuseum. It presents the Simplon living environment, focussing on the economy, culture and politics; this is also the foundation headquarters. Gondo/Zwischbergen When in the 13th century, transit traffic on the Simplon road took on greater proportions, the people of the Wallis region started to take a greater interest in the neighbouring valleys, Val di Vaira (Zwischbergen), Laginasca and Fraxinodo. Over time, Vaira became known as the Zwischbergental valley, Laginasca as Lagünschen or Lagginatal, Fraxinodo as Alpien and Gondo as Ruden. The narrow Gondo ravine, which for a long time was considered to be inaccessible, was already crossed by the old mule trail built under Kaspar Jodok von Stockalper, who had the entire trail extended in the 17th century from Brig through the Gondo ravine. Consequently, trade goods were channelled in great quantities via the Simplon pass. The hospice below the pass was completed in 1666 and in 1685 the seven-storey tower in Gondo acquired its conical roof. A complete change in economic relations occurred in Gondo and Zwischbergen. The farmers left the countryside to work in building sites, limestone furnaces, gold mines or in transport as freight haulers or as employees in the hospices. When Napoleon organised the construction of the Simplon pass road between 1800 and 1805 for his military purposes, in order for his troops to be able to move quickly into the south, the Gondo ravine, until then only accessible to pack animals, was also made viable for vehicles. Gondo has been a border town since the accession of the canton of Wallis to Switzerland in 1815. On 14 October 2000, the otherwise rather peaceful village made the headlines. An enormous avalanche of mud and boulders rushed down with a deafening roar from the Zwischbergental valley through Gondo, destroying 10 houses, and also part of the old Stockalper tower. 11 inhabitants lost their lives. (Schweizer Wanderwege)
Other long-distance trails and alternative routes
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Useful topographic maps
274T Visp ~ Swisstopo (1: 50'000)
Aletsch - Goms - Brig - Simplon ~ Hallwag Kümmerly und Frey AG / ISBN 3-259-00821-7 (1: 60'000)
Useful guidebooks
Stockalperweg (Brig-Simplon-Gondo) ~ Verkehrsver. Simplon, Simplon Dorf (ISBN keine)
Oberwallis / Michael Waeber / Hans Steinbichler ~ Bergverlag Rudolf Rother GmbH (ISBN 3-7633-4127-7)
Brig Simplon Aletsch Goms / Christian Fux ~ Rotten Verlag AG Philipp Mengis, Visp (ISBN 3-907624-52-1)
Websites relative to natural and cultural heritage
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.
Itinéraire réalisé de Riale (D1) à MontCenis (D34) du 19/08 au 12/09/23.
Au Simplon, un resto déplorable (refus de charger la powerbank), viser le magasin de souvenirs (très sympa, pain excellent, charcuterie, glaces, boissons...) et un hospice (hébergement, repas...).
Vers NiederAlp (super emplacement de bivouac, près de la rivière).
A SimplonDorf, au niveau du km9 (avant le village), viser le grand bâtiment dans le bas à gauche près de la route (couper à travers champs) : c'est un élevage de poules avec vente d’œufs en libre-service (3.6€/6, 7.2€/12, attention pas de monnayeur). Au village, fromagerie avec distributeur, boulangerie/pâtisserie, épicerie, 2 restaurants, hôtel, fontaines. Le bivouac à proximité est assez compliqué (au milieu du chemin vers km 11.5). Gabi est un endroit très passager et très bruyant.
Clemens - 2016-07-18
Simplon-Dorf: Bzgl. dem Einkaufen und der Post sollte man sich am Vorabend wegen der Öffnungszeiten orientieren. Nicht den ganzen Tag offen. Bancomat im Dorf. Verschiedene Restaurants und gute preiswerte Hotels.
Automatic translation
[Google]
Simplon village: Bzgl. The shopping and the post should be based on the evening before because of the opening hours. Not open all day. Bancomat in the village. Different restaurants and good cheap hotels.
Clemens - 2016-07-18
Unterkunft bei Lukas Escher im Restaurant Zwischenberg. Einheimische Produkte, warme Dusche. Gemütlich. Guter Platz auf dem man sich freuen darf.
Automatic translation
[Google]
Accommodation with Lukas Escher in the restaurant Zwischenberg. Local products, warm shower. Cozy. Good place to look forward to.
Clemens - 2016-07-18
In Gabi ist das Hotel geschlossen. Trotzdem gibt es ausser Donnerstag Nachmittag einen guten Ort zum Rasten. Die Forellenräuscherei. Ein wirklich guter Platz gleich neben dem alten Hotel.
Automatic translation
[Google]
In Gabi the hotel is closed. Nevertheless, there is except Thursday afternoon a good place to rest. The trout noise. A really good place next to the old hotel.
L'hospice du col du Simplon est une option d'hébergement intéressante. Il n'est pas indispensable de réserver à l'avance et le prix est plus avantageux que celui de l’hôtel. tel : 0041 (0)27 979 13 22 e-mail: simplon@gsbernard.net
Automatic translation
[Google]
Hospice of the Simplon Pass is interesting accommodation option. It is not necessary to book in advance and the price is cheaper than the hotel. tel: 0041 (0) 27 979 13 22 e-mail: simplon@gsbernard.net
KleTho - 2009-10-11
Nette Alternative zum Weg in der Talsohle von Simplon Dorf zum Simplon Pass über den Höhenweg (2200m)an der östlichen Hangseite unterhalb des Hübsch- und Breibachhorns (http://www.tourenguide.ch/d/wanderungen/wallis/detail.php?touren_id=75#)(http://www.simplon.ch/sommeraktivitaeten/wandern/ausganspunkt-simplonpass/hohenweg-simplon-sud/karte-hohbielustaful-dorf.jpg). Schöne Aussicht, leicht begehbar und nur unwesentliche länger (ca. 13km). Endpunkt ist das Simplon Hospiz, in dem man auch sehr gut übernachten kann (HP, 66,-ChF/Erw.).
Von Augustinermönchen geführtes Hopsiz mit gemeinsammen Frühstück (8°°) und Abendessen (19°°).
Automatic translation
[Google]
Nice alternative to the road in the valley of the Simplon Pass Simplon village on the high road (2200m) on the eastern side of the slope below the Cute and Breibachhorns Beautiful views, easily accessible and only insignificant longer (about 13km). Endpoint is the Simplon hospice where you can sleep very well (HP, 66, -ChF/Erw.).
Run by Augustinian monks Hopsiz gemeinsammen with breakfast (8 am) and dinner (19 ° °).
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6h10 |
17.9 km
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1246 m
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1890 m
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.