Gamsen country wall

The "Landmür" was an actual dam and served to defend the upper part of the Valais from attacks from the west. The wall attracted the interest of topographers and historians early on. It was first mentioned in land descriptions in 1392. The wall, originally equipped with battlements, battlements and towers, was built around the middle of the 14th century. It has also given rise to a wide variety of speculations. The Perrig Chronicle of 1780 reports on the decay of the stately Letzi. In fact, the wall fell into disrepair from the 18th century onwards. The Letzi Wall lost its original purpose because the border between Upper and Lower Valais had shifted down the valley into the Pfynwald forest. It was not until more recent research that the value of this wall was recognized again. Today it is considered by far the best-preserved Letzi in the whole of Switzerland. Around 600m of the wall, which was once almost 900m long, is still clearly visible. Its construction at the time (around 1350) was a major joint effort by the communities around Brig. The foundation was set up to preserve this extraordinary structure. The cantonal and federal authorities declared the wall a monument of national importance. The first urgent conservation work was carried out in the fall of 1996.

Guided tours: not possible