Obergesteln: Stone Village History and Routes

Obergesteln combines a largely stone-built village centre with a range of activities, including hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and cycling. The village’s history of rebuilding after the fire of 1868 is particularly distinctive. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider both its architectural history and the different activities on offer, then decide what you would like to focus on during your stay.

A Village Built of Stone

After the fire, the Valais government required Obergesteln to be rebuilt entirely in stone. The village acquired stone buildings laid out in a grid, stone-slab roofs and wide, elongated lanes. Almost the entire village is built of stone; this style of construction is considered almost unique in the Upper Valais. The building material, roofing and layout of the lanes together create a distinctive picture of the village’s reconstruction. If you are interested in architecture, this combination of the building requirements of the time and the village’s appearance offers a tangible way to explore Obergesteln’s history.

Church and Museum

The parish church of St. Martin of Tours was first mentioned in 1309. It was rebuilt after the village fire on 2 September 1868, blessed in 1875 and consecrated in 1879. Its first recorded mention thus came well before the stages of reconstruction and its later blessing and consecration.

The Obergesteln Grain and Barn Museum can be visited by arrangement with the municipality. Guided tours are not available; you can obtain the key by paying a deposit. If the museum is part of your stay, arrange access with the municipality in advance.

Compare Hikes and Routes

The historic transport route Haslital–Grimsel–Obergesteln–Gries–Northern Italy can now be explored on a well-marked hiking trail. Another hike is the difficult Via Sbrinz from Obergesteln to Riale, covering 19.16 km. The Hängebrücke Bodmer-Brücke hiking route in Obergesteln is of moderate difficulty and 6.81 km long. You can compare the longer, more difficult route with the shorter, moderately difficult one by distance and grade.

For snowshoeing, the Blaswald Trail in Obergesteln is a difficult route covering 5.49 km. The two cross-country skiing routes differ in difficulty and length: the Ulrichen–Obergesteln night trail is of moderate difficulty and 4.45 km long, while the easy Herz-Loipe Obergesteln–Geschinen is 5.17 km long. Although the Herz-Loipe is longer, it is rated as easy—distance and difficulty are therefore separate points of comparison.

Cycling routes also offer different types of activity: the difficult Nufenen – Mythical Alpine Passes cycling tour is 13.73 km long, while the Nufenentrail is a difficult mountain biking route covering 15.22 km. It is worth checking the latest route information before setting off. For cross-country skiing routes, you should also take grooming into account, as route details and grooming conditions can change.

Muleteers’ Festival

At the Muleteers’ Festival, muleteers enter the village with laden pack animals, accompanied by a large hiking group. Children are allowed to groom and feed the horses. The festival thus combines the arrival of the pack animals with a hands-on activity for children.

Discover more destinations: Reckingen, Oberwald, Bellwald, Münster-Geschinen, Lax, Blitzingen, Ernen, Fiesch.

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