Hamilton Lodge, UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE

The Belalp is part of the 53.000 ha Unesco World Natural Heritage Jungfrau-Aletsch, which comprises, besides the Aletsch glacier (the largest in Europe), a considerable number of smaller glaciers and ecosystems, giving us valuable information about mountain formation and other geological processes.

The World Nature Forum in the nearby village of Naters, founded in 2016, illustrates many interesting aspects.

The 19th-century physicist and mountain enthusiast John Tyndall (1820-1893) saw the scientific importance of the region. Here he studied glacier movements and had a summer chalet built. On the Belalp, close to Aletschbord, a monument to commemorate Tyndall’s efforts was erected by his widow Louisa Hamilton. His publications stimulated the development op alpine tourism.

The Belalp however is highly interesting also for non-scientific visitors. In this area, which thanks to Unesco enjoys special protection, you will find an important variety of high-alpine landscapes with impressive panoramas, rare animal species such as the Alpine ibex, chamois and Alpine marmot, beautiful flowers and roaring mountain streams. Well-indicated footpaths take you to every highlight of this car-free zone.

The nice Valais climate, influenced by an air current from Spain and blessed by lots of sunshine, contributes heavily to happy holidays.

This why spring, summer and autumn are perfect seasons for a stay on the Belalp. The mountains have more to offer than just skiing and snow!