Ruggeller Riet

The Ruggeller Riet is a lowland moor in Liechtenstein's far north, a wetland reserve of fen, reed and wet meadow on the old Rhine floodplain that was drained for agriculture and then protected, and in late May and early June the Siberian iris flowers across it in enough quantity to turn whole fields blue. Paths and boardwalks run through and the birdlife is good. The reserve covers around ninety hectares and is the largest remaining piece of the old Rhine floodplain in the country.

What you actually see

• The Siberian iris - the flowering that turns the meadows blue in late spring.
• The fen and reed - the wetland habitat the reserve protects.
• The boardwalks - the paths running through the wet ground.
• The birdlife - the species using the reed and open water.

When to go

Late May to early June is the iris flowering and the reason to come. The reserve is walkable year round. Winter is bleak and wet.

Honest expectations

The iris flowering is short, a couple of weeks, and outside it the reserve is unremarkable to look at. Paths get very wet. Mosquitoes in summer are heavy.

Nearby

Ruggell is beside it, and Schellenberg is southeast.