Baltschieder

Access

The municipality is easily accessible from Visp, either by car in about four minutes (a distance of two kilometres) or by short rail and road links connecting it to the Valais road system. There are no airports in the immediate vicinity: the main Swiss airports can be reached by rail, with Visp providing the most convenient rail access to Baltschieder. The municipality is criss-crossed by footpaths and secondary roads that allow one to immerse oneself in Alpine nature and safely reach neighbouring localities.

Introduction

Baltschieder is a Swiss municipality located in the canton of Valais, in the district of Visp, on the right bank of the Rhone and strategically positioned in the heart of the Upper Valais, close to the town of Visp. The municipality is characterised by its mountainous outlook and the presence of the romantic valley of the same name, one of the few side valleys in the canton accessible only on foot, included in the Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. Sandwiched between Alpine peaks and wide valleys, Baltschieder is a bridge between the Rhone plain and the wild high alpine environments, with landscapes ranging from gentle cultivated slopes to rocky ridges and glaciers.

Description

The population growth in recent decades has transformed Baltschieder from a small rural village to a rapidly developing town, which is also favoured by the proximity of the infrastructure and job opportunities offered by Visp. In the 1980s it had around 500 inhabitants; today it has reached 1,355 residents. The social fabric has been consolidated thanks to numerous local associations that maintain an active sense of community, while traditional agriculture has remained mainly linked to sheep-farming, with the black-faced sheep constituting a curiosity and a cultural symbol that is clearly visible in the local landscape.
Baltschieder retains a fascinating historical core, in which the chapel of St. Sebastian, originally erected in the 16th century and renovated several times over the centuries, stands out. The structure of the village follows the classic settlement pattern of the Valais municipalities, with a central part gathered around the old buildings and newer buildings on the valley floor. Numerous hiking trails lead from the village, including the Baltschiedertal via ferrata, a demanding route leading to the Wiwannihütte hut through fascinating alpine surroundings. The area is also the starting point for hikes to the famous Bietschhorn, an important peak in the Bernese Alps.
The origins of Baltschieder go back a long way, documented as early as the 19th century, and the local history reflects the demographic, economic and social changes that affected the entire region. From a simple village dedicated to agro-pastoral activities, it has been able to adapt to the new challenges of modernity, maintaining a balance between tradition and development.
The culture of the municipality manifests itself in the organisation of traditional festivals, associative activities, the care of green spaces and the preservation of old wooden and stone dwellings that narrate the intense relationship between man and mountain. The Baltschieder valley, with its strong hiking and naturalistic value, offers highly suggestive views and is an example of an Alpine landscape with little human activity, which is also protected and enhanced by quality landscape projects shared with neighbouring municipalities.

Information

Area: 31.34 km²
Altitude: 643m
Maximum elevation: 3,934m - Bietschhorn
Number of inhabitants: 1.355 (2022)
Name in dialect:
Inhabitant name:
Patron Saint: St Sebastian
Neighbouring communities: Ausserberg, Blatten, Eggerberg, Lalden, Naters, Raron, Visp
Internet site: www.baltschieder.ch