With the construction of the railways and the Simplon tunnel, the population increased rapidly, so that the Antoniusspital reached the limits of its capacity. With the opening of the Brig district hospital on 5 February 1908, the Antoniusspital was relieved and then lost its function as an infirmary.
Monument
Antoniusspital
Boniface of Chalant, a prince-bishop of Sion signs the deed of foundation for the hospital in Brig on 23 March 1304. It is also his suggestion to name it after Antonius, the hermit. However, it served not only as a hospital, but also as a hostel for travellers over the Simplon. Later it was used by the burghers of Brig as a hospital for the sick and the poor. The original building structure probably consisted of a medieval residential tower. The present form of the house with regular window axes and the corner ashlars belongs to a later building phase.
Good to know
It takes about 15 minutes to walk from Brig station to the upper Burgschaft, where the former Antoniusspital is located.