Brig, the last town in the Upper Valais before the Alpine passes, is a rail and road junction linking north and south as well as west and east. This position as a European crossroads has given Brig a rich history, and the old town is well worth a visit.

Brig is where the BLS (Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon) railway line passes through, connecting the federal city with Domodossola and Milan in Italy. It is also where the SBB line from Geneva joins the BLS line to go across the Simplon tunnel.

Brig also provides the link between the narrow-gauge line to Zermatt and the line heading east to Andermatt via the Furka tunnel, thus making possible the existence of the legendary Glacier Express, the amazing railway line that connects Zermatt, at the foot of the Matterhorn, with St Moritz and Davos, in the heart of Graubünden.

Brig is also the crossroads for access to various regions of Switzerland and Italy via the Alpine passes: to Berne and Central Switzerland via the Grimsel and Furka, to the Upper Rhine Valley via the Furka and Oberalp, to Ticino via the Gotthard and Nufenen and to Italy via the Simplon.

It's a gateway rich in history. It's well worth stopping off to explore the old town, with its magnificent Stockalper Castle and extensive gardens, as well as its countless terraces for a drink and a bite to eat.

Useful links

Swiss Canton of Valais (iSwitzerland Guide) - Wikipedia