Ried: Chapel, Bakehouse and Trails

Ried is a hamlet in the municipality of Bellwald, in the Goms region of the canton of Valais. The old hamlet was built on a steeply rising ridge between two marshy areas. The main street, chapel and bakehouse give the place its own character; several trails pass through Ried or lead to it. This lets you choose different priorities for your visit: get to know the village, experience the baking tradition or choose a route through the mountain landscape.

Main street and chapel in the upper hamlet

You can stroll along the main street and admire the old chapel. It stands in the upper part of the settlement on a rocky outcrop and is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Its location and dedication make the chapel a distinctive part of the hamlet: you can take it in as you walk along the street and also appreciate its religious significance. If you are interested in local architecture, it offers a specific point of interest for combining your walk with Ried’s historic character.

Bakehouse and rye bread

The small bakehouse was built in 1780, restored in 2002 and is the last surviving bakehouse. A recurring tradition is also a key feature: rye bread is baked there two to three times a year. Visitors can take part on a baking day and bake their own rye bread. The number of baking days is therefore also something to factor into your plans, as is a visit to the building; specific dates may vary. If you would like to take part in the baking, check the date before your trip. This makes the visit different from a walk to the chapel: as well as a historic site, there is a specifically mentioned opportunity to take part in the bread-making tradition yourself.

Trails through and to Ried

The 5.3-kilometre-long Solution Trail “top gestärkt” passes through Ried. You can do it alone, as a couple or in a group; group formats include family, club and team. This means you can take both the stated distance and your preferred way of participating into account when planning your outing. A winter hike passes through the hamlet and over the Stollen, a local viewpoint. The route runs through Bellwald’s mountain landscape and offers panoramic views of the Fieschertal and Goms. The two options have different highlights: the Solution Trail has a specified length, while the Stollen and its views are defining features of the winter hike.

A family adventure trail with seven activity stations leads from the village to Ried. Its route is therefore different from the Solution Trail, which passes through Ried: here, the defining features are the path from the village to the hamlet and the seven stations. A snowshoe loop starts and ends in the hamlet of Ried. It offers another winter option, with Ried as both the starting and finishing point. Seasonal winter routes may vary in availability and course, so check the latest route information before setting out.

Plan for winter travel

The Bellwald ski bus stops at “Abzweigung Ried” and “Ried (Station)”. The ski bus operates seasonally, and service details may change. If you are planning your trip around this connection, check the latest information for your travel dates. This allows you to include the stated stops in your winter plans without confusing them with the starting and finishing points of the snowshoe loop. The chapel, bakehouse and trails together offer different reasons to choose Ried as a destination and tailor your stay to your interests.

For the broader travel overview: Bellwald.