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, with 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 to 2,600 m), with the valley station 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 tot 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 and a UNESCO World Heritage site, just around the corner from the chalet.
Suonen
irrigation channels along rock faces
A centuries-old answer to drought, and 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, and 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 to 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.
Foto's Rosswald & St. Rita: Reustli & Bene16 via
Wikimedia Commons,
CC BY-SA (verkleind).