Leuk is a town with a lengthy history, which can be explored through its historic buildings. The nearby Pfynwald Natural Park has a water-meadow landscape of European importance and the largest pine forest in the Alps.

Leuk consists of the actual town and the four hamlets of Pletschen, Feithieren, Briannen and Gampinen - with a total of around 3300 inhabitants. Leuk can be reached by rail via Visp. The location on a mountain terrace at 750 metres altitude offers splendid views over the Rhone Valley and Pfynwald forest.

The Pfynwald Nature Park has the largest pine forest in the Alps as well as a water-meadow landscape of European importance. The area has flower meadows, grassy plains and a natural river course: important habitats, especially for birds and insects. The only nature park in Canton Valais, it is crossed by 10 km of walking paths and hiking trails.

In bygone days, Leuk was an important political centre, evidence of which is seen in the numerous impressive buildings. Leuk Castle, renovated by star architect Mario Botta, is now a cultural venue with a theatre and exhibitions. The castle consists of an early-Romanesque tower (11th-13th century), an attached dwelling house and a curtain wall. It has undergone repeated conversion and extension. The castle was the scene of witch trials in the 17th century. The Rathaus (town hall) at the entrance to the town is a five-corner tower, which in the 13th century was the seat of the agent of the territorial lord, the Bishop of Sitten. Further witnesses to this heyday include the Zen-Ruffinen estate, its main building dating from 1612 and the ancestral seat of the von Werras: the Mayorshof, its tiny little towers called «Pfefferbüchsen» (pepper boxes) in the curtain wall giving it a fortress-like appearance. The Schloss de Ville, a 17th-century patrician’s seat, has an exhibition on viniculture.

This area was inhabited as early as 2400 BC. Farming on the alps and pastures dates back to Celtic times. The Romans brought viniculture amongst other things. Objects still remaining from this period are a hearth and a charnel house with a 20-metre-long skull wall. Leuk was first documented in 515 AD. The town was awarded its town charter in the 13th century.

Highlights

• Pfynwald: the largest pine forest in the Alps and a water-meadow landscape of European importance
• Varied hiking region (Pfynwald, Leukerberge, suonen (irrigation channel) paths, vineyard hikes, Leuk Sonnenberge Cultural Trail
• Leuk town with castle, Rathaus (town hall) and many 17th century patrician houses
• Vineyards around the town
• Leukerbad with famous thermal spa