When in the 19th century the first travelers, most of them British subjects, became infatuated with the Binn valley – Binnental, in German – the journey became an adventure.
Like the smugglers before them linking Switzerland and Italy and then the precious stone seekers, they had to walk through the Twingi gorges on a very steep mule trail to access this valley of wonders perched 1400 meters above sea level. altitude.
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To welcome them, an authentic mountain hotel, the Ofenhorn, was built in 1883. Warm and comfortable, this pioneer inn of Alpine tourism, today bearing the
Swiss Historic Hotels
label , can be proud of having received in 1897 the young Winston Churchill.
Like their compatriots, the aristocratic family came to discover the natural treasures of this territory.
“
Of course, the nature here is exceptional, but above all the valley is a unique mineral conservatory.
No less than 300 varieties of precious and semi-precious stones have been counted, including around fifty specific to the Binn valley due to the very particular geology, notably the famous dolomitic marble,
” explains Siona Lang, from the Valley Nature Park. of Binn.
Immaculate white slopes
The tunneling in 1965 made the Binn Valley accessible in winter.
Christian Pfammater
If tourism was for a long time exclusively summer, the construction of a tunnel in 1965 made the valley accessible in winter, encouraging certain hotels to remain open after the first snowfall.
The pristine white slopes of the valley have thus begun to reveal their potential to ski touring enthusiasts.
Race starts generally take place near the Imfeld café, opposite the hamlet of Fäld (where you can also, on your return, visit the Minerals Museum).
To benefit from optimal snow cover during the progression, we will instead head for the north-facing slopes.
The route follows the old Lengenbach mine road.
A warm-up which then allows you to go “
off-piste
” and reach, after three to four hours of ascent, the Stockhorn (2610 m) or the rocky spur of Mittelberg (2885 m), located astride the border with Italy.
The obviously faster descent will be like a long slide on virgin land.
A pure moment of happiness!
Although the Swiss Alpine Club lists around ten proven routes on its site, it is nevertheless advisable to use the services of a mountain guide.
Rudi Julier, who has been traveling the region on skis for several decades, accompanied us and revealed some secret corners of this aptly named “
valley of hidden treasures
”.
Travelogue
The Ofenhorn, an authentic mountain hotel built in 1883. Press service
GO
TGV Lyria offers 5 daily Paris-Lausanne trains (3 hours 41 minutes), from €49 one way.
Continue by SBB train (2 hours 33 minutes) to Fiesch, then by bus to Binn.
GET INFORMED
Binn Valley Nature Park (Tel.: +41 27 971 50 50).
Possible reservation of a mountain guide, €580 per outing for a group of 6 people maximum.
STAY
Restaurant Pension Albrun
(Tel.: +41 27 971 45 82), from €140 for a double room, breakfast included.
Meals from €25.
Hotel Ofenhorn
(Tel.: 00 41 27 971 45 45), from €320 per double room with half board.
Open only for the end-of-year holidays and between May 21 and October 31.
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