Stockalper Castle in Brig and How to Open the Shutters Abroad

Stockalper Castle is a landmark of the city of Brig.

Kasper Stockalper (1609–1691) was called "The King of Simplon." He was a merchant, banker, large scale entrepreneur, military official and politician who built Stockalper Castle in 1651 to 1671 as an extension of his ancestors' mansion. The castle is the largest private building constructed in the 17th century in Switzerland. The Castle has three towers, named after the Three Kings (Kaspar, Melchior and Balthasar). 

Kaspar Stockalper dominated the salt trade and the transit of goods in the canton of Valais (a canton is like a state in the US), was a statesman, a jack of all trades, operated mines, ran a money lending business, hired out mercenaries and ran a postal service. 

His palace was bought by the Municipality of Brig in 1948 and was, thanks to the Swiss Stockalper Palace trust, completely refurbished starting in 1956. Today the Stockalper Palace houses the municipal administration of Brig-Glis, the district court, the Institute for research on the Alpine region and other cultural institutions.

Kasper Stockalper

Kaspar on his horse.                                

The guide told us this bridge has been described as similar to the Bridge of Sighs. Maybe because it looks a bit like it? The guide did not explain. 

The guide also said there are some significant mistakes in this painting found in the elegant room above:

The castle is set high on a hill; it isn't.

There is a flamingo in the painting.

The Matterhorn is not behind the castle.

PS - Here's how to operate the shutters/shades in Switzerland:

Beside the window is a pole that I assumed you twist to open the shades.

At last night's hotel, I realized that the pole pivots and creates a small lever or...

a larger lever to easily open or close the shutters/shades.

It only took me two hotels to realize this!