Stockalper Palace Brig-Glis
Brig, VS
It's over the old road to Simplon, in Brig-Glis, that the Stockalper Palace looms, built by Kaspar Stockalper (1609–1691) as an extension of his ancestors' mansion. This monument, built with three tours, is not only the masterpiece of this potentate's ambitious construction program, but also the biggest Baroque secular building in today's Switzerland.
The most majestic of the secular buildings from the Baroque period in Switzerland
This outstanding group of buildings, first started in 1649, reunites different building styles. The massive main building and the granite tours with defensive looking onion domes, are surprising neighbours of the elegant Renaissance court. These powerful towers, seemingly clasping the Arcade court, reveals the intention of the constructor, who named the group of buildings the “houses and the chapel of the Three Kings”.
Kaspar Stockalper
The constructor of the Stockalper Palace is one of the most significant figures in the history of the Canton of Valais. Taking advantage of its geopolitical position and the conjuncture of the Confederation members at the time, Kaspar Stockalper dominated the salt trade and the transit of goods in the canton of Valais, operated mines, ran a money lending business, hired out mercenaries as well as a postal service. Statesman, politician, jack of all trades, founder and constructor, he gained an impressive personal fortune and a widespread reputation – reflecting the monikers “the Great Stockalper” and “the King of Simplon” and many other titles he earned.
Museum and guided tours
His palace was bought by the Municipality of Brig in 1948 and was, thanks to the Swiss Stockalper Palace trust, completely refurbished starting in 1956. Today the Stockalper Palace houses the municipal administration of Brig-Glis, the district court, the Institute for research on the Alpine region and other cultural institutions.
On the ground level, the Museum of the Stockalper Palace houses the exhibition “Passage Simplon” on the eventful history of the Simplon pass in six thematic units. This exhibition is also starting point of the guided tours through the historical halls of the Stockalper family, offered by the Brig Simplon tourist office.
"Passage Simplon" exhibition
January to April:
Thursday 13:00 – 15:00
May to October:
Tuesday to Sunday 9:15 – 11:45 / 13:15 – 16:45 pm
Guided tours
May to October:
Tuesday to Sunday 9:30 / 10:30 / 13:30 / 14:30 / 15:30 / 16:30*
(*The tour at 16:30 does not run in May and October.)
January to April
Thursday 13.30
You can buy the tickets for the Palace's official guided tours (in German) at the entrance of the “Passage Simplon” exhibition (on ground level in the Stockalper Palace).
In order to reserve private guide tours, please contact the Brig Simplon tourist office by phone: +41 (0)27 921 60 30 oder info@brig-simplon.ch
Visiting the exhibition is free of charge
Official guided tours
| Adults | CHF 12 |
| Young people (7-16 years) | CHF 6 |
| Children (up to 7 years) | free of charge |
Duration: 1 hour (usually in German, booklet available in advance at the Passage Simplon ticket office in German, French, English and Italian)
Free admission (only applies to official guided tours)
| Swiss Museum Pass |
| Swiss Travel Pass |
| Raiffeisen Member Card |
50 % reduction
| Guest Card Aletsch-Goms-Belalp |
| Upper Wallis Region Guest Card |
| Matterhorn Gotthard Pass |
Extra guided tours
Duration: 1 hour
German, French, English, Italian
| Minimum price | CHF 150 up to 15 persons |
| Group rate | CHF 10 per person from 16-50 persons |
| Group rate | CHF 9 per person from 50 persons |
| School classes | CHF 120 per group |
The magnificent, 13'000 m2 castle garden is available free of charge during the day and inspires idle wandering and picnics in a historic setting.
Since 2012, the Stockalper Palace museum houses the exhibition “Passage Simplon”, that sheds light on the eventful history of the Simplon pass, in six thematic modules. In this exhibition the different technical innovations that over the centuries simplified the crossing of the Simplon pass come alive. Here you can learn more about the construction of the “Route Napoléon” (1801-1806), the excavation of the Simplon tunnel (1898-1906), the construction of the main road though the Simplon pass, between 1967 and 1977, as well as the first crossing of the Alps by plane from Brig to Domodossola by Geo Chavez in 1910. You can also learn about the first tar-based road pavement, invented by the adventurer and medical doctor Ernest Guglielminetti from Brig.
One room is dedicated to the palace's famous constructor, Kaspar Stockalper (1609-1691): politician and serial entrepreneur, he accumulated wealth, honour and reputation.
In the museum shop, during the opening hours of the exhibition, you will find souvenirs and publications on the history of the Stockalper Palace, its constructor, the Simplon pass and the Brig region.
Castle tours are only partially accessible with wheelchair. The Three Kings’ Hall and the chapel are not wheelchair accessible. Three rooms in the main building can be reached using the elevator. In front of each room there is a stone threshold without a ramp.
The Passage Simplon exhibition is accessible, and toilets are available.
You can find many different restaurants in the city centre of Brig, about five minutes by foot from the castle.
The region benefits from its unique location in the heart of the Alps. From the historic town of Brig, the region stretches through picturesque Alpine villages to the barren high mountain landscape of the Simplon Pass. Whether hiking on the Via Stockalper in spring, summer and autumn or skiing, snowshoeing or winter hiking on the Rosswald and in the Rothwald, or ski touring and snowkiting on the Simplon in winter - the Brig-Simplon region is worth visiting all throughout the year. Near the castle in Brigerbad, the thermal spa, newly opened at the end of 2014, is a wonderful place for rest and relaxation, with bathing and wellness facilities covering more than 2600 square meters.
Arrival
Stockalperschloss
Alte Simplonstrasse 28
3900 Brig-Glis
By train
to Brig station, then approx. a 10-minute walk to the castle (or alternatively take the local bus from Bahnhofplatz to the Brig Saltinaplatz stop, then a 3-minute walk to the castle).
By car
to the Altstadt carpark in the centre of Brig. Stockalper Castle is in the immediate vicinity.
Arrival with Google Maps