Blatten - Lötschental Foundation
Where history lives and the future begins - even after the landslide
On the 28th of May 2025, a devastating landslide destroyed the old village of Blatten, it’s hamlet of Ried and newer buildings on the edge of the village. An unimaginable tragedy befell the inhabitants, who lost all their possessions. Along with the village, they also sorely miss their architectural home, where many families had lived for centuries.
The catastrophe therefore also affects an immense cultural heritage. Blatten was a jewel of historical Alpine building and material culture. The village included around 180 buildings dating back to the late Middle Ages, the Baroque period and the 19th century. They contained countless historical furnishings, documents, works and artefacts that bore witness to the rich social and cultural life of the community.
Despite the debris of the landslide at its centre, the Lötschental remains a wonderful natural and cultural landscape. Two historic hamlets, Weissenried and Eisten, which are among the sites worthy of protection in Switzerland (ISOS), have been preserved in the municipality of Blatten alone. Four Alpine settlements and their buildings are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Jungfrau-Aletsch region. The enchanting baroque chapel of Kühmatt with the surrounding groups of buildings is a world-famous postcard motif. Add to this the many barns, stables, paths, stone walls and irrigation channels scattered throughout this magnificent mountain valley...
Securing the future
Even after the landslide, the Foundation Stiftung Blatten, founded in 1997, continues to pursue its original goals in principle. It is committed to the traditional living and architectural culture of the Lötschental. The loss of Blatten has further amplified the significance and value of what has been preserved. It supports the maintenance of historic buildings and the cultural landscape by providing financial assistance and expertise. It promotes the transfer of knowledge.
Due to the structural change in agriculture, the traditional infrastructure is being used less and less. The consequences are obvious: old houses, barns and stables inside and outside the villages are falling into disrepair. Characteristic elements of the cultural landscape such as dry stone walls and irrigation channels are also increasingly disappearing.
It is a cause close to our hearts that this valuable heritage lives on and remains in harmony with the modern way of life. In these fast-moving times, we want to pass on an intact cultural landscape to the next generation.
Our values
A new beginning for the village of Blatten: Re-orientation of the foundation
The foundation would also like to accompany the people of Blatten on their way to a new village. Deeply rooted in this place, young and old want only one thing: a new living space in Blatten.
Due to the natural disaster, the scope of the foundation has been extended to include the reconstruction of the lost main village, special measures in favour of the spared architectural heritage and cultural landscape in the surrounding area as well as special social and cultural concerns of the population of the municipality of Blatten.
Our core messages reflect our convictions:
Be inspired by our values and become part of a movement that takes care of the old and brings about the new.
This is what we are committed to:
A new village must be built for the community, according to its needs, through a quality planning process, in a valuable and exemplary way, in harmony with nature and with reference to the traditional characteristics of building and living in the Lötschental.
This is what we are committed to:
Old buildings tell stories of bygone eras and lend our villages and Alpine settlements a unique charm. We are committed to preserving these traces of the past for the quality of life of the future.
This is what we are committed to:
The preservation and revitalisation of old buildings or the reuse of individual components are century-old practices that save resources and reduce environmental pollution. In this way, we contribute to the circular economy in the valley.
This is what we are committed to:
Landscapes and buildings from earlier times serve as living textbooks from which we can learn. Our foundation promotes educational programmes and excursions to inspire people about the cultural landscape and its history.
This is what we are committed to:
Old houses are often the centre of the community. We are committed to revitalising such places to strengthen social ties and create economic opportunities.
We need your help
Your support makes all the difference: we rely on the support of people like you to fulfil our mission. Every contribution, big or small, helps to preserve our cultural heritage. And you can also get involved personally: We are looking for people who can make their skills and some of their free time available for the foundation's work in favour of Blatten. We look forward to hearing from you.
