Municipality of Hospental
Description
The last village before travelling south over the Gotthard was of great importance during the muleteer era. The name ‘Hospental’ comes from the Latin ‘hospitale’, which means ‘hostel’. Customs duties were levied here and the locals braved storms and military campaigns, such as in 1799 when the Russian General Suvorov fought against Napoleon's troops.
The village centre of Hospental is particularly worth seeing. The historic houses from the village's prosperous times and the 13th century defence tower characterise the harmonious appearance of the village. This contributed to Hospental being officially named one of the most beautiful Swiss villages in January 2023.
The municipality of Hospental also includes Zumdorf, the smallest village in Switzerland, where only four people live all year round.
Hospental offers holiday flats and group accommodation and is an ideal starting point for summer excursions and winter holidays in the snow. It is particularly suitable for mountain pass trips in summer and cross-country skiing in winter.
