Nendaz Trekking day 3 I Short trekLongez le bord du lac de Cleuson à l’eau turquoise (2'186 mètres) et traversez le barrage. La chapelle Saint-Barthélémy représente la chapelle la plus haute et la plus ancienne de la commune. Elle domine le val de Nendaz avec un panorama qui s’étend jusqu’à la chaîne des Alpes bernoises. On ignore la date exacte de sa construction, mais un document de 1447, signé par l’évêque de Sion mentionne que 40 jours d’indulgence seraient accordés à toute personne qui ferait une aumône en faveur de la chapelle, ce qui laisse supposer que l’édifice est antérieur à cette date. Avant la construction du barrage, elle était située dans le vallon de Cleuson, sur la rive droite, légèrement en amont. Construite en bois, elle a été rénovée à plusieurs reprises, la dernière fois en 1888. En 1951, les ouvriers du barrage ont construit une nouvelle chapelle en pierre, à l’emplacement actuel.
Descendez ensuite en direction de Siviez par un petit chemin pédestre en forêt. Depuis la prise d’eau, suivez le tracé du Bisse de Saxon jusqu’à la cabane du Bourlâ avant de rejoindre le village de Haute-Nendaz (1'350 mètres).
Le bisse de Saxon est partiellement alimenté en eau et s’étend de Siviez jusqu’à Saxon, un village situé dans la plaine du Rhône, faisant de lui le plus long bisse du Valais avec ses 32 kilomètres.
VARIANTE
Arrivés sur les hauteurs de Siviez, montez en direction du Basso d’Alou et rejoignez Tracouet en suivant la crête jusqu’à la fameuse Dent de Nendaz (2'463 mètres). Depuis le sommet, profitez d’un panorama sur le lac Noir, les Alpes et la plaine du Rhône.
À Tracouet (2'200 mètres), vous avez la possibilité de faire une halte au restaurant avant de rejoindre le village de Haute-Nendaz en télécabine ou à pied.
Attention ! La crête reliant le Basso d’Alou à la Dent de Nendaz comporte des passages plus techniques, dont un spécialement équipé de marches métalliques. Elle est déconseillée aux personnes non entraînées. Dans ce cas, choisissez le retour à Haute-Nendaz par le bisse de Saxon.Lac de Cleuson panorama été 2015 (Yasmine Gaudin)Place_pique-nique_Ouché_été_2020 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Bisse de Saxon automne Etienne 2020 (Etienne Bornet)Cabane_du_Bourlâ_Jean Cingria_2016 (Jean Cingria)Place de pique-nique bisse de Saxon 2017 (Jean Cingria)2488.7055664062Saint-Laurent Mountain CabinDuring your walk, stop at the Saint-Laurent mountain cabin to have a drink and/or a tasty snack.
Open from the end of June to the beginning of September, the Saint-Laurent mountain cabin is an excellent stopping point as it is located near the Bisse de Chervé, the Cleuson dam and the Lac du Grand Désert.
The Saint-Laurent mountain cabin is also the ideal starting point for the Lac du Grand Désert, where you can continue on to the foot of the glacier. It is also possible to reach the Val de Bagnes via the Louvie Pass or the Grande Dixence Dam via the Prafleuri Pass.
During the month of September, the cabin is usually open. The gas cooker can be used, running water and wood are available.
From October, the cabin goes into "winter mode". Only the entrance area with the emergency telephone is accessible.Lac de Cleuson panorama été 2021 (Etienne Bornet)Cabane_St-Laurent_petit-déjeuner_été_2021 (Etienne Bornet)Cabane_St-Laurent_intérieur_été_2021 (Etienne Bornet)Cabane St-Laurent petit-déjeuner tartines été 2021 (Etienne Bornet)Cabane_St-Laurent_dortoirs_été_2021 (Etienne Bornet)Cabane_St-Laurent_lits_été_2021 (Etienne Bornet)Cabane_St-Laurent_extérieur_été_2021 (Etienne Bornet)Cabane_St-Laurent_extérieur_été_2021 (Etienne Bornet)2162.0810546875Cleuson DamBuilt between 1947 and 1950 and first commissioned in 1950 for hydroelectric purposes, the Cleuson dam was decided and built in an economic context of war. It is a dam with reinforced buttresses, the federal authorities having then required that the building be massive and resistant to bombardments.
Located at al altitude of 2’187m, it holds about 20 million m3 of water coming from the entire valley. Its imposing wall, 420m long and 87m high, stands in the middle of a breathtaking alpine landscape . This site bears witness to a perfect harmony between nature and human activity. What a sight to behold !
WHY IS IT WORTH THE DETOUR ?
In addition to its impressive wall and the magnificent landscape that surrounds it, a walk along the Cleuson dam lake unveils loads of interesting information. Indeed, if you are interested in this subject, in addition to the information posts located in the surroundings, guided visits of the dam wall are also proposed, in order to discover it from the inside. Not to be missed !
ADVICE FROM THE LOCALS
Have your camera or Smartphone ready to capture the turquoise blue water. In fact, the water of the lake is tinted with this exceptional colour, known as « bleu de Cleuson » which is due to the refraction of light on the sit. A ‘must’ for photo enthusiasts !Bisse de Chervé Cleuson automne 2021 (Suisse Tourisme - Dominik Baur)Randonnée barrage de Cleuson automne 2021 (Suisse Tourisme - Dominik Baur)Barrage Cleuson VTT Route Été 2017 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Barrage Cleuson VTT Été 2017 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Barrage Cleuson (Maude Gaudin)Barrage Cleuson (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Barrage Cleuson (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)1785.6444091797Bisse de SaxonThe Bisse de Saxon takes its source at 1,850 metres above sea level, in the Printse river upstream from Siviez. The bisse begins its journey of no less than 32 kilometres and ends its journey above Saxon. The inhabitants of this village located in the Rhone Valley had to be extremely short of water for their crops to undertake such a daring project.
