Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago

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My last visit to Blatten im Lötschental was the 27th of February 2025. Just three months later, on May 28th 2025, the village got totally wiped out by a falling glacier. The village is totally destroyed, few houses remain, while the rest is buried or underwater. Blatten was certainly one of the most beautiful Swiss villages, especially within the canton Valais (Wallis). I want to tell you my story of visiting this village for more than six times and especially about the last one in this year’s February. Blatten was a typical Walser village full of traditional houses that are commonly seen in the canton of Valais. There were many beautiful hidden corners to be discovered, a nice creek and two bridges. People could also stay in Blatten in the hotels or holiday apartments. Blatten im Lötschental is not only recognized as one of Switzerland’s most beautiful villages but is internationally known for its unique culture. In the Lötschental valley, an ancient form of carnival is being practised. On fat Thursday, when carnival season starts, scary creatures wearing wooden masks marched through the village of Blatten. This parade is called Tschäggättä. The march started from 8pm in Blatten, and then, the Tschäggättä continued towards Wiler and Ferden im Lötschental. This tradition will certainly survive, but for the next couple of years, Tschäggättä will not start anymore in Blatten. Around 300 people lived in Blatten, all of them were evacuated early enough and survived. Blatten will be rebuilt and probably reopened between 2028-2030. Let’s hope for the village to shine again it beauty but also with a typical Walser traditional character.

Donate to help to REBUILD BLATTEN: https://www.glueckskette.ch/sammlungen/naturkatastrophen-schweiz

The landslide footage is from this video: youtu.be/L6bG6suTYUg?si=JKIBlj-qKSoBWHBT