Tower of Stockalper

The Tower of Stockalper is a multi-story stone structure with thick walls standing at 1,359 meters elevation, displaying traditional Alpine building methods. Today it serves as a hotel with 11 rooms and includes spaces for meetings and events.

Baron Kaspar Stockalper built this stronghold in 1685 as a checkpoint along the major Alpine trade route. The structure marked a crucial control point for goods and travelers moving between central Europe and Italy.

The tower embodies the role of the Simplon crossing as a vital link between communities on either side of the Alps. Visitors can observe how people lived and conducted trade at this strategic mountain junction.

The site is located on a mountainside where conditions can be slippery, especially after rain or in wet weather. Sturdy footwear and care are essential, and it helps to check accessibility beforehand.

The building withstood a devastating landslide in 2000 that nearly destroyed the village of Gondo. Its oldest section survived intact and became the foundation for the comprehensive restoration that followed.

Location: Zwischbergen

Inception: 1685

Part of: list of cultural properties in Zwischbergen

Address: Simplonstrasse 21, 3907 Gondo

GPS coordinates: 46.19593,8.14019

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:06