10 Things to do in Lötschental
Lötschental is home to the Tschäggättä, the creepiest mountain tradition in Switzerland. This travel guide covers the entire valley including gems like the Zur Blauen Stube, Breithorn restaurant and Lötschentaler museum.
- Why: Tschäggättä, one of world's most unique traditions!
- When: Early February
- Accomodation: Stay at Hotel Petersgrat or Airbnb ($47 USD OFF)
- Best Attraction: Tschäggättä Parade Carnival
- Discount: Save lots of money by purchasing the Swiss Tavel Pass for unlimited travel in Switzerland on trains, buses, boats, mountains and FREE access to 480 museums.
Lötschental is considered by many citizens of Switzerland to be the most beautiful valley in the country. Especially since the valley of Lötschental enjoys 300 days of sunshine every year, making it the 'Southern California of Switzerland'. Also known for incredible local produce like meats and Swiss cheese.
Places
1. Tschäggättä
Synonymous with Lötschental, an ancient carved masks tradition dating back from 1790. You can find masks and references all over the valley. Attend the famous annual parade of the Tschäggättä through the valley in the period between the Catholic Holiday of Candlemas and Shrove Tuesday.
2. Blatten
Most beautiful village in Lötschental, visit on a sunny for incredible photography opportunities.
3. Breithorn
Excellent restaurant & hotel, try their rich goulash soup made with juicy beef and vegetables for $6.50 US dollars.
4. Genuss-Hofladen
Cutest shop in Switzerland where you can find local meats, cheeses and souvenirs. Opt-in for their beautiful lunch experience.
5. Zur Blauen Stube Museum
Private museum solely dedicated to the Tschäggättä, including a workshop, knitting room, paint room and complete exposition. Reserve your ticket on their website!
6. Black Nose Sheeps
Adorable little sheeps can be found in Kippel, the largest village of Lötschental, known for their black noses and beautiful horns.
7. Lötschentaler Museum
This museum is known for covering the detailed history of Tschäggättä with masks as old as 1790, including the history of Lötschental and the skiing traditions. $6 US dollar for an entrance ticket.
8. Hotel Petersgrat
The best hotel with the best Swiss breakfast in Lötschental and a great place to watch the Tschäggättä events. Roughly $140 US dollars per night.
9. Lauchernalp
Lötschental is also famous for its incredible power, try skiing or snowboarding on the Lauchernalp.
10. Swiss Travel Pass
Most cost effective way to travel Switzerland including trains, buses, boats, mountains, castles and even 480 museums. You would be crazy not to buy this pass! Starting at $240 US dollars.
11. BONUS: Atom Club
The only late-night underground nightclub in Lotschental.
The main reason I went to Lötschental was to dive deep into the Tschäggättä tradition and find out what makes this tradition so special with all the incredibly creepy and intimidating carved wooden masks, going back many generations to the year 1790.
Start your early morning adventure in Blatten the furthest village in the valley, this village is especially beautiful in bright sunlight, luckily Lotschental enjoy 300 days of sunshine each year, making it the 'Southern California of Switzerland'. Due bring a bottle to fill up with fresh alp water, the most delicious water you'll ever taste, crisp & pure delight.
The most fascinating museum in Lotschental is Zur Blauen Stube, a private museum for which you'd have to make a reservation on their website. The museum includes a mask carving shop, fur pelts room, paint room for the masks and many levels of incredible detailed Tschaggatta costumes.
I was extremely fortunate being invited into a private Tschäggättä lair to see the entire process of getting dressed for the festivities and let me tell you, those costumes are super heavy and take hours to put on. Watch my video for a complete experience.
Lötschental has the cutest shop in Switzerland called Genuss-Hofladen, known of its super fresh local produce like meats and cheeses but also hand-made Swiss souvenirs.
For the best place to stay and experience the Tschäggättä traditions, consider Hotel Petersgrat which has a rich Swiss breakfast and excellent service plus the manager of the hotel is a professional Tschaggatta photograher as well, ask her about her work and you will be presented with the most incredible photos of the Tschaggatta tradition.
In conclusion, it was quite a journey to get to this tiny Swiss village of just 1500 people but it was totally worth it after experiences one crazy night with the Tschaggatta chasing me down the streets of Lötschental. Now, to experience this as well book yourself a flight to Zurich Airport in Switzerland but also purchase the Swiss Travel Pass which includes free travel on trains, buses, boats, mountains and 480 museums free to access. Starting at only $240 US dollars but 100% worth it.
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