Peter Zumthor built a cathedral of stone and water. Architects make pilgrimages here.
Completed in 1996 by architect Peter Zumthor, Therme Vals is one of the most celebrated buildings constructed in the 20th century. Sixty thousand slabs of locally-quarried Valser quartzite were laid into a monolithic mass of pools, corridors, grottos, and chambers — each space calibrated for temperature, sound, and light. The bath is cut into the mountainside so the building feels like it emerged from the rock rather than being placed upon it.
- $$$$
Pools & saunas
Waters & pools
- 10–42°C
Gallery
Worth knowing
-
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor
-
60,000 slabs of local Valser quartzite — quarried from the mountain above
-
A pilgrimage site for architects and designers worldwide
An insider's tip
Access requires staying at the adjacent hotel or booking a half-day entry in advance — it sells out weeks ahead. The flower bath chamber is small but extraordinary.
Don't leave without
Move between the indoor and outdoor pools at dusk when the mountain light turns the quartzite amber. The reflection on the water is the definitive Vals image.
Good to know
- Dress code
- Swimsuit required
- Timezone
- Europe/Zurich
Climate — Warmest around Jul (~22.6°C high), coolest around Jan (~2.6°C).
On the map
46.6167°N · 9.1833°E