The best MTB trails around Eggerberg

West of Visp station, the Vispa flows into the Rhône, which in German-speaking Upper Valais is traditionally called the Rotten. The approximately 8.5-kilometer-long Vispa is formed in Stalden by the confluence of the Mattervispa from the Mattertal valley and the Saaservispa from the Saas valley. Both tributaries carry milky-turquoise water from the glacier-covered high mountain regions around Zermatt and Saas-Fee. After its short course through the Vispertal valley, the Vispa finally joins the significantly wider Rotten. From here, the water continues its journey through the Valais and Lake Geneva, before the Rhône flows on through France to the Mediterranean Sea. The confluence is also a beautiful viewpoint and a fitting place to say goodbye to the Valais once more after a hike through the mountain world around Zermatt. It impressively shows how the water from the Valais Alps shapes the valleys and landscapes far beyond the high mountains.

The Reblehrpfad Visperterminen (Vineyard Educational Trail) provides information on several panels about viticulture in the highest vineyards on the European mainland. Along the path, visitors learn more about vine pruning, different grape varieties, the construction of traditional dry stone walls, and the labor-intensive management of steep vineyard terraces. A special focus is placed on the indigenous grape variety Heida (Savagnin Blanc), for which Visperterminen is known far beyond the region. The educational trail combines impressive views with interesting insights into the centuries-old wine culture of Valais. Interesting: The information panels are bilingual – in High German and the Walliser dialect – thus conveying not only knowledge about viticulture but also a piece of regional culture.

The station is located on the Lötschberg mountain line and offers hourly connections towards Spiez - Bern as well as towards Brig.

Wine hike through Europe's highest vineyard, combined with a wine tasting at the local St. Jodern winery. Below the village of Visperterminen lies Europe's highest, contiguous vineyard, at an altitude between 650 and 1,150 meters. In short terraces with high dry stone walls, the vineyard, called „Rieben“, overcomes 500 meters of altitude difference in a confined space. Hundreds of these retaining walls turn the steep slopes into small vine gardens, often no larger than two bedsheets. The southern exposure of the slope, in one of Switzerland's driest regions, and the large stone surfaces of these dry stone walls make the „Rieben“ a heat chamber until late autumn, which gives the grapes – along with a few gusts of Föhn wind – the necessary ripeness.

Along the cultural path, you will repeatedly find exciting details: At this point, the path is accompanied by a small water pipe.

The old Visp developed in the hilly zone because until about 150 years ago there were constant floods in the valley floor. The Rhone and the Vispa were corrected, expanded, and channelized. This made the entire area free for development. Another reason why people built on the hill was the military pressure on the Upper Valais. On a hill with ring walls, one could defend oneself better. Several conflagrations in the 13th and 14th centuries and the great conflagration of 1518 destroyed almost all of Visp. Thus, only individual houses built before 1518 can still be found.

The Niwärchstollen tunnel is 1.6 km long. It offers a (dark!) alternative to hiking the partially exposed path along the rocky slopes of the Baltschieder Valley, which requires surefootedness and a good head for heights.

The St. Jodern Education Center offers bikers optimal infrastructure: The center has 37 single/double rooms and four shared rooms, ideal for bike trips with friends, in a group, or as a solo traveler. The lockable garage is large enough to store approximately 30 bicycles. A service station is also available for minor bike repairs. A bike wash station is available for cleaning bikes. Upon request, you can also enjoy a packed lunch for the road, a hearty breakfast, or a three-course dinner. More information can be found on the website: https://www.stjodern.ch/.