Discover Naters

Naters is located in the centre of Upper Valais. Different themes may shape your stay: the historic village centre, military history, the World Nature Forum, and trails connected to the landscape and local history. You can plan your time around the topics that interest you most.

History and places of remembrance

Naters’ old village centre has many historic and valuable buildings. You can explore Naters on your own or take a guided village tour with a local cultural guide.

The castle on the Flüe was built in the 12th century and was the seat of various noble families in Upper Valais. The parish church in Naters is dedicated to Saint Maurice and was consecrated in his honour in 1675. Its richly gilded high altar dates from 1667 and features a depiction of the Last Supper by Hans Studer.

The lime tree in Naters, over 600 years old, is one of the oldest trees in Switzerland. Beside it, the base of a former medieval pillory column is still visible. In the past, convicted people were fastened to the column with iron bands and put on public display. The mortuary slab in Naters was formerly used to prepare burials; the deceased were then placed in coffins and taken to the cemetery.

Museums and guided tours

The Simplon Fortress Naters Museum presents the army positions at the outbreak of war, the Swiss Army’s retreat to the National Redoubt, and the former armaments in historic tunnels. Simplon Fortress Naters offers groups of ten or more guided tours on request throughout the year, outside regular opening hours. If you are planning such a tour, make your request before your visit.

The World Nature Forum at the Aletsch Campus in Naters explores in its exhibition the decline in the importance of mountain farming, climate change, and the effects of a lack of snow on tourism. A 100-square-metre panoramic room shows film footage from the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The World Nature Forum is a five-minute walk from Brig railway station. Local bus route 1 runs from Brig station square to the “Aletsch Campus” stop; from there, the Forum is a one-minute walk. Check current connections and access information before travelling.

Landscape and trails

At the municipal level, 67.68 km² of Naters lies within the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. The municipality stretches from the banks of the Rhône at 656 m above sea level to the Aletschhorn at 4,194 m above sea level.

The approximately 40-metre-long Massegga suspension bridge between Naters and Bitsch offers an impressive view into the Massaschlucht gorge. The Historic Road hike offers a different perspective: it leads from Naters past dry-stone walls and mule troughs up to the old village of Blatten bei Naters.

The hike can start at the market square in Naters, which is accessible from Brig by PostBus or local bus route 1. Trail conditions may vary; check them and the transport connections before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Blatten Bei Naters, Mehlbaum, Tschuggen, Rothwald, Zwischbergen, Simplon Hospice, Eggerberg, Birgisch.

Back to the main travel overview: Brig.