The program of the Nature and Culture Week is varied and gives you an insight into the history of the Saas Valley. This year you will learn more about the connection between the Saas Valley and the Three Lakes region through the Allalin-Gabbro, the Mattmark accident of August 30, 1965 and the historical treasures of our nature and culture during various guided tours and lectures.
Program 2024
Presentation "History of the formation of the Saas snow mountains"
Professor Lukas Baumgartner, University of Lausanne, gives an impressive account of when and how the high mountains were formed, with a particular focus on the Allalin, Strahl and Rimpfischhorn and the Mischabel group with the Dom.
- Location: Old Cinema, Saas-Fee
- Time: 4 p.m.
- Price: CHF 10.- / person
- Note: Presentation is in German
- Contact: Team Events & Animation | +41 27 958 18 78 | animation@saas-fee.ch
Hike "In the face of the 'eternal' mountains"
Hike along the path of silence from Saas-Grund to Saas-Balen with a picnic along the way.
- Meeting point: Post office, Saas-Grund
- Time: 08:30 a.m.
- Price: CHF 10.- /person
- Contact: Team Events & Animation | +41 27 958 18 78 | animation@saas-fee.ch
Presentation "History of the Valais glacier advance into the Swiss midlands 22,000 years ago"
Professor Christian Schlüchter, University of Bern, talks about his 40 years of research into Alpine glaciers, with a particular focus on the huge masses of ice that advanced many times from the Saas and Matter valleys and covered large parts of the Swiss Plateau.
- Location: Old Cinema, Saas-Fee
- Time: 4 p.m.
- Price: CHF 10.- / person
- Note: Presentation is in German
- Contact: Team Events & Animation | +41 27 958 18 78 | animation@saas-fee.ch
Mattmark disaster 1965 at the scene of the event
Three witnesses of the time show what happened where and tell how they experienced it. Supplemented by a historical review of the many previous disasters caused by the Allalin Glacier over the last 500 years.
- Meeting point: Mattmark dam, Saas-Almagell
- Time: 2 p.m.
- Price: CHF 10.- / person
- Note: Presentation is in German
- Contact: Team Events & Animation | +41 27 958 18 78 | animation@saas-fee.ch
Presentation "Looking back on the Mattmark disaster of 1965"
Urs Hardegger, writer and historian from Zurich, talks about the results of his years of research into the event of 30.8.1965.
- Meeting point: Gymnasium, Saas-Grund
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Price: CHF 10.- / person
- Note: Presentation is in German
- Contact: Team Events & Animation | +41 27 958 18 78 | animation@saas-fee.ch
Hike to the defences around Saas-Almagell from the Second World War
Discover the defences around Saas Almagell from the Second World War with René Steiner from the Historical Defences Association as well as places of interest in the village of Saas Almagell.
- Location: Gymnasium, Saas-Almagell
- Time: 4 p.m.
- Price: CHF 10.- / person
- Note: Presentation is in German
- What to bring: Good shoes, flashlight
- Contact: Team Events & Animation | +41 27 958 18 78 | animation@saas-fee.ch
Presentation "Allalin gabbro in the Three-Lakes Region and its use"
Dr. Peter Thomet, Managing Director of Landschaftserbe Drei-Seen-Land, and Dr. Christoph Nitsche, University of Fribourg, will report on the results of their research into the distribution of the Allalin gabbro in the western Central midlands and its prehistoric use as stone axes by the pile dwellers in the Three-Lakes Region.
- Location: Main square, Saas-Almagell
- Time: 10:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
- Price: CHF 10.- / person
- Note: Guiding is in German
- Contact: Team Events & Animation | +41 27 958 18 78 | animation@saas-fee.ch
5-course menu with Allalin extras
Unique sensory experience with Allalin menu and presentations on the beauty of the Allalin gabbro (AG) between courses, presented by artists who work with this unique rock themselves. Exhibition and exchange of AG jewelry stones, AG stone carvings, AG posters, AG music.
- Venue: Hotel Pirmin Zurbriggen, Saas-Almagell
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
- Price: CHF 80.-
- Contact: Team Events & Animation | +41 27 958 18 78 | animation@saas-fee.ch
Geological panoramic map at the Britannia Hut
Visit the Britannia hut and discover the new geological panoramic map! Experience a fascinating presentation of the geology of the Saas Valley, which gives you a comprehensive insight into the geological features of the region. Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn more about the geological treasures of our Alps.
- Location: Britannia hut, Saas-Fee
- Time: 9:00 a.m.
- Price: free of charge
Allalin Celebration
Visit to the Allalin stone blocks between the bus terminal and the tourist office with Jürg Meyer, author of the book ‘Das schönste Gestein der Welt - Der Allalingabbro’. Presentation of a gift from the municipality of Ins BE to the municipality of Saas Fee VS in honouring the great connection in terms of landscape and human history between the Seeland between the Seeland and the Saas Valley. 22,000 years ago, the ice of the Allalin Glacier brought many special stones, including the Allalin gabbro, to Ins and the surrounding area. The pile dwellers made their tools from these stones.
- Location: Busterminal, Saas-Fee
- Time:5 p.m.
- Language: in German
- Note: Musical entertainment by the formation Chritergeischt
- Contact: Team Events & Animation | +41 27 958 18 78 | animation@saas-fee.ch
Book launch with concert
The new book by successful non-fiction author, geologist and mountain guide Jürg Meyer about the miracle rock of the Allalin-Gabbro will be published by the renowned Haupt Verlag AG Bern in August 2024. This will be celebrated "at the place where it all happened", in Saas Fee.
Musical accompaniment by cellist Eva Röntz and pianist Reto Reichenbach. Followed by an aperitif.
- Location: Walliserhof Grand-Hotel & Spa, Saas-Fee
- Time:6.30 p.m.
- Price:free of charge
- Note: limited number of places
Presentation "My exploration of the most beautiful rock in the world on the Allalinhorn"
The 800 m high south-east face of the Allalinhorn consists of a unique, beautiful rock. Its explorer, Jürg Meyer, tells stories of how he climbed the difficult rock face for his doctoral thesis and, as a Basel native, also became a qualified mountain guide.
- Location: Old Cinema, Saas-Fee
- Time: 4 p.m.
- Price: CHF 10.- / person
- Note: Presentation is in German
- Contact: Team Events & Animation | +41 27 958 18 78 | animation@saas-fee.ch
Nostalgic Culinary Mile
The Nostalgic Culinary Mile turns back the clock and presents authentic dishes from the yesteryear, many of which are now almost forgotten.
- Location: Saas-Fee
- Contact: Saas-Fee/Saas Valley Hotel Association | Klaus Habegger | klaus.habegger@walliserhof-saasfee.ch