Hike Cleuson damCette balade en boucle démarre à Siviez, au départ du télésiège de Tortin. Vous prendrez tout d'abord le chemin qui longe le fond de la piste de ski, à côté du restaurant «Chez Caroline».
Poursuivez votre route sur le chemin des Ecureuils. Dans le premier grand virage de cette route, prenez le chemin sur votre gauche, traversez le pont et poursuivez votre montée en suivant le sentier à travers la forêt.
Arrivé sous le réservoir de Tortin, poursuivez votre balade sur la route de l'alpage jusqu'au lieu dit "Ouché". A cet endroit, prenez le sentier qui monte sur votre gauche. Suivez les panneaux indiquant la direction de Cleuson.
Une fois au pied du mur du barrage, vous avez le choix de poursuivre votre chemin sur la route menant au barrage ou de grimper sur le sentier passant à droite du mur.
Le retour peut soit se faire selon le même itinéraire soit via la route goudronnée.Randonnée barrage de Cleuson automne 2021 (Suisse Tourisme - Dominik Baur)Barrage de Cleuson été 2022 (Michael Meusburger)Barrage Cleuson automne (Suisse Tourisme - Dominik Baur)Barrage de Cleuson automne (Elodie Moos)Cleuson chalet Jean Cingria 2018 (Jean Cingria)Barrage Cleuson (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Gouille d'Ouché_Florian Bouvet-Fournier_2020 (Florian Bouvet Fournier)1732.3540039062SiviezSiviez provides access to the areas of Veysonnaz and Thyon on the one hand, and to Verbier and the Bagnes valley as well as to Nendaz and Isérables on the other. It is also the starting point to reach Mont-Fort, a summit that is easily accessible throughout the summer and the winter thanks to the ski lifts
At the far end of the valley stands the Cleuson dam wall, built between 1947 and 1950. 410 metres long at the top and 87 metres high, it can hold up to 20 million m3 of water.
In winter, more than 400 kilometres of slopes await you, as well as several ski touring and snowshoeing routes and a sledge run. The Siviez snow garden allows the very young to discover their first joys of skiing.
In summer, the ski slopes give way to the mountain pastures, which are the preferred holiday destination for the Hérens breed of cows. Numerous hiking and mountain bike trails are also accessible from Siviez.Ebike Siviez été 2020 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Randonnée Siviez hiver 2018 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Siviez Hiver 2016 (Jean Cingria)Siviez Eté Vaches 2016 (Florian Guntern)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)2190.3481445312St-Barthélémy ChapelThe St Barthélémy's Chapel is the oldest chapel in Nendaz. The exact date of its construction is not known, but a document from 1447, signed by the Bishop of Sion, mentions that 40 days of indulgence would be granted to anyone who gave a donation to the chapel, which suggests that the building predates this date.
Before the construction of the dam, the St Barthélémy chapel was located in the Cleuson valley, on the right bank, slightly upstream. Built of wood, it was renovated several times, the last time in 1888. In 1951, the dam workers built a new stone chapel on the present site.
The St. Barthélémy Chapel has long been an important destination for processions. The inhabitants walk from various villages of the district, some of them for long hours. The cheeses from the various mountain pastures in the region are blessed during the service on 24th August every year.Chapelle Saint-Barthélémy été 2022 (Michael Meusburger)Chapelle_St-Barthélémy_été_promeneurs_2020 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Chapelle St-Barthélémy Eté 2011 (Arnaud Delhez)Chapelle St-Barthélémy été lac 2014 (Etienne Bornet)1979.4389648438The Ouché picnic areaThe Ouché picnic place is equipped with a table and benches. Located at about forty minutes on foot from Siviez, it's the perfect place to stop for a break on the way up to the Cleuson dam or up to the Tortin mountain pastures.Gouille d'Ouché_Florian Bouvet-Fournier_2020 (Florian Bouvet Fournier)Place_pique-nique_Ouché_automne_2020 (Jean Cingria)Place_pique-nique_Ouché_été_2020 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)2190.3481445312St-Barthélémy ChapelThe St Barthélémy's Chapel is the oldest chapel in Nendaz. The exact date of its construction is not known, but a document from 1447, signed by the Bishop of Sion, mentions that 40 days of indulgence would be granted to anyone who gave a donation to the chapel, which suggests that the building predates this date.
Before the construction of the dam, the St Barthélémy chapel was located in the Cleuson valley, on the right bank, slightly upstream. Built of wood, it was renovated several times, the last time in 1888. In 1951, the dam workers built a new stone chapel on the present site.
The St. Barthélémy Chapel has long been an important destination for processions. The inhabitants walk from various villages of the district, some of them for long hours. The cheeses from the various mountain pastures in the region are blessed during the service on 24th August every year.Chapelle Saint-Barthélémy été 2022 (Michael Meusburger)Chapelle_St-Barthélémy_été_promeneurs_2020 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Chapelle St-Barthélémy Eté 2011 (Arnaud Delhez)Chapelle St-Barthélémy été lac 2014 (Etienne Bornet)1979.4389648438The Ouché picnic areaThe Ouché picnic place is equipped with a table and benches. Located at about forty minutes on foot from Siviez, it's the perfect place to stop for a break on the way up to the Cleuson dam or up to the Tortin mountain pastures.Gouille d'Ouché_Florian Bouvet-Fournier_2020 (Florian Bouvet Fournier)Place_pique-nique_Ouché_automne_2020 (Jean Cingria)Place_pique-nique_Ouché_été_2020 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)1729.75036621091731.54150390621733.87426757811734.82629394531747.4316406251766.21264648441776.11999511721791.66345214841805.92443847661821.96154785161838.44763183591844.03991699221855.04565429691870.77624511721879.38024902341923.42346191411928.33544921881931.80346679691940.52429199221942.38220214841946.23168945311952.90734863281973.69909667971975.61083984381981.57153320312043.81933593752081.06420898442096.46752929692119.20678710942122.66552734382119.03662109382121.20605468752122.48461914062140.38549804692129.39916992192133.636718752149.43579101562163.05249023442166.26025390622172.65527343752175.09423828122180.12133789062187.52587890622192.74682617192186.66845703122192.69384765622192.03002929692184.636718752162.50634765622166.31396484382152.94042968752158.99755859382132.16113281252132.76416015622122.52832031252119.03662109382122.66552734382119.20678710942096.46752929692081.06420898442063.18090820311986.73315429691966.33581542971952.90734863281946.23168945311942.38220214841940.48718261721931.80346679691928.33544921881923.42346191411879.38024902341870.77624511721855.04565429691844.03991699221838.44763183591821.96154785161805.92443847661791.66345214841776.11999511721766.21264648441747.4316406251734.82629394531733.87426757811731.54150390621730.1199951172