In the 1960s and 1970s in particular, Bellwald transformed from a mountain farming village into a tourist destination. This relatively rapid transition destroyed many valuable old structures. Agricultural outbuildings lost their original function and were either altered or converted into holiday homes.

Many of these modifications and conversions were poorly executed. Old alleyways were leveled, traditional stone walls and hedges along paths were removed, and water channels and streams were piped underground. All these measures had a lasting impact on the village landscape of Bellwald and its hamlets. That’s why, already in 1983, a group of like-minded individuals came together and founded the Altes Bellwald Foundation. The foundation set out to preserve old building structures, to maintain agricultural buildings as close to their original form as possible, and to ensure that any alterations were made with care and consideration.

These tasks proved extremely difficult, as they coincided with the active development and expansion phase of Bellwald as a tourist resort. Any renovation of a barn, shed, or storage building—or the enclosing of a stream or leveling of a path—was seen as a sign of progress and positive change. The “old junk,” as it was viewed at the time, was often gladly given away to the junk dealer. Some of these pieces of furniture now sit restored in upscale homes.

Any influence on construction plans was considered unwelcome interference, and short-term material interests of individual property owners often took precedence. Despite many setbacks—both large and small—the foundation gradually gained significance and support, both among locals and visiting guests.

Due to its agricultural past, Bellwald has an exceptionally interesting village structure. Residential houses in combination with traditional farm buildings stand as cultural witnesses of times gone by, radiating warmth and a sense of security. The old lanes and squares evoke a sense of harmony and peace. The many widely scattered barns and huts on the slopes of Bellwald—from Lamma all the way to the Finsteraarhorn—enrich the cultural landscape. Many of these buildings have fallen victim to the passage of time, including around three dozen structures on the Richinen alp, as well as the barn and hut in Aspi and several barns and huts on Eggebiel.

This unique architecture represents a valuable tourism asset for the resort of Bellwald. This is evident in the strong interest shown by our guests in these remnants of past eras—an interest that should flatter us Bellwald locals, since it also reflects an interest in us and our roots. This appreciation will likely increase in the future, as intangible values such as culture and warmth become ever more important.

The work of the foundation must therefore be viewed holistically. Initiatives such as financial support for removing old sheet metal roofs were only small individual steps. The main focus has always been on the preservation of entire properties, taking their setting into account.

It has never been the foundation’s intention to turn Bellwald and its hamlets into a vast open-air museum. The goal is rather to unite past, present, and future in a way that keeps the village alive—a development that, unfortunately, has tended in the opposite direction in recent decades. As a result of various building conversions within the village, the actual village zone has been devalued as a living space, as many properties are now used solely as secondary residences and remain empty for most of the year. We are therefore grateful that artbellwald.ch, with its artist residency in the church barn (Kirchenstadel), is bringing life back to the old village quarter of Mättelti.

The mission of the Altes Bellwald Foundation is thus not just to preserve the past, but above all to create something new and vibrant—without destroying the old. Ensuring and maintaining the quality of life and living spaces will ultimately lead to long-term success.

Landscape Structures

Bellwald extends over a large municipal area and is widely scattered. This dispersal is a result of Bellwald’s economic history. Alongside many traditions and customs, a branching network of paths and alleys developed, along with a sophisticated system of irrigation channels.

Many of these paths and lanes have since been expanded into access roads for building plots. The water channels have withered, and in developed areas, more and more streams have been routed into pipes. The traditional landscape surrounding the village centers has thus been increasingly destroyed. For example, who today still remembers the Gibuweg?

It is neither possible nor practical to restore all these old structures. However, in some areas it is very desirable for alleys to be restored and for streams and other watercourses to flow freely again—or at the very least, not be further degraded or enclosed.