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Hiking tour 

Reliving history

  • 6 km
  • 1 h 30 min.
  • Easy
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Short info

Starting point
Ausserberg, 924 m a.s.l.
Endpoint
Niedergesteln, Weiderli, 633 m a.s.l.
Track
6 km
Duration
1 h 30 min.
Difficulty
Easy
Ascent
44 m
Descent
323 m
Lowest point
633 m a.s.l.
Highest Point
924 m a.s.l.

The tour

This hike takes you through one of the driest regions in Switzerland. From Ausserberg a field track will take you to St. German and, from there, across Heidnischbiel to the famous castle church at Raron with the grave of the poet Rainer Maria Rilke. You should then take a stroll down the old narrow streets and visit the new rock-hewn church below the castle church. From the outskirts of the village follow the road heading west; after 1.5 km you will reach the historic village centre of Niedergesteln.

Alternative Route

Take the return trail at Rotten to the SBB railway station at Raron; Detour across the Joli Gorge suspension bridge in Niedergesteln

Meals

Various restaurants in Ausserberg, St. German, Raron and Niedergesteln

General Tips

for families highly recommended

Note the signage and any information boards on the spot. Further information about the Swiss footpath network and the signposting can be found here.

  • Point of interest

    Chöif Square

    The Chöif served formerly as a market and warehouse square. Romanesque ornaments at some of the oldest buildings link to this use. T more ...

  • Point of interest

    Wefa House

    The «Wefahüs» from the 13/14th century is the most outstanding houses among the privately restored houses in the castle more ...

  • Point of interest

    The Zentriegen House

    The striking stepped gable of the Zentriegen house dominates the image of Raron village. It was constructed in 1536/37 by the renowned ar more ...

  • Point of interest

    Raron

    In addition to the famous church of the castle, two other buildings are situated in the fortress in Raron. The first, the old parsonage, more ...

  • Point of interest

    The Maxen’s Loggia

    The “loggia” at the rise to the "Stalde" in Raron was built by Stefan Maxen, the Vogt of Evian and spell lord of &l more ...

  • Point of interest

    Heidnischbiel

    The distinctive hill landscape between Raron and St. German has a prehistoric past, due to its location above the valley of the river &ld more ...

  • Point of interest

    Castle Museum

    In the museum the local history is linked to the regional and supra-regional history based on personalities significant for Raron. more ...

  • Point of interest

    Tomb of Rainer Maria Rilke

    South of the castle church is buried the well-known German poet Rainer Maria Rilke. The epitaph was written by Rilke himself: “Rose more ...

  • Point of interest

    Ice age cave Gestelnburg

    Through the incredible forces of water and ice a cave dating back to the ice age was created on the castle rock of Niedergesteln, the Fes more ...

  • Point of interest

    Rock Church St. Michael

    The space for the rock church was completely blown into the rock below the castle church between 1971-1974. The church, with its 500 seat more ...

  • Point of interest

    Priory Church

    The various remnants such as the foundations and a crypt completely filled up show that the beginning of the church was in the 12th centu more ...

  • Point of interest

    Vineyard Chalchofe

    The Foundation «Der Kulturweg» renewed in 2006 and 2010 the vineyard as well as the dry stone walls and paths at the location more ...

  • Point of interest

    Castle church St. Romanus

    Following the floods of river Bietsch between 1414 and 1494, the church of the village was so strongly damaged that the residents in 1505 more ...

  • Destination

    Raron - Niedergesteln

    After the floods of the Bietschbach in 1414 and 1494, the severely damaged village church was rebuilt. In order to protect it from furthe more ...

  • Point of interest

    Gestelnburg

    The castle on the Feschti in Niedergesteln originated in the 12th century and was considered as impregnable. The castle is the most impre more ...

  • Point of interest

    Dry-stone walls St. German

    The steep slopes of the sunny side of the Valais were terraced centuries ago for agricultural land use. Therefore dry-stone walls were bu more ...