The House
Casa Walser offers 150 square metres of living space across four levels. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen with an open fireplace and underfloor heating provide space for up to six guests. The original interior, featuring Italian designer furniture from the 1980s, forms an integral part of the architectural concept.
The house can be enjoyed throughout the year. Fast internet is available via 5G and is suitable for video calls, focused work and streaming.
Getting Here
Casa Walser is located below the centre of the village of Loco and can only be reached on foot. From Locarno, a winding mountain road leads into the Valle Onsernone in approximately 30 minutes. A reserved parking space is available below the school in Loco. From there, it is a walk of approximately five minutes along paved paths and steps to the house.
By public transport: take the bus from Locarno railway station to Loco, approximately 45 minutes, followed by a five-minute walk.
Important Information
Casa Walser is an architectural original. It is neither a hotel nor a conventional holiday apartment. The house unfolds across several levels and requires sure-footedness. Access is exclusively on foot. Travelling with light luggage makes arrival considerably easier.
The house is suited to mobile, architecture-minded guests who wish to experience space consciously. It is not wheelchair accessible. Pets are not permitted. Guests under the age of 16 cannot be accommodated.
Personal Recommendations
A personal selection of places and addresses that I value and would like to recommend to guests of Casa Walser. It is not intended as a comprehensive tourist guide, but as a curated mosaic of the valley, the lake, culture, architecture and cuisine.
In the Valle Onsernone and around Casa Walser
- Albergo Ristorante Centovalli, Ponte Brolla
The best risotto and a beautiful outdoor area beneath a pergola. - Museo Onsernonese, Loco
An introduction to the history and traditions of the valley. - Annette Korolnik-Andersch, Loco
A versatile artist, excellent cook, daughter of Alfred Andersch and a dear friend. - Macelleria Fratelli Freddi, Intragna
Wonderful salami and sausages. - Ristorante della Posta, Russo
A simple and welcoming restaurant in the centre of Russo, offering home-style cooking, excellent fresh pasta, local specialities and a warm, family atmosphere. - Rasa, Centovalli
An idyllic car-free mountain village in the Centovalli, accessible only by cable car from Verdasio or on foot, with narrow lanes, stone houses and peaceful walks through the surrounding landscape.
Ascona, Locarno and Lake Maggiore
- Isole di Brissago, Brissago
A beautiful island with a botanical garden and an attractive restaurant. It can be reached by boat from Ascona. - Madonna del Sasso, Locarno
A beautifully situated pilgrimage church high above Locarno, with expansive views over the town and Lake Maggiore, a Baroque interior and an impressive church and monastery complex. - Monte Verità, Ascona
A historic hill above Ascona in a magnificent position overlooking Lake Maggiore. In the early twentieth century, it became a retreat for social reformers, artists and early alternative thinkers. Their utopian spirit remains perceptible in the park, museum and hotel ensemble. - Marnin, Ascona
Wonderful panettone in many variations and excellent amaretti. - Grotto Madonna della Fontana, Ascona
A traditional grotto in a peaceful woodland setting above Ascona, serving Ticinese cuisine on a shaded stone terrace and, during the summer, meat and local specialities prepared over a charcoal grill. - Locarno Film Festival
A prestigious film festival with an international profile, held on the Piazza Grande and in cinemas across Locarno, usually from early to mid-August.
Art, architecture and culture in Ticino
- Fondazione Ghisla Art Collection, Locarno
A private museum housed in a striking red cube close to the Piazza Grande and the harbour, with an important collection of modern and contemporary art, including works by Picasso, Miró, Magritte, Warhol and Basquiat. - Teatro Dimitri, Verscio
The unforgettable clown Dimitri, a melancholic hero of my childhood and the namesake of the Teatro Dimitri, which continues today in Verscio as an intimate centre for theatre and performing-arts education. - Teatro dell’architettura Mendrisio (TAM)
An exhibition building designed by Mario Botta for the Accademia di architettura, presenting changing exhibitions and events devoted to contemporary architecture and the Ticino School. - Mario Botta’s church in Mogno
An iconic mountain church by Mario Botta at the head of the Maggia Valley. This sculptural building, composed of alternating layers of Peccia marble and Maggia gneiss, has attracted architecture enthusiasts since the 1990s. - Castelgrande and the castles of Bellinzona
A UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising three imposing medieval castles above the town, linked by historic defensive walls, together with an attractive and lively old town of lanes, squares and a Saturday market.
Wine and food from the Mendrisiotto
- Gialdi Vini SA, Mendrisio
A traditional winery from the Mendrisiotto and now one of Ticino’s leading producers, known among other wines for the excellent white Merlot “Bianco Rovere”, which is barrel-aged, complex and fruit-driven.
Frequently Asked Questions
A few concise answers for guests who wish to understand Casa Walser not only as a holiday home, but also as a place of architectural significance.
Who designed Casa Walser?
Casa Walser was designed in 1986 by Luigi Snozzi, one of the defining architects of Ticino Modernism.
Where is Casa Walser located?
Casa Walser is located in Loco in the Valle Onsernone, above Locarno in the Swiss canton of Ticino.
What makes Casa Walser architecturally distinctive?
The house combines exposed concrete, clear geometry, precisely positioned openings and a strong relationship with the surrounding landscape in a highly disciplined and reduced architectural composition.
Who is Casa Walser suitable for?
Casa Walser is suited to mobile, architecture-minded guests seeking tranquillity, nature and a consciously reduced stay.
How many guests can stay at Casa Walser?
Casa Walser accommodates a maximum of 6 guests. Guests must be at least 16 years old.
How can I book Casa Walser?
You can check current availability on this website and submit a non-binding enquiry. Final confirmation, reservation and booking administration are handled through Wild Valley. Alternatively, you can book Casa Walser directly through Wild Valley or Airbnb.
Is Casa Walser a conventional holiday home?
Casa Walser is a holiday home, but not an ordinary holiday property. It is an architectural original by Luigi Snozzi and is intended for guests who wish to experience the house with respect and attention.