Naturally healthy
Health is our most precious asset. In an increasingly hectic world, many of us long for lasting rest, revitalisation and regeneration. This is exactly where the new ‘Gesundheits-Zeit’ programme comes in: Grächen, a traditional holiday village in Valais, situated at an altitude of 1,619 metres and surrounded by majestic mountain peaks, is the ideal place for your health-promoting break.
Here, alpine nature, medical services and tourist facilities come together as part of a holistic approach. The concept behind it is scientifically sound, medically supervised and lovingly designed.
Why Grächen?
High-altitude climate:
- Situated at an altitude of over 1,619 metres
- Ideal for people with lung conditions and allergies
- House dust mites and various types of pollen are virtually absent
- Improves lung, heart and circulatory function
- Stimulates oxygen uptake and the production of red blood cells
300 days of sunshine a year
- Promotes the natural production of vitamin D
- Lifts the mood and supports the release of ‘feel-good’ hormones
- Prolonged periods of bad weather are extremely rare
- Foggy days remain the exception, even from October to Easter
Excellent air quality
- Virtually free from particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide
- Partially car-free town centre
- Over 60 per cent covered by woodland
- Essential oils from Swiss stone pine and larch trees have a calming and anti-inflammatory effect
A unique climate
- Cold spells in winter and mild summer temperatures promote physical resilience
- Temperatures rarely exceed 25 °C in summer
- Around 30 days of frost in winter
- Pleasant winds, usually between 5 and 15 km/h
Grächen is the ideal retreat for leaving the stresses of everyday life behind, recharging your batteries and really topping up your energy levels.
What to expect: A holistic approach to body and mind
Gesundheits-Zeit combines unspoilt Alpine nature, a first-class medical infrastructure and tailor-made tourist packages to form a harmonious whole. With us, the focus is always on you as an individual.
- Comprehensive medical expertise: With our modernised medical centre, our expert village chemist’s and an innovative physiotherapy practice, you are guaranteed first-class medical care locally at all times.
- Certified Health-Focused Accommodation Providers: Our specialist hotels, holiday apartments and restaurants carry the ‘Health-Focused Accommodation Provider’ label. They meet our criteria and treat you to health-conscious, regional cuisine and a relaxing, feel-good atmosphere.
- Nature and complementary medicine in harmony: The programme is complemented by targeted, health-promoting activities, mostly in the great outdoors, as well as by gentle therapeutic options from the fields of complementary and alternative medicine.
Whether it’s prevention, targeted recovery or simply a deeply restorative break – ‘Health Time’ offers exactly what your body and mind need right now.
When the Hotel Hannigalp, Grächen’s first hotel, opened in 1909, no one could have imagined that this tranquil mountain farming village would develop into a major tourist destination. Yet, over the course of the 20th century, Grächen underwent a remarkable transformation.
Initially, only a few visitors came to the village. They valued Grächen above all as a climatic health resort, whose healthy mountain air and mild climate promised rest and rejuvenation. It is therefore not surprising that what is now the Hotel Grächerhof was originally named the Hotel Kurhaus Grächen when it opened in 1932. The construction of the road from St. Niklaus to Grächen (1953) and the opening of the first cable car to the Hannigalp (1958) provided a decisive boost to tourism. This made Grächen much more accessible and it gradually developed into a popular summer holiday destination. More and more hotels, guesthouses and holiday flats sprang up, whilst visitors from near and far enjoyed the natural surroundings, the pleasant temperatures and the tranquillity of the mountains.
Until the 1970s, Grächen was primarily geared towards summer tourism. It was only gradually that visitors began to discover the charms of the snow-covered mountain landscape. With the modernisation of the Hannigalpbahn and the construction of the Seetalbahn in 1984, the range of winter sports facilities was specifically expanded. By the turn of the millennium, Grächen already had twelve ski lifts and chairlifts as well as seventeen hotels and guesthouses, and had established itself as a year-round destination.
In parallel with its growth as a tourist destination, Grächen invested early on in health-promoting infrastructure. The construction of the Vita-Parcours (1973), the sports centre (1981/82), the nature trail (1993) and the Kneipp garden (1999) created attractive facilities that combine exercise, experiencing nature and relaxation. To this day, these facilities underline Grächen’s commitment to offering its guests not only unforgettable holidays but also a lasting contribution to their health and wellbeing.
This development is no coincidence. Grächen’s natural assets – its high altitude, the pure mountain air, the tranquillity and the unspoilt natural surroundings – have always formed the basis for relaxation and well-being. Health has never been a passing trend in Grächen, but has always been an integral part of its development as a tourist destination.
Today, Grächen aims to capitalise on these strengths even more consciously and to develop them further. Existing offerings are being highlighted, linked together, supplemented with new offerings and continuously developed. This brochure summarises the wide range of options that Grächen already offers today for a health-conscious stay, and invites you to rediscover them.
Grächen is the ideal place for anyone who wants to combine relaxation, exercise and nature whilst doing something good for their health.
