The region · sun terrace above Brig
Ried-Brig & Valais: small village, mighty valley.
The chalet stands in a village of ± 2,250 inhabitants on the historic Simplon Pass route — in Switzerland's sunniest canton, among 45+ four-thousanders and the largest glacier in the Alps.
Section 1 · Discover Ried-Brig
The village in numbers
± 2.250
inhabitants
A close-knit mountain village with a lively club scene
918
m
village altitude
Municipal territory from 812 to 3,420 m
47,5
km²
surface area
More than 30% of it forest
1.232
first mention
As "Riet" — later "ried de briga" (1428)
1.563
founding charter
15 April 1563: "Ried am Brigerbärg"
646
ha
Burgerwald forest
Endless walking among pines and larches
10
min
bus to Brig
Shops, restaurants, hospital and railway station
± 2
u
to Milan
Bern ± 1.5 h — Zermatt and Aletsch around the corner
History in brief
From "Riet" to beloved mountain village
The name "Ried" almost certainly comes from the Alemannic reuten/roden — the clearing of land. Slate for the region's characteristic roofs was once quarried here, above and below ground.
The old village coat of arms — a Greek cross above three hills — has adorned the entrance of the Burgerhaus since 1640. Today's arms show three pines on green hills. 🌲🌲🌲
1232
First mention as "Riet"
By the late 15th century the village had obtained its village rights.
1563
Founding charter "Ried am Brigerbärg"
Formally established on 15 April 1563 — municipality, Burgerschaft and farmers' guild in one.
1801
Napoleon's road over the Simplon
Built between 1801 and 1805 — the route Ried-Brig sits on.
1994
From "Ried bei Brig" to Ried-Brig
Until 1994 the municipality was officially called "Ried bei Brig".
today
A beloved mountain village
From farming village to one of Upper Valais' most sought-after places to live — thanks to the sun and lively community life.
Everything within reach
Ried-Brig grew in recent decades from a farming village into one of the most beloved residential municipalities of Upper Valais — thanks to its sunny location and active community life.
🚠
Cable car to Rosswald — the car-free, sunny family ski area (± 1,800–2,600 m) — the valley station is in the village itself.
⛪
Churches — the Herz-Jesu parish church and the well-known St. Rita chapel.
🏫
School & childcare — a school, childcare and the Mehrzweckhalle (events and sports hall) in the village.
🚌
Bus to Brig (± 10 min) — where you'll find everything: shops, restaurants, a hospital and the international railway station.
🚂
Brig railway hub — the Simplon tunnel to Italy, the Lötschberg to Bern, and the starting point of the Glacier Express.
🌲
646 ha of Burgerwald — endless walking among pines and larches, directly above the village.
🎺
Rich club life — music, sport and village associations — and the hamlet of Rothwald on the Simplon Pass also belongs to the municipality.
Rosswald · 1.800–2.600 m
St. Rita chapel
Section 2 · Why Valais
Sun, snow & nature
2.000+
hours of sunshine per year
The sunniest canton — sheltered in the rain shadow of two Alpine ranges.
45+
four-thousanders
Including the Matterhorn and the Dom — the highest mountain entirely on Swiss soil.
20 km
Aletsch Glacier
The largest glacier in the Alps, UNESCO World Heritage — just around the corner from the chalet.
Suonen
irrigation channels along rock faces
A centuries-old answer to drought — today spectacular walking routes.
⛷Snow-sure: Zermatt, Saas-Fee and the Aletsch Arena are among the most snow-sure ski areas in the Alps.
🛡Safe & welcoming: Upper Valais is among the safest regions of an already very safe country — guests are warmly received.
Simplon Pass · Napoleon's road
History
The valley that became a canton
Vallis Poenina — in Roman times "the valley" literally gave the canton its name.
1815 — after centuries as an independent republic under the prince-bishop of Sion, Valais joined the Swiss Confederation.
Napoleon (1801–1805) — had the first carriage road built over the Simplon Pass — the route Ried-Brig sits on.
Stockalper Palace — Switzerland's largest baroque private palace, built by Kaspar Stockalper, who made his fortune on… the Simplon route.
Simplon tunnel (1906) — the longest railway tunnel in the world at its opening.
Culture & taste
You can taste Valais
🗣
A bilingual canton
French in Lower Valais, German (Valais dialect) in Upper Valais.
🍷
Largest wine canton
with Europe's highest vineyards (up to ± 1,150 m) at Visperterminen, near Brig.
🌸
Saffron from Mund
the neighbouring village is the only place in Switzerland where real saffron grows.
🧀
Cradle of raclette
plus Valais dried meat and rye bread (AOP).
🐄
Eringer cow fights
the queen contests are a Valais tradition of standing.
🎭
Fasnacht & traditions
lively village traditions all year round.
All of this starts at your front door.
The apartment in Chalet Blue Spoon is your base on the sun terrace of Valais.