MTB-Trail SionCette randonnée VTT part du centre sportif de Haute Nendaz et porte les panneaux numéro 128.
Roulez jusqu'au rond point et prenez à droite. Dans le contour en épingle du Déserteur, prenez la première petite route sur la gauche. À l'intersection avec la Route de Siviez, montez de quelques mètres pour trouver le Chemin de la Forêt qui part en dessous de la route.
Continuez en direction de Saclentse. Traversez ce charmant village aux balcons fleuris et continuez en direction de Basse-Nendaz. Longez la route cantonale sur quelques mètres, jusqu'au grand contour avec le parking. À l'entrée du virage, prenez le chemin qui descend sur la gauche et qui vous conduit jusqu'au village de Beuson. Arrivé au fond de celui-ci, suivez le Chemin du Terry jusqu'au Château de Brignon.
Traversez le village de Brignon en suivant le Chemin des Envers puis la Rue du Village. Vous vous retrouvez encore une fois face à la route principal. Traversez-la pour prendre la route qui monte en face en direction des Bioleys, que vous suivez quelques instants avant de prendre un chemin en gravier qui descend sur la gauche.
Pédalez jusqu'au kiosque situé à la Mury et continuez sur le chemin en gravier jusqu'à Miseriez. À l'arrêt de bus, descendez le long de la route de Salins. Suivez la direction «Pravidondaz». Pour un court moment, roulez sur la route principale avant de prendre, sur la droite, la Route de la Courtaz. Continuez en suivant les indications pour Sion. Vous voilà arrivés !Village Brignon 2018 (Florian Guntern)Village Basse-Nendaz 2018 (Inès Bonvin)Chapelle Saclentse 2018 (Inès Bonvin)Village Saclentse 2018 (Etienne Bornet)Ebike_forêt_été_2020 (Raphaël Surmont)1342.2603759766Car park EclusesThe car park Ecluses is ideally located, at the entrance to the Plaine des Ecluses recreational area and next to the sports centre, while being close to the shops and the funicular leading to the Tracouet gondola. It counts about 100 parking spaces.
Electric car recharge stations are available.Parking pré de la patinoire 2015 (Zora Decrey)Parking_pré_de_la_patinoire_voiture_2014 (Nadine Fournier)1208.5166015625SaclentseThe village of Saclentse is located directly above the Printse on its left bank. The small chapel has been there standing since 1922. The bell that was installed in the bell tower of Basse-Nendaz before 1794 now adorns that of the chapel of Saclentse.
Le Sapin Blanc, the only restaurant in the village, offers home-made dishes made entirely from local produce and traditional products.
Close to the village, the Bisse d'en Bas, which is seldom frequented, offers the opportunity to enjoy a quiet stroll. It is the lowest of the bisses on the left bank of the Printse. Still in use today, it irrigates the meadows, the raspberry and strawberry fields of Basse-Nendaz and Saclentse before joining the Printse.Village Saclentse Chapelle 2018 (Inès Bonvin)Saclentse granges 2017 (Inès Bonvin)1205.8356933594The Saclentse ChapelThe parish priest Joseph Fournier is at the origin of the construction project of the chapel of Saclentse.
A bell which was formerly installed in the bell tower of Basse-Nendaz before 1794 now adorns the bell tower of Saclentse.Chapelle de Saclentse 2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Village Saclentse Chapelle 2018 (Inès Bonvin)987.0146484375Basse-NendazBasse-Nendaz est reconnaissable grâce à sa grande église blanche. La chapelle primitive qui constitue la partie la plus ancienne de l’édifice tient lieu de nos jours de crypte. Elle se trouve au sous-sol de l’église actuelle. Sa construction remonte à la fin du 9ème – début du 10ème siècle. Elle est restée ensevelie sous les décombres des édifices successifs durant des siècles mais, heureusement, on a découvert ses vestiges lors de la réfection de 1964 à 1967.
Au pied du clocher de l’église se trouve la tombe de Charles-Frédéric Brun, plus connu sous le nom du Déserteur. Ce mystérieux vagabond est arrivé à Nendaz au milieu du 19ème siècle. Il peignait pour les Nendards en échange de leur hospitalité et de leur silence. Qui était-il ? On ne l’a jamais su. On raconte que c'était un soldat qui avait tué son capitaine, qu'il était notaire ou même évêque.
Plus bas, au centre du village, une vieille bâtisse se distingue par ses dimensions et son toit crénelé. Il s’agit de la Majorie. Le bâtiment a été utilisé dès 1668 comme maison forte pour le major de l'époque, avec salle d'audience, prison et salle de torture. On y gardait les condamnés à mort avant de les emmener sur la place des potences vers la chapelle Saint-Sébastien, à la sortie du village.Village Basse-Nendaz été 2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Village Basse-Nendaz 2018 (Inès Bonvin)Basse-Nendaz printemps 2014 (Etienne Bornet)Basse-Nendaz village hiver 2012 (Arnaud Delhez)Basse-Nendaz hiver village 2015 (Etienne Bornet)1007.0760498047The church of Basse-NendazThe original chapel, the oldest part of the building, now serves as a crypt. It is located in the basement of the present-day church. It was built at the end of the 9th and beginning of the 10th century. It was buried under the rubble of subsequent buildings for centuries, but fortunately its remains were discovered during the reconstruction in 1967.
