Mund: Saffron Culture, Hiking Trails and Historic Buildings

Mund brings together saffron culture, hiking trails and historic buildings. For planning your trip, the activities differ mainly in theme and time required: the saffron trail is a shorter loop, while another hike takes around three and a half hours. The museum and the history of the settlement add further points of interest to your stay.

Saffron Culture Between the Village and the Trail

Mund saffron has been protected by the AOP designation of origin since 2004. The saffron trail is a circular route through saffron fields and meadows, with views of the Rhône Valley. Six information panels in German and French introduce Mund’s saffron culture. The trail starts in the village centre, at the «Mund Dorf» postbus stop.

The saffron trail is an easy hike of about 90 minutes. One section is wheelchair-accessible; check the conditions for this section before your visit. Guided tours of the trail are also available. If you are interested in a guided tour, check its availability in advance.

Hiking Trails by Duration and Difficulty

The hike «Walking in the footsteps of the Alpine farmers» starts in Mund and follows the Stigwasser irrigation channel into the Gredetsch Valley. It is of moderate difficulty, 12 kilometres long and takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes. This makes it clearly different from the easy, approximately 90-minute saffron trail: the two routes vary in both duration and level of difficulty. Another route, Nessjeri–Obersta–Stigwasser, leads from Belalp to Mund. Check access conditions before setting out, as they may change.

The Saffron Museum and Historic Buildings

The Mund Saffron Museum is housed in the historic Zehndenstadel, dating from 1437 and one of the oldest timber buildings in Switzerland. At the museum, you can learn about the unique world of saffron. During the saffron harvest in October, the museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday. Groups of ten or more can visit year-round by prior reservation. Check seasonal opening hours and the conditions for group visits before your trip.

The saffron trail and the museum explore the same subject in different ways: six panels along the route provide information about Mund’s saffron culture, while the museum introduces the world of saffron. When planning your visit, you can choose between a circular walk through the landscape and a museum visit.

Bodmen was once a year-round settlement and is now a summer farmstead and holiday destination in a remote location. The village is considered an open-air museum, with a rich collection of old alpine farming buildings. The Niklaus Chapel also stands there, a white-rendered masonry building dating from 1683–84. Seasonal use and access may change; check visiting conditions in advance.

Location and Trip Planning

Mund lies within the Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site. The village is about a 15-minute drive from the Brig-Glis-Naters urban area; actual travel time varies depending on conditions.

The «Sonnenstrahl» art installation by Adelheid Sandhof is located at Chorbacher, above Mund’s saffron fields. The 2026 listing describes it as a permanent exhibition with free admission; check before travelling to see whether it is still there.

Discover more destinations: Brig, Ried-Brig, Simplon Hospice, Zwischbergen, Eggerberg, Belalp, Simplon, Naters

Return to the main travel overview: Brig.