Culture of Saas-Fee. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

The Saas Valley was settled many centuries ago even though hardly more than two thousand people live in Saas-Fee today. It was mentioned in literary sources in the middle of the 13th century for the first time. There is information about the construction of a church in Saas-Grund as early as 1296. The population of the valley already allowed it to be divided into four localities at that time. They still exist today. These are Saas-Fee, Saas-Almagell, Saas-Grund, and Saas-Balen. If you are interested in the history of not only Saas-Fee but also the surrounding area, you should also go to the neighboring villages. You don't have to pay for the bus if you have a ski pass.

The separate church parish of Saas was created more than six centuries ago. This confirms the constant growth of the population. The first church was built in Saas-Fee itself a century and a half later, in 1535. The village grew even more in the late nineteenth century. The church's parish was opened here at this time. New amenities were beginning to penetrate the Swiss highlands at the same time. The village opened its own post office in 1871. The amenities penetrated Saas-Fee a half a century later. Electricity was installed here in 1923, and water supply – in 1930.

There are also interesting sights in the settlement. Everyone who comes here should visit them. They will be equally interesting for an athlete-skier, a fan of hiking, and tourists who came to Saas-Fee precisely for the pacification of the Swiss mountain village. By the way, there are many fans of the peace of the Swiss mountain village here. This is due to one feature of the settlement. It is a certain attraction. There are no private cars in Saas-Fee at all. All cars are parked in a large underground parking lot at the entrance to the village. If you do not want to move through the streets of the settlement on foot, you will have to wait for the arrival of regular electric vehicles. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The modern Allalin restaurant is a real local attraction. Many tourists come to Saas-Fee just to have lunch in it. In general, the cuisine is the same here as in any other local restaurant. Allalin is known for its location. The restaurant is located at an altitude of three and a half kilometers. If this is not enough for the status of an outstanding institution, you should pay attention to the platform located here. It rotates around its axis. So you can see the panorama of all Switzerland without getting up from your seat in the restaurant on a clear day. You can get to the restaurant by the world's highest-altitude metro.

Another extremely interesting place is located nearby. You should not go there without gloves and a headdress even in summer. This is an ice grotto on top of Mittelallalin. It is located in the thickness of the centuries-old Allalin glacier. This beautiful place was created by the hands of people. The grotto has an area of 5500 square meters. It is recognized as the largest ice grotto in the world by the Guinness World Records. This is not just a beautiful ice cave. There are halls, galleries, a playground, and many statues of animals and people in the grotto. There is also a chapel here. Wedding ceremonies according to the Catholic tradition are held here. A ticket here costs eight francs.

There is also a museum in the village. You can find it near the church in the southern part of the settlement. Interestingly, the museum is located in a historically valuable building. It was built in 1732. Of course, it has not remained unchanged to this day. It was expanded by the addition of several extensions in 1855. The facade of the museum’s building is made of wood. But the house itself is made of stone. The Saas-Fee history museum was opened to the public in 1983 for the first time. Its collections have gradually increased since then. You can see the exhibits in the museum today. They relate to all aspects of the life of the native Swiss. There is also a large collection of various samples of minerals and stones here. They were found in the valley. There are also several dozen exhibits dedicated to the history of mountaineering and rock climbing here. You can also find samples of devices used by tourists of the early twentieth century for opening fires and cooking. There are national costumes, Swiss traditional musical instruments, preserved household items of locals, and things related to religion.

You should also see Saint-Leonard. This is a three-hundred-meter underground lake. It is recognized as the largest in Europe. You should take a trip to the village of Saas-Almagell located nearby. The majestic Mattmark natural dam is located there. You can also go to Saas-Balen. There is a church there. It is well preserved. It was built in the late Baroque style. The church is quite deserted. You will be able to look at the frescoes alone. They are dedicated to the path of Christ to Calvary. Fall Brook waterfall is located nearby.