The most important transformations took place between 1882 and 1885 and gave the building its present form. Old photographs show that the bell tower was located in a corner of the building. It was rebuilt and heightened in 1913.
The most recent work carried out on the church dates back to 2003. Some modifications were made, in particular the rehabilitation of the two side openings in the nave of the choir.
The patron saint of the church of Basse-Nendaz is Saint-Léger.Eglise Basse-Nendaz été 2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Visite du village été 2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Visite du village église été 2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Eglise Basse-Nendaz été village 2014 (Etienne Bornet)Eglise Basse-Nendaz hiver village 2015 (Etienne Bornet)Basse-Nendaz village hiver 2012 (Arnaud Delhez)989.65802001953BeusonNestled in the hollow of the Nendaz valley, this charming village is renowned for its illuminations in the run-up to the end of the year. Every winter, Beuson is transformed into a fairytale setting. The inhabitants install lights on the roofs of their houses, the chapel and on the bridge for an amazingly magical effect.
There was a time when Beuson was the industrial centre of the municipality. During the 18th and 19th centuries, this village was as populated as Basse-Nendaz, the main town of the area. The proximity of the Printse river was a real asset because the hydraulic power was the only one capable of running the industry of the time (flour mill, sawmill and tannery).
Beuson is also a starting point for your hikes. From the heights of this village, the bisse de Salins departs, dating back to 1435 and thus being one of the oldest bisses in the region. An impressive metal footbridge overhangs the river Ogeintse for a very aerial passage..Village Beuson automne 2017 (Inès Bonvin)Beuson village 2017 (Florian Guntern)Village Beuson Nuit 2015 (Etienne Bornet)Village Beuson 2015 (Arnaud Delhez)881.66766357422BrignonIn the Middle Ages, a watchtower stood on the hillock on the present site of the Brignon castle restaurant. Peter II of Savoy, who had authority over the Nendaz region at the time and was in conflict with the Bishop of Sion, decided in 1261 to build a dungeon there to protect the land on the right bank of the Printse. The strategic location made it possible to keep an eye on the valley and to communicate by signals with the Tour de Conthey in the Rhone Valley. The castle was demolished only a few years after its construction for financial reasons. Its ruins can still be seen today.
In the first part of the 20th century, the first hotel in the municipality was built on the ruins of the old tower.
If you are in the area, stop at the Brignon dairy for some tasty cheese and other local products.
In Brignon, at the very bottom of the village, you can also find the start of the Bisse de Baar. To access it, you must pass through the cowshed where you can say 'hi' to its residents.Village Brignon 2018 (Florian Guntern)Brignon chapelle 2003 (Yvette Martignoni)Brignon printemps 2014 (Etienne Bornet)731.47680664062BaarBaar is divided into two parts: Baar at the top end and Plan-Baar on the plateau below.
The numerous apricot orchards in this village are still watered by the Bisse de Baar. The latter has its source below the castle of Brignon and also irrigates the regions of Pravidondaz and Turin (in the municipality of Sion). It was built before 1456.
Since 2009, the village has hosted its annual Carnival festivities with a parade and fancy dress competition, thanks to the CarnaBaar organizing committee.
During summer, there is a fruit stand between Baar and Brignon where you can buy the legendary Baar apricots.Baar village 2020 (Florian Guntern)Village Baar 2018 (Florian Guntern)1342.69934082031341.99194335941333.8847656251329.67456054691332.98510742191334.75720214841345.22351074221350.99438476561356.65856933591359.28747558591351.64758300781350.10949707031311.27844238281311.65283203121275.44299316411281.89904785161283.36718751271.11389160161269.97351074221266.62915039061265.63415527341259.34277343751240.03845214841233.99475097661222.23645019531212.33544921881205.11572265621197.17431640621191.77661132811188.03308105471169.58703613281163.22338867191160.39123535161153.04748535161129.97204589841122.09436035161113.11279296881102.05212402341091.01379394531074.51232910161061.64624023441037.78881835941030.64196777341010.11309814451010.46746826171003.7250366211994.04827880859989.52008056641988.96173095703980.45318603516971.42254638672967.45080566406965.80377197266956.03216552734936.80889892578934.1181640625936.14202880859946.74108886719948.30682373047948.47161865234957.50207519531953.93768310547952.04724121094947.86993408203949.39282226562945.15936279297940.35064697266924.58160400391922.51379394531924.99298095703924.37292480469924.77716064453922.76928710938894.53918457031890.69598388672887.59295654297895.7236328125897.69354248047903.13812255859906.14501953125910.14959716797909.62261962891906.75030517578895.09619140625888.58117675781882.85589599609865.95056152344859.02893066406826.38330078125813.48272705078808.41497802734795.25677490234832.41418457031834.54852294922817.2744140625813.81781005859823.85809326172857.39031982422869.91180419922853.93951416016843.5888671875803.92700195312803.95629882812786.54052734375784.1337890625769.68664550781767.24725341797759.04626464844737.37396240234716.89178466797712.61199951172708.13861083984691.19543457031686.48352050781680.76312255859675.78918457031671.52819824219674.69659423828676.35766601562664.25042724609649.69671630859645.26928710938644.43688964844644.42633056641630.66613769531628.25311279297629.26635742188610.03900146484613.40325927734576.06097412109567.86773681641566.63647460938547.24835205078534.310546875522.37854003906508.19845581055504.46347045898499.96234130859498.27108764648493.46615600586490.98306274414492.2932434082