Travel guide Grächen
Travel by cogwheel narrow-gauge railway through the mountains to Mattertal and Grächen
Grächen is located in the idyllic Mattertal, above the municipality of St. Nikolaus in the Swiss canton of Valais. The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn takes you comfortably from
Visp station to St. Nikolaus on a narrow-gauge and cog railway route. From there, shuttle buses take you to your private holiday apartment in Grächen. On weekends, you can travel directly from Visp to Grächen by bus. By car, you can reach your holiday accommodation in Grächen from southern Germany via Liechtenstein, passing Lake Zurich, and via the A2 motorway over
Goms to Visp. From there, continue to the
Grächen-St. Nikolaus region. Note that most of Grächen is car-free, and only electric cars are allowed to drive there. Book an accommodation or a chalet, a cozy holiday apartment (FeWo), or a holiday home with a fireplace and balcony for a vacation with the family tailored to your personal wishes in the holiday resort.
1,600 meters above sea level with a dry Alpine climate
Your holiday home in Grächen is located at over 1,600 meters on a terrace in the Mattertal. The valley is surrounded by the peaks of the Bernese Alps in the north and the Valais Alps in the south. The mountain massifs reach over 4,000 meters into the sky and thus keep precipitation from both the north and the Mediterranean area at bay. As a result,
Valais is considered one of the driest regions in Switzerland. This climate allows wine and cacti to thrive in Lower Valais. The best time to travel for a
holiday in the mountains in Grächen-St. Nikolaus is the "warm" summer months from June to September when the thermometer reaches maximum daytime values of 20°C. In winter, the mercury rarely rises above the freezing point. The ski area is perfect for a ski holiday, including your own accommodation or house with a cozy fireplace. In summer, you can embark on extensive hikes into the stunning Matterhorn.
Rye bread, wine, and dried meat – Valais culinary delights
Swiss cuisine combines culinary influences from neighboring countries Germany, France, and Italy. Each canton has its own characteristics. Valais cuisine is a typical Alpine cuisine, influenced by the harsh, long winters, high altitudes, and peasant traditions. The region is known for its dried sausage and meat products, as well as round Valais rye bread made from 90 percent rye flour. A typical Valais plate combines Valais rye bread with thinly sliced dried meat, bacon, raw ham, dried sausage, and local cheese. The 15-centimeter-long dried sausages are seasoned with red wine, vegetables, and spices and are a typical Valais specialty. A traditional dish from Valais is Gesottene (Gsottus in Valais dialect), consisting of air-dried and then cooked beef and pork, bacon and sausage, served with sauerkraut and potatoes. Valais is also the best canton for wine lovers. The native and autochthonous grape varieties of the canton are the white Amigne, Arvine, Humagne Blanc, Mennas, and Resi, as well as the red Landroter (Cornalin). Only the native grape varieties are allowed to call themselves Grand Cru.
Hiking, climbing, and skiing in a fairytale mountain world
Your cozy holiday home or wooden chalet in Grächen is the ideal starting point for hiking and climbing tours with the family and children. Easy tours lead along the traditional "Wasserleite" or "Suonen" Bineri, Drieri, Chilcheri, and Eggeri. Challenging hikes lead across the Alps and through mountain forests. Grächen is an overnight stop on Route 27 – Swiss Tour Monte Rosa between Saas-Fee and Zermatt. In
ski holidays in Grächen-St. Nikolaus, Grächen ski area extends up to an altitude of 2,864 meters. Ten ski lifts bring you to the entrances of a total of 40 kilometers of slopes. Enjoy breathtaking views of the region from the many cable cars. For children and beginners, there are practice slopes, a winter playground, a snow-tube run, and an igloo. In a fairytale gondola, you can listen to the Brothers Grimm's fairytales during the ride. There are numerous ski schools as well! You can also bring your dog or pet and explore the surrounding area, ski resort, and holiday resort on winter hiking trails with your furry friend during the ski holiday. On the exclusive Ravensburger Spieleweg, hiking is combined with exciting games. Visit the forest playground Robis with your children and also take a trip to St. Niklaus or hike to the viewpoint Hannigalp.
Museums for scholars, mountain guides, and craftsmen in Grächen
The region's landmark is St. Nikolaus Church in the neighboring village of the same name, with its medieval onion tower. It is the largest onion tower in Upper Valais, visible far across the valley. In the church square stands the nearly four-meter-high mountain guide monument, and the Meierturm houses the mountain guide museum. The Meierturm, dating from 1273, is the oldest building in the valley. The exhibition is dedicated to a long tradition: over 300 first ascents are attributed to mountain guides from St. Nikolaus and Grächen. The local museum in Grächen showcases an exhibition on local history, focusing on the life and work of the humanist scholar Thomas Platters. A small woodworking museum, housed in an old storage building, is located on the street named after him. All you need to do is book a cozy accommodation, holiday home, chalet, or holiday apartment (FeWo) with a fireplace tailored to your personal wishes and experience an unforgettable holiday with your family in the resort.