Fields and Fields of Spring Meadow Saffron in Canton Valais

April 20, 2018 (Friday) -- The small village of Eischoll in Canton Wallis is nicknamed "Heimat der Lichtblume" (home of the "Flower of Light", actually the Spring Meadow Saffron flower). This purple long-petalled flower is found in only a few areas of the Southwest Alps, and in Switzerland it grows in the Canton of Valais on the shady side of the mountains. Eischoll has earned the nickname because nowhere else do these flowers grow in such abundance, so that the hillsides sometimes look like purple carpets.

Thanks to my wonderful colleague, I was able to take the day off on Friday to travel with my dear former colleague to the village of Eischoll, to spend the day in search of the flower. At first we thought we were too late, as we found only a few wilted flowers at village level, but as we climbed to higher altitudes where there were still patches of snow, we stumbled on clearings full of these so very pretty flowers, so obviously just having emerged after the very recent snow melts. We were thrilled that we had caught them at the right time, and spent five wonderful hours in the area, mostly on hands and knees photographing the flowers....

An added bonus: Part of the upper trail was along one of the many irrigation channels in this area (called Suonen or Bisses) which are always a pleasure to walk along.

Heading up from Raron to Eischoll by cable car: These slate roofs are typical of this area, and so very pretty!

Village of Eischoll as seen from the cable car, shortly before arrival at the summit station.

First view of the Rhone Valley looking NE: Below is the ancient church in Raron, and at the back the city of Visp

First we headed West of the village before going uphill and making a loop back.

The first sightings of single flowers got us all excited, but they were finished flowering in this area. That's why we headed uphill.

Birch trees with early spring leaves.

We thought we might have missed the Saffron Flowers, so we concentrated on other pretty ones!

After walking around the town of Eischoll we headed up the hill. Altogether this was about 6 km

As we climbed through the forest, we came across more and more of these flowers.

Where the snow has recently receded, the flowers pop out as long as the ground is still wet

Perfect spring day for our outing into Canton Valais

The upper part of the tour was along one of the many irrigation ditches in this area: "Suonen" or "Bisses".

This structure didn't survive the heavy winter snows very well.

At a couple of places we had to carefully cross the snow. On the other side of the valley, the famous viaduct from the Lötschberg South Ramp is visible.

 

Finally, we came across the first large field of "The Flower of Light"

The photos don't do it justice. It was just so pretty.

Large areas of newly-melted snow, and the flowers pop out for a few days.

The crocuses were a wonderful sight as well.

Crocuses and Spring Meadow Saffron

On the East side of the village, more and more slopes full of the flowers. 

We spent several hours just admiring and photographing the flowers. 

We spent several hours just admiring and photographing the flowers. 

Spring Meadow Saffron, nicknamed the "Flower of Light"

Fields of Spring Meadow Saffron above the village of Eischoll in the Rhone Valley.

Long days now means we can head down at 5:30 pm for the 3-hour ride home!

Eischoll in Canton Valais, home of the "Flower of Light"

Looking for the "Flower of Light" in Eischoll, Canton Valais

(This post was published on November 2, 2023. In retrospect, we were probably not too late to find the early meadow saffron flowers, but rather we didn't go high enough. On April 20, 2018 and again on April 2, 2021 we traveled to the same hillside, but in the meantime found out we had to hike ABOVE the village to find the flowers, of which we saw fields and fields full. )

Tuesday April 19, 2016 -- The small community of Eischoll in Canton Valais boasts to be the official home of the rare Spring Meadow Saffron Flower, nicknamed "Flower of Light" (very similar to the Autumn Crocus). Although the flower is found in other parts of Southern Europe, it is only in the Canton of Valais where there are a few meadows where this flower grows. Shortly after the snows melt (anywhere between February and May) the flowers spring up near the village of Eischoll in vast quantities, creating an image of a purple carpet across the meadows. The hope of seeing this spectacle of nature brings many tourists to this area. Our visit to the fields near Eischoll mid-April might have been a bit too late this year, because although we found little clusters of the flowers, we seem to have missed the fully blooming meadows, which is a real shame. Next time we’ll call ahead at the tourist office!….

