Village walk in Simplon Dorf

1: Hotel Post

Following the construction of the Simplon road, the stately building was built around 1810 as a proud officers' barracks. The villagers called the building "Z'gross Huis". The Frenchman Pierre Guillet, who lived in Simplon Dorf, established a guest business there in 1812. In 1830 the municipality bought the house and the subsequent innkeepers also continued to hold the position of postmaster. The stabling halls on the ground floor were converted into a modern restaurant, the horse stable opposite now houses the post office and the community hall. The milestone on the east facade of today's hotel signals exactly half the distance Brig - Domodossola.

2: Old Tower

For centuries the tower was the landmark of the village. "Där Turu" was once a mighty lordly tower. It was the seat of the noble family of the lords of Simplono, 1257 to 1335 bailiff of the Simplon valley. In 1334 Bishop Aymon of Sion acquired the building and set up a suste on the ground floor. After the decline of the feudal power structures, the municipality acquired the building in 1545 and established the community room and the first school there. Part of the dilapidated building collapsed in 1892 and the building was demolished up to half. On the foundations, the municipality built the existing building in 1893/94. Only the round stairwell remained of the historic tower.

3: Dairy

Agriculture has a high importance in the Simplon area. All parcels are cultivated, the basic properties and alpine pastures are connected by roads, and irrigation systems are installed in the meadows. The economic buildings are located near the village edge. The village dairy is the center and lifeblood of the farmers. The facade is decorated with the last major work of the Upper Valais painter Anton Mutter. Cheese, butter, cream, yogurt, and whey cheese from the Simplon dairy also enjoy an excellent reputation in neighboring Italy. Management by appointment Tel. 027 979 13 66. Shop opening hours: daily 08:00 - 12:00 and 16:00 - 18:00

4: Schoolhouse

The schoolhouse from 1964 replaced the school in the old tower and was renovated in 1999 and 2002. The gymnasium with a modern stage and a large, contemporary kitchen enables versatile major events. Village library, computer room, student workshops, and teaching kitchen serve all school classes from kindergarten to primary school. The main entrance is adorned with an iron sculpture by the Upper Valais painter Anton Mutter.

5: Workshop Yard

The workshop yard was completed in 1989 according to the plans of P. Schweizer and A. Meillard. The facade recalls the road constructions of the Napoleonic era, and the stone slab roof matches the village image. From here, the section of the national road A9 from Simplon Pass to Gondo (Swiss/Italian border) is monitored and maintained.

6: Federal Councilor Josef Escher House

The modest plaque commemorates the birthplace of Dr. Josef Escher, the first Upper Valais Federal Councilor. On the first floor, he also regularly spent his summer holidays as a Federal Councilor and maintained close contact with the fellow citizens.

7: Old Mill

With the new village paving in 2010, the romantic stone arch bridges over the village stream were also restored. The path leads to the old mill. The mill was still in operation in the last century.

8: Stutzji

A special experience is a walk through z'Stutzji. The buildings on both sides of the old mule track were built in the second half of the 17th century. The impressive alley reveals southern influence and is one of the most impressive path settlements in Switzerland. In 2010, "Stutzji" received new paving.

9: Village Square

Designed after the model of an Italian piazza, the magnificent old town center is surrounded by massive stone houses from the 17th century from the heyday of the Simplon and Kaspar von Stockalper (1609 - 1691): the former inn "Zum Weissen Kreuz" from 1679, the old suste from 1611 and 1684, the salt house from 1728 and the still operating inn "Simplon" from the second half of the 17th century. With the parsonage of 1680 and the church of 1725, the square has a unique building ensemble. The octagonal stone village fountain (around 1870) served as a horse trough. The rectangular historical square has been aesthetically lined again since the 2008 renovation with old buildings including their historical facades, after a disturbing, later-built building was removed. The new stone stage and wild stone paving revived the village square. The simple monument in the shadow of the old inn honors the achievements of the most famous fellow citizen, Dr. Josef Escher, the first Upper Valais Federal Councilor. Josef Escher, born on September 17, 1885, with citizenship in Simplon Dorf, was elected to the Federal Council on September 14, 1950. The CVP Federal Councilor headed the Post and Railway Department. On December 9, 1954, he died during a Federal Council meeting, two weeks after announcing his resignation.

10: Museum Old Inn

The former inn and suste building was constructed in several stages between the 14th and 18th centuries. In the typical Simplon Dorf construction method, the wooden block walls were covered with masonry. The impressive enclosure wall with the mighty gate entrance recalls the historical importance of the building. After the purchase by the municipality, the building, which was at risk of collapse, was very gently restored from 1991 to 1995. Today, "Där alt Gasthof" forms the actual center of the ecomuseum. In the very authentically restored interiors, the permanent exhibition of the museum is also located. The international transit traffic and its effects on regional history are the focus of the presentation. Interested village visitors should not miss visiting this wonderful museum in Simplon Dorf.

11: Church

The parish of St. Gotthard in Simplon is mentioned in a document dated August 1, 1267 and celebrates its patron, St. Gotthard, a southern German bishop, on his death day of May 5 (1083). The present St. Gotthard church was built in 1725. The Gothic sacrament house in the wall to the right of the high altar and the candlestick from 1568 point to an earlier church building. A striking feature of today's church, strongly influenced by Italy and renovated in 1961, are the tall rectangular proportions. In the niche above the entrance stands a bronze statue of St. Brother Klaus by the Obwalden sculptor Josef Gasser. The high altar (1827) with St. Bishop Gotthard is by Lorenz Justin Ritz. To the right, St. Bishop Nicholas of Myra, to the left, St. Theodul, the first Upper Valais bishop. Above them the Virgin Mary, to the right St. Catherine of Siena, to the left St. Dominic. Above all floats God the Father. The two side altars are by Anton Sigristen with altar images by Melchior Paul von Deschwanden. The right altar shows the death of St. Joseph, flanked on the right by St. Barbara, on the left by St. Catherine of Alexandria. Above stands St. George, to his right St. Aloysius, to the left St. Francis Xavier. The left altar is dedicated to St. Anne. To the right St. John the Baptist, to the left St. Anthony of Padua. Above St. Cecilia, to her right St. Martha of Bethany, and to the left St. Agatha.

12: Stable & Barn in the Chrizgassa

This inconspicuous stable is the oldest secular block building in Switzerland. Researchers have found out by dendrochronology (tree ring analysis and comparison with other tree ring series) that the building is about 1000 years old.