Brigue-Glis
Edited by:
Massimo Martini
Access
Brigue-Glis can be easily reached by the Simplon and Lötschberg railway (Bern-Milan line), which is flanked by the E62 motorway axis (Rome-Geneva). The proximity to the international railway station and the availability of regional buses facilitate connections within and to the side valleys. The main Italian resorts are accessible via the Simplon pass, while Zermatt, the Aletsch and the Goms valley can be reached by rail and road.
Introduction
Brigue-Glis, located in the canton of Valais, is one of the main centres of the Upper Valais, at the crossroads of important historical and modern routes between the north and south of the Alps. The town is developed at the foot of the famous Simplon Pass, a pass that has been used since ancient times and became fundamental in modern times thanks to the Napoleonic road and, later, the construction of the railway tunnel. The landscape context is that of a basin furrowed by the Rhone River and surrounded by high Alpine peaks; its strategic position has allowed the development of a functional urban centre, with a lively town market and numerous infrastructures, from the customs port to the railway and road junction, an active departure point for excursions to the Goms valley, the Aletsch glacier and the famous resort of Zermatt.
.Description
Today's municipality was created in 1972 from the merger of three previous administrative entities (Brig, Glis, Brigerbad). Brig-Glis is today the capital of the district of the same name. The area was already inhabited in Celtic times (as testified by archaeological finds from the La Tène period) and frequented by the Romans; during the early Middle Ages it was part of the Duchy of Milan, thus being influenced by a Romance cultural tradition that changed over time with the linguistic and cultural Germanisation of the valley. In the modern period, the Stockalper family left a decisive imprint on the town with the construction of the famous castle and various monasteries, contributing to the local urban and cultural development.
The economic vitality of Brigue-Glis has historically been based on its role as a crossroads: trade and services related to Alpine transit are flanked by a constant development of tourism, reinforced by the awarding of the title 'Alpine Town of the Year' in 2008. Today, the municipality is an advanced service centre for the entire Upper Valais and an important hub for international railway connections (Lötschberg and Simplon). The population is around 14,000, with a growing trend and a median income that exceeds the cantonal average. The cultural scene is enriched by events, festivals of Alpine literature and traditions that coexist with sports activities, including the modern ice sports centre 'iischi arena'.
Information
Area: 37.67sq km
Altitude: 681m
Maximum elevation: Spitzhorli (2737m)
Number of inhabitants: 12823
Name in dialect:
Inhabitant name:
Patron Saint:
Neighbouring municipalities: Lalden, Naters, Ried-Brig, Simplon, Termen, Visp, Visperterminen
Internet site: www.brig-glis.ch