Brig Things to Do Tips by globetrott Top 5 Page for this destination

the monument for Geo Chavez

This is the monument for Geo Chavez, who was the first man to fly over the Simplon, that was in a small airplane in 1910. This monument is on the square next to Saltinabridge. Chavez started in Brig and flew over the Simplon to Domodossola, but the airplane fell apart shortly before landing and Geo Chavez died a few days later of these injuries. Jorge Chávez Dartnell was his full name, but in Switzerland he mostly is called Geo Chavez.He was one of the early flight-poineers, the first man who flew in a hight of more than 2500 meters.
b.t.w. The airport of Lima/Peru is called after him : Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chávez.

Directions: This monument for Geo Chavez is on Sebastiansplatz.

Altes Stockalperhaus - the first Stockalperpalast

Altes Stockalperhaus - the first Stockalperpalast - is a lot smaller than the one that everybody is heading to and there is a nice restaurant nowadays (see some pics in my restaurant-tips!) in that building and their garden-restaurant is in the innercourt from where you will see some of the great arcades of this intersting building of history.

Directions: Altes Stockalperhaus is just about 5 meters from the new palace, you will pass by it, when coming from the towncentre.

a modern sculpture

This modern sculpture is using some of the original rails of the cogwheel-train that will take you from Brig to Zermatt. There are 2 ordinary rails for the wheels and in the middle the train has also a special rail with teeth, that is added at the steep parts of the train-track.

Directions: This modern monument was built in front of the trainstation of Brig, where the trains to Zermatt are leaving.

Sebastiansplatz

Sebastiansplatz is a nice square in the pedestrian zone of Brig, a great place to go for shopping, to relax in one of the many garden-restaurants or to take a walk. Dont miss Sebastianskapelle (read more about it in my next tip!) and the monument for Geo Chavez.

Directions: Sebastiansplatz is next to Saltinibruecke and about 200 meters from Stockalperpalast.

a bridge from Stockalperhaus to the palace

There is an interesting stone-bridge over two floors from altes Stockalperhaus to the much larger Stockalperpalast,that is considdered to be the largest private baroque palace in Switzerland. This bridge reminds me a lot of similar bridges between 2 buildings that I saw in Italy.

Directions: You will see this bridge next to Stockalperpalace.

the park of Stockalperpalace

The park of Stockalperpalast is open for the public day and night and it is a great place to relax and there are some tennis-courts as well. You will also find a lot of modern Art, mainly sculptures in that park, you can enter the park from the city or through the back-entrance of Stockalperpalace (that might be closed after midnight).

Directions:

Sebastianskapelle

Not far from Saltinibridge you will find the Sebastianskapelle , a small church that is well worth to take a look inside . A strong iron fence will protect the many works of art there around the altar, but you will be able to see everything through this fence.
Sebastiankapelle dates back to 1636 and the great painting at the altar, showing Holy Sebastian was made by Lorenz Ritz in 1837.

Directions: Sebastiankapelle is at Sebastiansplatz.

the old postal-carriages of the Simplon-pass

These 2 old postal-carriages for the Simplon-pass are shown in the backside of the innercourt of Stockalperpalast under the arcades and you can see them, whenever the gates of the palace are open. Maybe they close them late at night. These carriages and all other transport over the Simplon-pass were the main income for the Stockalper family and finally also for all of the region.

Stockalperpalast

Stockalperpalast is without doubt the most important tourist-attraction of Brig. It is an oversized palace dating back to 1658, and it was built for Kaspar Jodok von Stockalper, who was a swiss merchant, banker and polititian (* 14. Juli 1609 in Brig; † 21. April 1691). During the times of the 30-year-war he controlled all the imports and exports over the Simplon-pass.
There are 3 large towers with a golden onion-top and they are called Kaspar, Melchior and balthasar, just like the 3 holy kings.

Directions: Stockalperpalast