Brig, Switzerland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brig
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 Brig
Location in Switzerland
Brig
Location in Canton of Valais
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Valais | |
| District | Brigue | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 38 km2 (15 sq mi) | |
| Elevation
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691 m (2,267 ft) | |
| Population
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| • Total | Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character "{". | |
| Demonym(s) | Brigois | |
Brig, also known as Brig in German and Briga in Italian, is a cool town in the Valais region of Switzerland. It's part of a larger area called Brig-Glis.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Brig comes from an old Celtic word, Briga. This word means "hill fortress" or "a high place, then a castle." It tells us that Brig was likely an important spot long ago!
A Journey Through Time
Brig was first mentioned way back in 1215. But it wasn't officially called a town until the 1600s. A smart businessman named Kaspar Jodok von Stockalper (1609-1691) helped Brig grow a lot. People even called him "King of Simplon" because he was so good at business.
Brig was also famous for its warm, natural springs even in the Middle Ages. These springs were damaged by a landslide in the 1400s. But they were cleared in 1471 and became part of public baths.
The Jesuit Collège du Saint-Esprit is a beautiful old building. It was built between 1673 and 1688. It's a great example of Baroque architecture, which is a fancy style of building.
In 1913, something amazing happened here. On January 25, Juan Bielovucic flew his monoplane from Brig. He flew across the Alps to Domodossola in just 28 minutes!
Later, in 1993, the Saltina River overflowed. This caused some flooding in the town.
People of Brig
Who Lives in Brig?
People from Brig are called Brigois. They also have some fun nicknames! They are sometimes called the Brigands. In Swiss German, they are known as Holzschüö (the clogs), Sschüöblätza (the bakers), and Turugeuche (those proud of their tower houses).
How Brig Grew
Brig started small, with only 468 people in 1798. Over time, more and more people moved here. By 2000, the population had grown to 11,590. This number includes people from nearby Glis and Brigerbad.
Famous Faces from Brig
Many interesting people have come from Brig:
- Pierre Emmanuel Jacques de Rivaz (1745-1827) was a Swiss general. He served in the French Republic's armies.
- Silvan Zurbriggen (1981-) is a former world-class alpine skier. He was a runner-up in the world slalom competition.
- Gianni Infantino (1970-) is a lawyer. He became the President of FIFA in 2016. FIFA is the group that runs international soccer.
- Nico Hischier is a professional ice hockey player. He plays for the New Jersey Devils team.
- Henri Colpi (1921-2006) was a French filmmaker. He was born in Brig.
- Viola Amherd (1962-) is a Federal Councillor. This means she is one of the top leaders in the Swiss government. She was even President of Switzerland in 2024!
Cool Places to See
- Stockalper Castle is a very old and impressive building.
- The Brig tunnel is part of the Simplon railway line. It's an amazing engineering feat!
- The Gamsen town wall is from the 14th century. It shows how towns were protected long ago.
- You can find a monument to Jorge Chávez Dartnell in Place Saint-Sebastien. He was a brave aviation pioneer.
Getting Around Brig
Main Roads
Brig is connected by important roads. Main road 9 goes through Brig. Main road 19 starts in Brig and leads to the Goms valley. The A9 freeway also connects Brig to places like Lausanne. The E62 also passes through Brig.
You can even load your car onto a train with SBB. This lets you travel to Italy through the Simplon tunnel.
Railway Lines
Brig is a hub for many train lines:
- The SBB line connects Brig to Lausanne, Sion, Domodossola, and Milan.
- The BLS line links Brig to major cities like Zürich, Basel, and Bern.
- In winter, a special TGV Lyria train runs from Paris to Brig.
- The famous Glacier Express also stops in Brig. This scenic train takes you through beautiful mountains.
- The Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn connects Brig to Andermatt and Zermatt.
Bus Connections
PostBus offers bus rides from Brig. You can go to places like Saas Fee, Naters, Visp, and even Domodossola in Italy over the Simplon Pass.
Fun for Visitors
Brig is a great place for tourism! It's close to popular resorts like Belalp, Saas-Fee, Zermatt, Fiesch, and Bettmeralp. The thermal baths at Brigerbad are also a big draw. Many people visit to relax in the warm waters.
