Raron / Rarogne

A village in Upper Valais situated on the right bank of the Rhône at the entrance to the Bietschtal valley, west of Visp. Once a strategic location, it is now a little-known destination, not particularly touristy but steeped in history. A lovely surprise for those who enjoy getting off the beaten track.

The southern gate of the Lötschberg Base Tunnel, which links Upper Valais with Frutigen in the Bernese Oberland, is located 2 km from Raron. Trains travel at a maximum speed of 250 km/h through this 34.6 km tunnel, but only the first tube was opened in 2007; the second tube is still under construction.

But it is in Raron itself that you can visit another underground structure that is sure to surprise you: St Michael’s Church, carved out of the rock beneath the old Burgkirche, which stands perched on its steep promontory.

Once an important crossroads, Raron lost its significance following the construction of the road along the left bank of the Rhône in the 19th century. All that remains of this prosperous past are the large stone houses that bear witness to the wealth of the village’s bourgeoisie in the 17th and 18th centuries.

One of these old houses, the Maxenhaus, built in the mid-16th century, boasts the oldest letterbox in Switzerland, dating back to the time when the country was occupied by Napoleon’s armies!

You won’t come across many tourists in Raron, but the old village has remained untouched by the frenzy of urban development, and you won’t regret visiting this somewhat forgotten spot...