STOCKALPER WAY - Val Bognanco

The Stockalper Route is one of the 12 Cultural Routes of national interest in Switzerland following the traces of the trade route created by Baron Kaspar Jodok Stockalper.

Great businessman, entrepreneur and politician from Valais in the 17th century, Stockalper, by modernizing the ancient salt route through the Simplon Pass with bridges and shelters to allow goods caravans to pass even in winter, started a commercial network between Italy and the markets of France, so profitable as to earn the nickname "King of the Simplon". From his magnificent Brig Castle he controlled trade with Antwerp, Paris and the Channel ports to the north and with Milan to the south.

Kaspar Jodock Stockalper was born in Brig in 1609 into an already very wealthy family of probable Italian origins. His wealth allowed him to travel throughout Europe and thus begin to create the basis on which to set up his future businesses. He owned all the mines in Valais and employed a total of around 5,000 men. His continued successes earned him the envy of the Valais nobles. Having fallen into political disgrace in his country, he took refuge in voluntary exile in Domodossola where he was received with all honors and lived for a few years at the Sacro Monte Calvario in Domodossola, also contributing financially to the creation of the rich artistic heritage. After five years of exile he returned to his homeland in 1685, after the death of one of his political opponents, and found his popularity still unchanged. He died in 1691 at 82 years old; his remains rest in the church of Glis, near Brig.

Following the same route, in 1805 Napoleon built the first carriage road in the Alps to move his army and armaments through the Simplon Pass. An ancient communication and trade route passed through the Monscera Pass between the Val d'Ossola and the Canton of Valais, used by the Valais troops who descended to conquer the Ossola and through which Pope Gregory in the autumn of 1275.