Hotel de Londres – at home in Brig

How many times have I passed through or changed trains at Brig station? Dozens of times. How many times have I walked the few meters along the Bahnhofstrasse towards the old town of Brig. Never. At least until last Friday.

Downtown Brig

Since 1884, the Hotel de Londres in the centre of Brig has been welcoming guests from all over the world. The hotelier at the time, Anton Arnold, chose the name on the one hand as a tribute to his time in London and on the other hand as a reminder of the English who came to Valais for mountaineering. The stagecoach has not stopped in front of the hotel door for a long time, but the weekly market still takes place on Sebastiansplatz directly in front of the Hotel de Londres. After several changes of ownership, the hotel was acquired by the Roten family in 2013 and transformed into a charming boutique hotel with a lot of passion and volunteer work from numerous friends as well as the interior design firm Atelier Zürich, reflecting both British history and Valais roots. A hotel just the way I like it.

The daring but successful mix of styles between Valais tradition and English design runs through the entrance area to the living room and the rooms. Neon lights and a marmot with a crown. Paintings by Otto Pfänder next to the London skyline. Diamond pattern and homely wooden floors. A place for homesick Valais people and those who want to discover Valais. Immediately after arrival, we also set off on a short discovery tour through the old town of Brig. Less than five minutes away is the Stockalper Palace, one of the most important baroque buildings in Switzerland. The sun makes Brig shine in all colors this evening and we feel a bit as if we have landed on the Simplon in the south.

Toast with friends at the Hotel de Londres

The Hotel de Londres sees itself as a place of friends for friends and is run in the style of a bed and breakfast. The centrepiece is the spacious “living room” with honesty bar, terrace, book corner and a large cooking area. We immediately feel at home in this ambience. The kitchen can be rented for cooking occasions and is used at the hotel’s culinary events. At regular intervals, hotel guests and local gourmets will be spoiled with exquisite Valais wines and seasonal specialities.

After our tour of Brig, we arrive back at the Hotel de Londres just in time for the start of the wine tasting. Wines are served from Vins de Chevaliers from Salgesch and the winery C. Varonier and Sons from Varen. We taste our way through Fendant, Johannisberger, Petit Arvine and choose the Chardonnay Gold Barrique from Varonier as the favorite white wine of the evening. When it comes to red wine, on the other hand, the Sherpa Rouge from Chevaliers, a red blend of Pinot Noir and Humagne Rouge, convinces me. The wine is dedicated to the Sherpas and part of the proceeds goes to a foundation that supports the professional training of Sherpas to become recognized mountain guides.

The growling stomach is also soothed. There is a fine pumpkin soup and cholera with salad. Uncomplicated and good. For dessert, homemade Linzer cake and chestnut cake are served. A wonderfully relaxed evening dedicated to conviviality and the shared enjoyment of local products.

Aletsch Arena, Domodossola or Goms?

The next morning we are greeted with a large breakfast buffet with crispy, fresh rolls, homemade muesli flakes as well as meat and cheese from the region. Fresh pancakes and egg dishes can be prepared on request. If you stay at the Hotel de Londres, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to activities. Brig is an ideal starting point to explore the Upper Valais with all its diverse valleys. Depending on your mood, mood and weather, you can either head for the Aletsch Arena, the Simplon area, the Lötschental or the area around Visperterminen. And if the weather doesn’t cooperate, the Brigerbad is the perfect bad weather alternative within walking distance.

We have chosen a challenging hike for this wonderful autumn day. The Niwärch and Gorperi bisses, which supply the dry southern ramp with precious water from the Baltschieder Valley, are among the most spectacular bisses in the Upper Valais. The hike begins with an ascent from Ausserberg station on the Lötschberg line to Niwärch. Passing sun-tanned Valais granaries and curious goats, we manage the altitude difference faster than expected. After that, the path is mostly flat along the bisses. What is treacherous on this route is not the distance or the incline, but the exposed sections. In some places, the bisse and the hiking trail run directly past steeply sloping rock faces. With our gaze fixed on the front, we carefully put hiking boot in front of hiking boot. The brave will be rewarded with magnificent views. The Baltschieder Valley is one of the rare “wild” valleys in Switzerland.

The Niwärch-Gorperi bisse hike at a glance

The route can be found on the map below. The hike from Ausserberg station to Eggerberg is about 12 kilometres long, includes an ascent of 410 metres and a descent of 510 metres in altitude. The pure runtime is around 3.5 hours (but it can also be done in three hours – tested especially for you). Surefootedness and a head for heights are an advantage for the hike. The very sloping parts on the Gorperi bisse can be avoided with tunnels. As an alternative to the Niwärch bisse, there is a 1.6-kilometre-long tunnel that leads directly to Ze Steinu. The starting point can be reached from Brig with the Lötschberger. The Lötschberger also stops in Eggerberg – but it is “stop on demand”.

More tips about the Hotel de Londres

• • Double room incl. breakfast 179 CHF / night

• • The stay in Brig can be combined with a detour over the Simplon Pass to Domodossola

• • Thrills are guaranteed on the suspension bridge over the Massaschlucht and on the new Goms Bridge

• • For wine lovers, I recommend a detour to the Heida stronghold of Visperteminen

• And when it snows, the winter wonderland of the Aletsch Arena and the magnificent slopes of the Belalp are right on your doorstep

Note: The Hotel de Londres invited us to the wine event. Thank you very much for this! As always, my readers can be sure that I always represent my views and enthusiasm.