Tyndall Memorial

Tyndall Memorial is a monument to the Irish physicist and mountaineer John Tyndall, set on the slopes above Belalp, a short way from Blatten bei Naters in the Swiss canton of Valais. It stands at roughly 2,340 m, looking toward the Aletsch Glacier, the ice that kept drawing Tyndall back to these mountains.

Who was John Tyndall, and why is there a monument here?

Tyndall was a 19th-century scientist who worked on glaciers and the physics of radiation. He returned to the Aletsch region so often that in 1876 the Naters community voted to let him buy land here. He built a villa on Alpe Lüsgen, finished in November 1877, and in 1887 Naters made him an honorary citizen. After his death in 1893, a memorial, the Tyndalldenkmal, was put up on the mountainside above Belalp. Local trail descriptions say its inscription was dedicated by his wife, Louisa.

How do you get to the memorial?

Belalp is a car-free settlement. From Blatten bei Naters you ride a cable car up. Blatten is served by public transport from Brig and Naters, and there is paid parking at the valley station.

From the top station, the Tyndall Trail runs about 5 km and takes around 2.5 hours. It passes Aletschbord and then climbs toward the Hohbiel reservoir area, with a steeper final stretch. In winter the same route is marked as a snowshoe trail. A themed path opened on 2 August 2022 leads from the mountain station to the monument, then down past Villa Tyndall to Aletschbord.

What will you see?

The monument itself is modest. The draw is the setting: open high-alpine terrain and a view over one of the largest glaciers in the Alps. Along the way you pass Villa Tyndall, the scientist's former home, and information boards about his life and glacier research.

When is the best time to visit?

Summer and early autumn are easiest, when the paths are clear of snow. In season, Blatten-Belalp Tourismus offers guided afternoon hikes to the memorial. In 2026 they ran on selected Mondays at 13:00. Check belalp.ch for current dates and prices. In winter, snowshoes make the walk possible.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee? No, the memorial stands on an open hillside. You pay only for the cable car and, if needed, parking in Blatten.

How long does the hike take? From Belalp station to the memorial is about 5 km and 2.5 hours. Allow extra time for the return and the cable car down.

Can I drive to the memorial? No. Belalp is car-free, so you leave your vehicle in Blatten.

Is the trail suitable for families? Most of it is gentle, but the last section is more demanding. Wear sturdy hiking shoes.