Inden – Cultural Routes and Village History

When looking for a hotel in Inden, the cultural routes, village history, and various hiking and cycling routes may be deciding factors. The routes focus on different themes: some pass through natural and cultural landscapes, while others link local history with specific stops. As you plan your trip, consider which of these themes interest you most.

Hiking the cultural routes

The Dala-Raspille cultural route reaches Inden from Leukerbad via the Roman road. It connects Leukerbad with the wine-growing villages of Varen and Salgesch. As a day hike, the route runs from Leukerbad to Salgesch through a variety of natural and cultural landscapes in the Valais. When planning your hike, you can take into account the connection between the villages and the different landscape and cultural themes.

The LLB circular hiking trail with Amade offers another way to explore railway history. It has six stops, each equipped with an information board. QR codes link to videos lasting about three minutes. If you want to include the stops in your plans, check the latest information about the circular hiking trail in advance.

Along the Rumeling hiking trail, dry-stone walls provide habitat for lizards, wild bees, and butterflies. The walls stand beside an old mule track that once connected Leuk-Stadt and Leukerbad. This section of the mule track is classified as an international transport route of national importance. Here, nature watching meets the history of a former transport route.

Local history and historic sites

The 270° cinema is housed in a restored freight carriage from the former Leuk-Leukerbad railway. It presents a journey through the history of Inden and the LLB from 1242 to 2019. Inden was first mentioned in written records in 1242. A fire destroyed almost the entire village, including the archives, in 1741; Goethe mentioned Inden in his travel account in 1779. The former railway station building is now used as a shop.

The lime kiln is also one of Inden’s historic sites. It was probably last used in the 19th century. After it was rediscovered in 1996, the municipality restored it in 1997/98. Please note the access condition for your visit: the kiln is accessible when the Dala-Raspille cultural route is open. Inden’s parish church is a historic monument protected by the Canton of Valais. The St. Anthony’s Chapel is about 500 years old.

Planning for cycling and play breaks

The Dala Kultur Bike is designed as a beginner route, with technically easy paths and highlights of nature and culture. It crosses meadows and pastures, then continues through mixed forests of coniferous and deciduous trees to Inden. Part of the route follows the former railway line of the Leuk-Leukerbad railway. When choosing a route, you can consider both the sequence of landscapes and the technical difficulty rating.

Another cycling option is the Valais Cycling Tour: its Salgesch–Leukerbad section passes through the village of Inden. Along the route, views of the Gemmi and the rock faces around Leukerbad gradually open up. The two routes therefore differ in their stated highlights: the Dala Kultur Bike is described in terms of its beginner-friendly character and path conditions, while the Valais Cycling Tour is described in terms of its route through Inden and its views.

The playground in Inden includes, among other things, a giant trampoline, a climbing tower, slides, swings, a sandbox, table football, and table tennis. It is open year-round; some play equipment is put away for the winter. If you include the playground in your trip plans, bear this seasonal limitation in mind.

Discover more destinations: Ergisch, Varen, Gampel-Bratsch, Unterems, Erschmatt, Agarn, Oberems, Albinen

Go to the main travel overview: Leuk.