Around 1715, the priest Johann Peter Tscherrig donated a much-visited Marian shrine to the south side of Simplon. He had the first well chapel built on his property near the alpine hut. A small spring rises below the chapel and pilgrims soon called the place Maria Brunn. In 1876, 1904 and 1912, the chapel was enlarged and renovated with the help of generous donors and with hard labour on Sundays and holidays. The last major renovation was carried out by the Gondo community in 1983.

Maria Brunn developed into a place of pilgrimage full of grace from 1880 onwards under the parish priest Franz Josef Joller of Gondo. He had a special devotion to the Mother of God in Maria Brunn. Here his restless, changeable life found peace and comfort again and again. Here he carried his small and great worries. He himself wrote: "From the first year, Maria Brunn was the dearest and most gracious place on earth to me."

Here in this quiet place, the inhabitants of the south side of the Simplon took leave of their homeland before their great journey to America north and south, because the living space had become too small. Father Joller held the farewell service for them with an address about home, family and Maria Brunn.

In the meantime, thousands of people have made pilgrimages to the gracious Mother of God "into the Bru" following Joller's example - finding and still finding comfort and new hope there.

The chronicler of Zwischbergen, Josef Squaratti, writes: "It is worthwhile to visit this carefully prepared gem, nestled in a magnificent and quiet natural world, in order to draw peace for oneself and readiness for love of one's fellow human beings from the source of grace".

You can hike to the chapel from the Zwischbergen mountain inn, along the signposted circular hiking trail. The loop takes about 2h 30. It is also possible to shorten the route.
Details of the round walk Maria Bru