Work began in 1865, but was interrupted initially for technical reasons and then because of a trial that lasted about ten years. Finally, work was resumed in 1874. Two years later, the Bisse de Saxon was filled with water and it was used for irrigation until 1964.
No less than three guards were needed to keep watch over this long irrigation channel. These men lived in cabins along the bisse. In 1999, an association called "Garde du Bisse" was created with the aim of restoring life to this bisse which holds an important place in the history of the Valais.
A BISSE, WHAT IS IT ?
The bisses were originally irrigation channels that diverted water from the rivers to water the farm land crops growing on the mountain slopes. They are true historical relics and bear witness to the Valaisans' relentless fight against drought. It is their construction that makes them so special. Indeed, these channels had to adapt to the different terrain and environments encountered along the way, giving rise to impressive workmanship, especially when we imagine what the means of construction were at the time. The bisses of our region take their source from the Printse, a river that flows along our valley. Of the eight bisses located in Nendaz, six still have water flowing within their banks and are still carrying out their original task of irrigation.Bisse de Saxon famille 2014 (Arolle)Bisse de Saxon panorama 2014 (Arolle)Bisse de Saxon totem 2014 (Laetitia Scarascia)Bisse de Saxon 2014 (Arolle)Bisse de Saxon ponton 2019 (Elodie Moos)1797.984375Picnic area on the Bisse de SaxonLocated in the heights of Haute-Nendaz, the Bisse de Saxon picnic area is equipped with a table and two benches. It is the perfect place to stop for a short break and enjoy the peace and quiet of the place. It is not far from the guardian of the bisses' cabin and its warning hammer.
To get there, you simply follow the bisse departing from Haute-Nendaz or from Siviez.Place de pique-nique bisse de Saxon 2016 (Yvette Martignoni)Place de pique-nique bisse de Saxon 2017 (Jean Cingria)1342.9664306641The resort of Haute-NendazThe tourist venture began at the end of the 1950s with the construction of the first gondola in 1958 and the first hotels. Since then, the resort of Haute-Nendaz has continued to develop.
Today, in winter, snow sports reign. The vast choice of ski runs, more than 400 kilometres in total, allows both beginners and experienced skiers to enjoy the snowy slopes of the 4 Vallées.
During the summer season, the resort is popular with mountain bikers and hikers. Nendaz benefits from an absolutely unique network of bisses (8 of which 6 are still in water). The paths along them, which are relatively flat, shady and traffic-free, are particularly popular places to walk. In July, Nendaz becomes the capital of the Alphorn, thanks in particular to its international festival.Haute-Nendaz station hiver vue aérienne 2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Haute-Nendaz Station Hiver 2018 (Etienne Bornet)Haute-Nendaz station_été_vue aérienne_2014 (Matt Wright & Janire Najera)Haute-Nendaz Station Eté 2018 (Sonia Délèze)2487.73510742192481.68798828122469.45434570312463.22314453122472.62646484382429.82104492192435.72021484382412.46118164062407.07714843752416.62646484382400.93676757812384.61645507812368.83740234382353.80639648442326.8769531252319.22509765622322.04223632812325.00878906252323.167968752327.6152343752306.13525390622311.25073242192304.53564453122278.753906252285.53881835942272.53491210942250.43823242192226.30590820312216.53222656252197.09277343752203.43774414062193.93676757812197.69213867192192.72216796882203.89282226562199.70654296882200.81665039062196.73168945312194.53979492192200.99902343752202.3906252199.67114257812192.39038085942192.00146484382186.66845703122192.47314453122184.636718752162.50634765622166.31396484382139.09106445312132.76416015622122.52832031252119.03662109382122.66552734382119.20678710942096.46752929692081.06420898442063.18090820311986.73315429691966.33581542971952.90734863281946.23168945311943.8769531251942.00549316411940.48718261721931.80346679691928.33544921881923.42346191411879.38024902341870.77624511721855.04565429691842.93872070311840.62878417971838.44763183591821.61315917971814.49987792971820.82775878911815.41394042971814.61633300781813.43188476561811.53259277341820.85400390621819.39318847661823.21411132811814.67297363281810.13562011721815.67370605471812.34729003911809.70471191411818.88879394531822.74926757811835.68347167971838.55310058591827.12670898441809.1464843751827.14868164061821.48095703121831.42871093751829.67565917971841.12915039061831.77941894531827.30187988281825.62939453121828.722656251822.47631835941819.91149902341822.62622070311820.16613769531818.58764648441828.15490722661820.10705566411824.71911621091818.44982910161823.61791992191819.67065429691823.83276367191813.88171386721826.91418457031820.50512695311805.23840332031804.08142089841803.37207031251802.92297363281802.89733886721814.41406251814.91979980471819.32543945311804.36975097661794.95349121091795.64099121091799.41442871091808.51098632811801.81079101561809.67065429691808.40869140621803.40454101561781.246093751747.96777343751739.77856445311731.61730957031725.54162597661724.57092285161731.13940429691711.23925781251701.15380859381685.97058105471678.14172363281680.49816894531687.79614257811688.16101074221667.33813476561651.97692871091653.25793457031644.13378906251594.78466796881599.36596679691593.78247070311577.42712402341561.75524902341551.29956054691512.63745117191464.84338378911422.28674316411438.93859863281433.53039550781432.73339843751416.93041992191369.14587402341349.98950195311350.03369140621346.56872558591350.60241699221345.71838378911345.69641113281343.5668945312