Gspon is a

village A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to ...

in the

Swiss Alps The Alpine region of Switzerland, conventionally referred to as the Swiss Alps (german: Schweizer Alpen, french: Alpes suisses, it, Alpi svizzere, rm, Alps svizras), represents a major natural feature of the country and is, along with the Swiss ...

, located in the canton of

Valais Valais ( , , ; frp, Valês; german: Wallis ), more formally the Canton of Valais,; german: Kanton Wallis; in other official Swiss languages outside Valais: it, (Canton) Vallese ; rm, (Chantun) Vallais. is one of the cantons of Switzerland, 26 ...

. The village is situated in the eastern part of the canton in the

Saastal The Saastal or the Saas Valley is an alpine valley in the district of Visp, in the eastern part of the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. It is the valley of the river Saaser Vispa. It is separated from the Mattertal to the west by the Mischabel ...

valley above

Staldenried Staldenried is a municipality in the district of Visp in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. History Staldenried is first mentioned in 1389 as ''am ryede''. In 1638 it was mentioned as ''Stalden Riedt''. Geography Staldenried has an area, , ...

at a height of . It belongs to the latter municipality. Accessible by cable car from

Stalden Stalden () is a municipality in the district of Visp in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It lies at the foot of the Mischabelhörner and Dom (). History Stalden is first mentioned in 1213 as ''Morgi''. In 1224 it was mentioned as ''Staldun ...

via Staldenried, Gspon is a car-free village and a year-round tourist destination. In winter Gspon's small ski area is open.

Attractions

The village, characterised by its large green valleys and hills, is located in the

Alps The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...

and is popular with hikers. Hiking is considered one of the village's main attractions along with other mountain-related activities. Gspon, which has a population of 585, also has a hotel restaurant and bar. Cable cars link to other locations above and under Gspon from the village itself. The altitude of Gspon's

football pitch A football pitch (also known as soccer field) is the playing surface for the game of association football. Its dimensions and markings are defined by Law 1 of the Laws of the Game, "The Field of Play". The pitch is typically made of natural tu ...

is the highest in Europe at almost above sea level.

Highlights and facts

*Highest still operating irrigation channels in Switzerland. *Highest football stadium in Europe, the Ottmar Hitzfeld Stadium. *Hiking and climbing routes for all levels of ability. *Snowshoe trekking in winter. *St. Anna Chapel, built in 1691.

General information

At an altitude of the traffic-free village of Gspon is a starting point for both leisurely and challenging hikes. With no road into the village access is instead by cableway from Stalden via Staldenried. The village is the location of the St. Anna Chapel, built in 1691. The highest irrigation channels still in operation are located here while two ski lifts are open during the winter for downhill skiers. The landscape can also be explored on snowshoes during winter. The Bischofwäg, leading from Staldenried through pine forest and the Breiterbach Gorge to Visperterminen, was the path along which the

bishop of Sion The Diocese of Sion ( la, Dioecesis Sedunensis, french: Diocèse de Sion, german: Bistum Sitten) is a Catholic ecclesiastical territory in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. It is the oldest bishopric in the country and one of the oldest north of ...

travelled.

Visperterminen Visperterminen (Walser German: ''Tärbinu'') is a municipality in the district of Visp in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. History Visperterminen is first mentioned in the 11th Century as ''Termenum''. In 1221 it was mentioned as ''Terminum ...

has the highest vineyard in Europe on a sheltered slope at an altitude of . A green sign-posted viniculture theme path starts at

Visp railway station Visp railway station is a railway junction, junction station at Visp (French language, French: ''Viège''), in the Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Canton of Valais, Valais, Switzerland. It has a modern station building completed in 2007, and is s ...

. The Suonen hiking trail circuit to Finileri runs through forests and alpine pastures and alongside the historic irrigation channels. A more challenging trail leads from Gspon via the Gebidum and Bistinen Passes to the

Simplon Pass The Simplon Pass (french: Col du Simplon; german: Simplonpass; it, Passo del Sempione, Lombard: ''Pass del Sempiün'') () is a high mountain pass between the Pennine Alps and the Lepontine Alps in Switzerland. It connects Brig in the canton of ...

References

Swisstopo Swisstopo is the official name for the Swiss Federal Office of Topography (in German language, German: ''Bundesamt für Landestopografie''; French language, French: ''Office fédéral de topographie''; Italian language, Italian: ''Ufficio fed ...

topographic maps
mySwitzerland.com
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External links

Gspon on Wanderland.ch
{{authority control Villages in Valais Ski areas and resorts in Switzerland Car-free villages in Switzerland