A hike through Herbriggen can be combined with a look at the old buildings in the village center and the local church history. The village is also a point of interest for cycling tours: the Matterhorn Valley Trail runs through Herbriggen, and there is an SBB railway station in the village.
Village Character and Church History
Herbriggen is a large, permanently inhabited clustered settlement in the municipality of St. Niklaus, in the district of Visp in the canton of Valais. The village lies at an altitude of 1,260 meters on the right bank of the Mattervispa, below the 2,400-meter-high Nieschfäd. Almost all the buildings in the village center are old, and there is a church. In the hamlet of Zenachern, you can visit several exemplary restored old houses.
The church in Herbriggen has a high altar donated by Bishop Bieler, depicting Mary with the infant Jesus. The former chapel in Herbriggen was built in 1800 and rebuilt in 1855. The old chapel was demolished and replaced by a new church built by local residents. On December 21, 1933, Herbriggen separated from the mother parish of St. Niklaus and was officially established as an independent parish.
The nearby chapels also offer insight into the religious history of the surrounding area, although they are not in the village center: the chapel in Mattsand was built in 1748 in honor of Saint Margaret. The chapel in Breitmatten is dedicated to the holy apostles Simon and Jude. The nearby hamlet of Mattsand takes its name from the fact that the valley floor in this area consists of sand to a depth of up to two meters.
Hiking Around Herbriggen
The hike from Randa through Herbriggen to St. Niklaus takes about two and a half hours. Along this route, you can cross the Vispa below Herbriggen railway station; you can also visit the village along the way. This combines the hike with a detour to the old buildings in the village center and the church history.
Herbriggen is also on the first stage of the Europaweg, which leads from Grächen through the village to the Europahütte. The Europaweg crosses a 494-meter-long suspension footbridge that stands 85 meters above the precipice at its highest point. As trail conditions and bridge access can change, check the latest information before setting out.
Another option is the steep, varied mountain hiking trail from Herbriggen via Reckholder and Guggini to the Weisshornweg at point 2232. The ascent from Herbriggen is about an hour shorter than from Randa. This challenging mountain hike requires careful planning; check current conditions before setting out.
Cycling Tours and Rail Travel
The Matterhorn Valley Trail is a moderately difficult mountain bike tour rated S2. Between Randa and Mattsand, the route passes through Herbriggen and offers views of the Vispa’s wild waters and snow-covered mountain peaks. As access conditions vary seasonally, it is worth checking the latest trail information. The tour can also be shortened by using the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn at various railway stations; check services and boarding rules before traveling.
The Mattsand Enduro offers a different kind of ride: this classic enduro descent, with a substantial amount of trail riding, leads from Grächen to Mattsand and offers views of the mountains of the Matter Valley. By contrast, the Matterhorn Valley Trail is classified as a moderately difficult tour and explicitly passes through Herbriggen. The routes can therefore be distinguished by their described itineraries and character.
For bicycle transport, the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn’s special bicycle ticket includes a train journey with self-loading of the bicycle, as well as the return journey from Herbriggen railway station. Ticket conditions may change; check them before traveling.
Plan Your Journey and Accommodation
The railway station in Herbriggen, operated by SBB, provides information for planning your journey and about the services available. This helps you choose where to stay based on the routes you actually want to include in your trip.
For the broader travel overview: Sankt Niklaus.
