World Nature Forum🏛 museum
The visitor center for the UNESCO World Heritage site Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch.
🌐 wnf.ch🕒 Tu-Su 10:00-17:00
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Naters
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ℹ️Practical info — Naters
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Visit the Gardemuseum in an old fortress to learn about the history of the Swiss Guard.
- Walk across the bridge to Brig; the neighbouring town is just a short stroll away.
- Take the cable car to Belalp for the most spectacular views of the Aletsch Glacier.
- Look for the historic wooden granaries (Spycher) in the appealing old village center.
- Visit the World Nature Forum to learn everything about the UNESCO World Heritage site.
🍽 Food
🍽
Valais Dried Meat
Try this specialty at one of the local village butcher shops.
🍽
Mund Saffron Risotto
Saffron from the nearby village of Mund is regarded as some of the world's finest.
🍽
Valais Raclette
Enjoy melted Alpine cheese in the cozy restaurants in the old village center.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
🛍
Naters Butcher Shop
The handy place to buy authentic dried meat and local sausages as a souvenir.
🛍
Brig Weekly Market
Just a 10-minute walk away, you can find fresh regional products every Saturday.
🧘
Aletschbord
A wide-open viewpoint on Belalp with a direct view of the glacier's flow.
🧘
Natischer Berg
Quiet forest paths above the village with panoramic views over the Rhone Valley.
Water temperature…
Naters is located in Upper Valais on the right side of the Rhone Valley, directly across from Brig. The municipality stretches from the valley floor up to the peaks of the Aletsch region, reaching over 4,000 meters in altitude. As the home of the World Nature Forum, Naters serves as the administrative and informational hub for the UNESCO World Heritage site Jungfrau-Aletsch. The historic village center, known as 'Oberdorf,' is characterized by traditional Valais wooden houses and narrow alleys, providing a stark contrast to the modern center in the valley. A unique local feature is the cultivation of saffron, which has a long-standing tradition here. Naters is also a vital starting point for tourism: a cable car leads up to Belalp, a car-free sun terrace that functions as a ski resort in winter and a hiking paradise in summer. Culturally, Naters is famous for its animated carnival traditions and ceremonial guard associations. Its proximity to the Simplon and Furka passes makes it an attractive stop for travelers exploring the high Alpine routes.
- Location: Switzerland
- Top sights: World Nature Forum · Riederi · Kirche St. Mauritius
- Nearby: Riederalp (6 km)
- Population: ~9.594
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | -8 | -8 | -4 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 4 | -2 | -7 |
| Rain mm | 81 | 69 | 89 | 103 | 154 | 151 | 148 | 165 | 106 | 107 | 114 | 92 |
Geography
Facts
- Home to the World Nature Forum
- Part of UNESCO Jungfrau-Aletsch
- Belalp sun terrace
- Traditional saffron cultivation
- Altitude range over 3,000 m
- Historic upper village with wooden houses
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
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© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Naters (10)
Frequently asked questions
Where is Naters located?
Naters is located in Upper Valais, directly across from the town of Brig on the other side of the Rhone.
What is the World Nature Forum?
The visitor center for the UNESCO World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch in Naters.
Is there a ski resort?
Yes, Belalp belongs to the municipality of Naters and is a popular ski and hiking area.
What is the Belalp-Hexe?
A famous ski race in January where many participants dress up as witches.
Are there museums in Naters?
Yes, the Guard Museum in the old fortress focuses on the Swiss Guard in the Vatican.
Naters: where is it located?
Naters is located in Switzerland.
Naters: what is there to see?
Highlights include World Nature Forum, Riederi, Kirche St. Mauritius.
Naters: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Naters: why is it worth visiting?
Naters is located in Upper Valais on the right side of the Rhone Valley, directly across from Brig.
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