An experience for the whole family – for hiking, reading and listening
In the paperback “Sagen und Volkserzählungen aus Grächen”, Reinhard Walter published 75 stories from the fascinating wealth of legends of Grächen.
With the realization of the “Grächner Sagenlandschaft”, guests and locals alike now have the opportunity to get to know a selection from this interesting collection on their hikes. There are 21 plaques with 25 legends scattered throughout the landscape, mostly in places where the “stories” are said to have taken place.
You can get to know the first 11 stories of the “Grächner Sagenlandschaft” on a varied circular hike. From the village center, follow the signposts to Zermatt.
Directions to the legendary landscape
After reading the first two signs in front of the church, walk through the southern part of the village towards Gasenried. Shortly after the Williner bakery, on the wall of a Valais granary, you will find the third text. It is about wandering poor souls. At the Schlinggstein, a mighty boulder in the hamlet of Chäschermatte, there is an account of a mischievous witch.
As soon as you leave the forest between Grächen and Gasenried, you can read two exciting tales of the poor soul on the wall of a small wooden hut. From here, the trail continues to Schalbettu behind Gasenried, where the story of how the advancing Ried Glacier was retreated is told near the chapel.
From Schalbettu, a forest road leads to the water pipes (signpost to the Bordierhütte) and to the edge of the Riedbach stream. With a view of the roaring glacial stream, you can listen to the legend of a wise shepherd boy. From here, a steep path takes you after a few minutes to the Eggeri water catchment, where the story is told of how the struggle for water claimed a human life. On the way back, along the Eggeri, you will find the legend of the ungrateful, wasteful beggars.
At the “Heimine – Niedergrächen” signpost, descend to the Chilcheri water pipe. There, at point 11, a man is said to have met with his deceased friend. Following the signposts, you will reach the village center in about 30 minutes.
The other stories are located along the paths to Hannigalp, Seetalhorn, Hohtschuggo and in the hamlets of Egga, Bina and Niedergrächen. All the locations of the panels are shown in the list. Detailed route descriptions can be found in the brochure “Unterwegs in Grächen”.