In the footsteps of the 'Déserteur'Charles Frédéric Brun, nicknamed the 'Déserteur', arrived in Nendaz in the middle of the 19th century. With his colourful paintings, he brought some cheerfulness to the rural houses with their low ceilings and tiny windows. In return, the villagers offered him a bowl of soup and a crust of bread. He lived as a homeless man in fear of the police, remaining hidden between Nendaz and the Val d'Hérens until his death in 1871.
To keep his memory alive, the 'Déserteur' trail recounts his life and work on a loop through the old quarters of the villages of Haute-Nendaz, Basse-Nendaz and Saclentse.
The trail 'In the Footsteps of the 'Déserteur'', accessible all year round, follows the village tour hike itinerary.Sur les pas du Déserteur été 2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Visite du village église été 2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Visite du village été 2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Chapelle St-Michel été 2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Chapelle St-Michel été 2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Chapelle St-Michel 2018 (Etienne Bornet)Sur_les_pas_du_Déserteur_raccard_été_2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Eglise Basse-Nendaz hiver village 2015 (Etienne Bornet)Chapelle_St-Michel_hiver_2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)1328.2054443359Nendaz TourismeTourist information on the resort and the region, entertainment programme, brochures, activities to do, information of all kinds, the staff at Nendaz Tourism are delighted to welcome you and provide you with expert advice in order to ensure that your stay is an unforgettable experience !Office du tourisme hiver 2021 (Elodie Moos)Navette Nendaz Siviez Ete OTN 2020 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Navette Nendaz Siviez Été 2020 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)1255.3305664062Haute-Nendaz VillageThe old village, located just below the main holiday resort, still contains a number of ancient barns and outbuildings. Nestled on the edge of what was once the main street is the Chapel of St Michel. It was built in 1499. It was rebuilt and restored several times, but almost disappeared in the 1960s. A neighbour proposed to buy it to turn it into a pigsty, but thanks to the Service des Monuments Historiques du Canton du Valais, it was saved. The building, as it appears today, dates back to the 18th century. The interior decoration is the work of the painter Charles Frédéric Brun, better known as the 'Déserteur'.
Haute-Nendaz also has its own church. In 1943, the population, tired of going all the way to Basse-Nendaz on Sunday and on every special occasion for mass, decided to build their own church. It took them no less than ten years to complete their project. All the inhabitants of the village participated in the construction during their free time and sometimes even on Sundays. The first services were held in a building without a roof or windows, in winter and summer. Numerous problems delayed the building work, such as army recruitment and the construction of the dams.
In Haute-Nendaz Village, the Maison de la culture (House of Culture), called "Le Nînd'Art" can be found, a 190m2 space dedicated to the culture and heritage of Nendaz. The Nînd'Art proposes throughout the year several exhibitions and activities. A whole collection of photos, videos and testimonies are also presented to the public in a multimedia room.Haute-Nendaz hiver panorama 2017 (Laetitia Scarascia)Vieux village Nendaz grange hiver 2015 (Etienne Bornet)Vieux village Nendaz hiver 2015 (Etienne Bornet)Haute-Nendaz Village Chapelle 2018 (Etienne Bornet)Haute-Nendaz Village Centre 2014 (Yasmine Gaudin)Haute-Nendaz Village Vue 2018 (Etienne Bornet)1250.0960693359St-Michel ChapelNow renovated and maintained, St. Michel Chapel has had its ups and downs over the course of its existence. It was built in 1499 as an engraved wooden panel that can be seen on the left of the nave and which was discovered during a renovation proves. Several times rebuilt and renovated, this chapel almost disappeared in the 1960s. Some inhabitants wanted to demolish it, a neighbour even offered to buy it to turn it into a pigsty. Thanks to the intervention of the Historical Monuments Service of the Canton of Valais and the efforts of some courageous citizens, St. Michael's Chapel was saved.
The building in its present state, in Baroque style, is said to date back to the 18th century. The interior decoration is the work of the painter Charles Frédéric Brun, better known in the region as Le Déserteur. Between 1850 and 1860, the artist painted on the walls of the chapel the various biblical figures as well as the great Christ hanging from the iron bar above the altar. For his work, the Deserter was certainly inspired by the images of the Epiphany.Chapelle St-Michel été 2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Chapelle St-Michel été 2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Chapelle St-Michel hiver village 2015 (Etienne Bornet)Chapelle_St-Michel_hiver_2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Chapelle_St-Michel_été_arrière_2019 (Etienne Bornet)Chapelle St-Michel 2018 (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)Eglise Basse-Nendaz été village 2014 (Etienne Bornet)Eglise Basse-Nendaz hiver village 2015 (Etienne Bornet)Basse-Nendaz village hiver 2012 (Arnaud Delhez)Visite du village église été 2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)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)1327.59106445311325.24877929691319.90319824221311.59326171881310.32751464841309.62353515621304.64941406251302.84350585941274.88586425781249.44775390621243.44165039061239.89587402341190.21472167971184.72875976561166.92199707031145.34875488281138.23498535161117.27551269531104.11950683591075.29394531251056.54748535161025.6171875994.67071533203995.527282714841006.61517333981009.36877441411028.47521972661065.49572753911073.95043945311094.917968751112.64831542971129.97143554691149.97741699221160.35791015621163.31604003911169.13708496091187.04919433591191.34460449221196.96423339841212.56384277341216.31933593751220.93847656251223.81213378911233.18530273441240.95007324221259.38024902341268.57885742191265.19287109381270.16784667971271.89477539061283.2988281251289.55749511721283.29919433591281.28332519531278.22473144531296.31384277341274.55334472661265.94396972661274.61315917971277.1191406251284.44262695311305.69738769531316.29211425781323.33886718751326.39782714841327.2442626953