A holiday with a sense of adventure. Grächen offers far more than just health benefits. Grächen offers an authentic mountain experience that’s good for your health.
As a popular holiday destination, it stands out for its ideal combination of activity and relaxation, culture and cuisine:
• Over 250 km of marked hiking trails,
including easy ‘Suonen’ paths, panoramic routes and themed trails
• 38 km of winter walking trails, 23 km of snowshoe trails
• 44 km of perfectly groomed ski slopes up to an altitude of 2,864 m, as well as a snow park and
various children’s play areas
• Sports centre with a natural ice rink
• Kneipp facilities in the forest and by the lake for water therapy according to Sebastian Kneipp
• A varied range of dining options featuring
regional, healthy cuisine
• Play and activity facilities for children and
families
• Small chapels, fountains, barns and a traditional village atmosphere
• Events showcasing local culture and music
Accompanying guests will also find plenty to enjoy in Grächen. The village is compact, close to nature and extremely welcoming. A real treat for those seeking relaxation.
So close to the sky. The Hannigalp combines alpine enjoyment with a health-promoting stay.
Just a few minutes away by gondola, the Hannigalp lies at an altitude of 2,122 metres. Once at the top, a panoramic view opens up, taking in the four-thousand-metre peaks of the Valais Alps. Up here, you breathe more freely, move more mindfully and feel far removed from everyday life.
The Hannigalp is ideal for:
• Breathing exercises in the pure mountain air
• Guided wellness walks
• Meditative retreats and outdoor group activities
It also offers suitable venues, such as the Matterhornsaal, for lectures or seminars in a natural setting.
The facilities at Hannigalp include:
• An extensive network of cycle trails and walking routes
• The Hannigalp family mountain restaurant, including the Matterhornsaal
• A family park, including a bike park and kiosk
• The ‘Fragender’ circular walk
• SiSu’s play trail
• KOOR Alpine Games
• Viewpoints and photo spots
At the Grächen Sports Centre, active relaxation meets a wide range of exercise experiences – set against the backdrop of the impressive Valais mountain landscape. Whether in summer or winter, in glorious sunshine or as part of a varied programme for inclement weather: the diverse range of activities on offer provides the ideal conditions for bringing body and mind into harmony.
Anyone looking to improve their fitness or simply enjoy being active will find the perfect opportunities here – from tennis and badminton courts to workouts in the gym and a spectacular climbing and bouldering wall. The artificial turf pitch is ideal for thrilling outdoor football matches.
During the colder months, the natural ice rink becomes a meeting place for unforgettable winter experiences. Ice skating, ice hockey or curling combine physical activity with shared experiences and boost stamina, coordination and well-being. Entertainment is guaranteed even on rainy days – the indoor play area, complete with a bouncy castle, table tennis, table football and other attractions, offers great fun for young and old alike.
Another highlight is the Robis Forest Play Park, where little explorers can let off steam to their heart’s content. The 18-hole mini-golf course and the ropes course, with routes suitable for all ages, also encourage visitors to get active in a fun way.
The Grächen Sports Centre is a place where exercise re-energises, promotes good health and offers unforgettable moments unique to every season.
The Grächen Medical Centre offers comprehensive primary healthcare for the whole family – from acute to chronic conditions. Its services include modern diagnostic facilities (laboratory, X-ray, ultrasound), specialist consultations (including surgery), road traffic medicine and a therapy centre. The practice places great emphasis on providing personalised, trust-based care in a mountain climate.
The Grächen Therapy Centre is the leading provider of long-term therapies in the region. Under specialist medical supervision in the alpine climate, it offers a wide range of services: from physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychology, through alternative methods such as TCM, Ayurveda and osteopathy, to medical massage and fitness. The services are aimed at children, young people and adults for the purposes of prevention and revitalisation.
Zentraler Anlaufpunkt in Grächen für
Physiotherapie & Fitness.
We specialise in the treatment of pain and restricted mobility, and also provide preventative healthcare services. We are a team of six qualified physiotherapists with extensive expertise in the fields of orthopaedics, neurology, sports medicine and more.
• Physiotherapy (manual therapy, dry needling, (sports) rehabilitation, treatment for vertigo, post-operative care).
• Manual lymphatic drainage
• Sports and classic massage
• Fitness with or without instruction
• Cardiovascular rehabilitation
• Pulmonary rehabilitation (respiratory therapy)
At the lmsand pharmacy, we provide personalised and expert advice on your health concerns and reliably dispense doctors’ prescriptions.
Our highly trained team is on hand to support you with personalised advice, professional expertise and a great deal of dedication. We also offer a range of services such as:
• Tests: blood pressure measurement, blood sugar measurement
• Screening: colorectal cancer screening
• Compounding: in-house specialities, weekly dosing systems
• Other services: medical aids (hire/purchase), compression stockings
• Advice: emergency contraception, herbal medicine, smoking cessation, travel and vaccinations
• Treatments: vaccinations and wound care
