Binn: Minerals, hiking trails and village history

If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Binn, minerals, hiking trails and historic village centres shape the character of the area. The alpine village lies at 1,400 metres in the Swiss canton of Valais; Binn is a municipality in the Goms district. The municipality includes the village of Schmidigehischere, the hamlets of Ze Binne, Wilere, Giesse and Fäld, as well as part of the pilgrimage site of Heiligkreuz in the Lengtal. When planning your stay, you can therefore include both excursions into the surrounding landscape and the history of the individual settlements.

Minerals and trails in the Binntal

The Lengenbach mineral quarry is located in Binn and is one of the most important mineral sites in the world. More than 40 of the mineral species discovered there to date were first found at this site. The Binntal is known for its rich mineral deposits; some species are considered unique to the area. The overall figures also include sites in the immediate vicinity: more than 300 mineral species have been found to date in the Binntal and on the Alpe Devero and Alpe Veglia combined. Around 150 of these come from the Lengenbach mineral quarry behind Fäld; the Binntal is the type locality for 56 minerals.

Visitors who would like to learn about minerals with a guide can join a guided mineral excursion with a mineral prospector. The Fäld rock experience trail connects several stations: sound holes and a lithophone, a magnifying-glass station, a boulder traverse and a stone cairn playground. Along the trail, the focus is on sound, observation and movement as well as geological features.

Hikes and planning your time

The Binntal has around 150 kilometres of well-maintained hiking and mountain trails. The Binn–Eggerhorn–Ausserbinn hike leads from Binn to the 2,503-metre-high Eggerhorn, considered one of the best viewpoints in the Binntal Landscape Park. The route is listed as suitable from June to October. Another option is the Binn–Heiligkreuz–Binn pilgrimage and reflection trail: restored in 2018, the circular route connects Binn, Ze Binne, Heiligkreuz and Wilere. It is 6.8 kilometres long, takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes, and starts and ends in Binn at an altitude of 1,400 metres. The listed season for this trail is May to October. As trail conditions can change, check them before setting out.

Village centres, chapels and history

The village scenes of Schmidigehischere and Wilere, districts of Binn, are of national importance. Wilere is home to the parish church of St Michael the Archangel, which was probably built between 1561 and 1565. A fragmentary fresco depicting the Nikopoia dates from around 1300 and points to parts of the former church. The chapel of St Sebastian in Ze Binne was built in 1725. Its Baroque rosary altar was created in 1675, originally stood in the parish church in Wilere and was moved to Ze Binne in 1963; the altar has been modified several times. The chapel of St Martin in Fäld was probably built in 1660. The history of the area also includes its hotels: Hotel Ofenhorn opened in 1883 and was extended in 1897.

Until the summer of 2023, the Binntal Regional Museum in Binn displayed archaeological finds and minerals from the Binntal, as well as parts of Gerd Graeser's ethnographic collection. The museum is being redesigned in stages through 2027. If you are planning a visit, check in advance which exhibitions are currently on display.

Seasonal excursions and other experiences

In summer, the Bus alpin takes day-trippers and hikers from Binn to Fäld and onwards to Brunnebiel in the upper Binntal. Check the timetable before travelling. The snowshoe nature trail starts in Fäld and leads through forest and open terrain to Alp Brunnebiel, then descends directly to Fäld through powder snow. A small ski tow is located above the church in the hamlet of Wilere. You can reach it from the Binn-Dorf car park via Kirchweg in a five-minute walk.

The hike to Twingi Gorge starts in Binn and leads through the gorge. The old path through Twingi Gorge is a historic visitor route for cyclists and pedestrians; tunnels, retaining walls and boundary walls form an impressive historic monument. A historic trade route ran through the Binntal. The listed visiting season is May to October; check conditions before setting out. As another group activity, Bergbrauerei Binn offers beer tastings with a presentation of the brewing process all year round. The presentation covers beer styles, raw ingredients and the Bergbrauerei Binn project; advance booking is required.

Discover more destinations: Fiesch, Oberwald, Lax, Reckingen, Münster-Geschinen, Obergesteln, Ernen, Ulrichen

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