Our original plan was to walk from Unterbäch to Ergisch, but when we got to the Unterbäch cable car station in Raron, we found out it was closed for revision!!! Luckily there is a second cable car right next to it, to Eischoll (at any time one or the other is operation, with a shuttle bus to the other station when revision takes place). But starting our hike in Eischoll would be too short, so from the summit station we took the shuttle bus to our originally planned starting point at Unterbäch, and walked back to Eischoll!

Cable car from Raron in the Rhone Valley up to Eischoll. The cable car to Unterbäch was in revision. From here we took the shuttle-bus back to Unterbäch so we could start there, as planned. It seemed weird to be backtracking. 

The church in Eischoll as seen from the cable-car station. We got here at 10:30 and took the shuttle bus to Unterbäch where we actually wanted to start our walk.

Starting our hike in Unterbäch at 10:40. Main stop is Eischoll, and then on to Ergisch. There must be a more direct route to Ergisch, as the trail we took was about 2½ hours. 

Some very nice buildings along the way as we walk through Unterbäch

We saw this very pretty cat sitting on a window sill!

We took the cable car to Eischoll and from there a shuttle bus to Unterbäch (10:40) and walked back to Eischoll, and ended at Ergisch at 15:10

On the trail between Unterbäch and Eischoll

This part of the trail is along what used to be an irrigation channel

There is evidence of the old irrigation channel along the way. 

Across the Rhône Valley is the South Ramp of the Lötschberg train, a hike we did last November. The mountain which dominates the landscape here is Mount Bietschhorn, at the back of the very steep Bietsch Valley

Just visible in the very steep Bietsch Valley is the railway bridge of the BLS South Ramp line. 

Also down in the Rhône Valley we get a look at the cliff church at Raron.  

Now we've arrived back in Eischoll

There are many of these old wooden buildings in Eischoll. The small one here is the old mill. 

Under the mill, you can see how the old gear was operated by the stream.

Across the roof-tops of Eischoll you can see the snow-covered peaks to the east up the Rhône Valley  (I believe)

Main square in Eischoll

Main square in Eischoll

A look over the rooftops of Eischoll village as we head west toward Ergisch. We thought this might be one of the meadows featuring the special flower, but there were none. The view is up the Rhône Valley. 

Across the valley a train from the BLS Railway (Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon) line is just crossing one of the fabulous viaducts. (Luogelkin viaduct)

We saw several of these beautiful Eurasian Jays as we walked through the forest toward Ergisch

We got all excited when we spotted the first meadow saffron flowers! This was in a place called the Ifil Meadow. 

There were a few flowers here and there. Either we were too late to see the large meadows full, or we were at the wrong place. 

On the road to Ergisch. At least it was a very beautiful and pleasant spring day to do this hike!

Arriving in Ergisch

We could have walked another 45 minutes to the train station in Turtmann, but we had already walked 2 hrs and 40 minutes, and preferred to take the bus from Ergisch. 

Last stop before heading back to the valley, the little town of Ergisch. We had enough time to look at all the houses before our bus came. 

Some very nice blossoming bushes as we look across the rooftop of the church in Ergisch. 

A look down the Rhône Valley. On that clearing across the Turtmann Valley is the village of Unterems.  

Up and down the alleyways of Ergisch

These cow bells are trophies from the Eringer Cow Fighting Championships. Eringer Cows are a breed from this area, and it is in their nature to fight (females only) to show their superiority in the herds.

I guess these are supposed to represent the Valais Black-Nosed sheep, the most popular breed in this region. 

And now a look up the Turtmann Valley! 

And a zoomed view of Unterems across the Turtmann Valley. 

On our way by bus now to the Turtmann train station. (It was a woman driver and she took the many curves so fast that I felt ill. I should have said something. We had loads of time to spare before the train arrived, and she got us there earlier than the scheduled time...) On the air strip below are the words "Dort ist ein Mann", which is probably where the name "Turtmann" came from. 

From the train station in Turtmann, a look at the village of Ergisch on the hillside.

What the hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps. 

Where Eischoll and Ergisch are located in Switzerland.