Hike Bisse de SaxonPour rejoindre le bisse de Saxon, empruntez la petite route qui monte en face du restaurant "Les Bergers" à Siviez.
Suivez-la quelques minutes puis bifurquez à droite sur le bisse de Saxon. Vous voici sur le plus long bisse du Valais ! Au cœur de la forêt, découvrez la cabane du Bourlâ où, autrefois, les gardiens du bisse veillaient à son bon fonctionnement.
Poursuivez votre périple jusqu’au mystérieux ’’ Lapey de Dzarjonne’’, soit le pierrier de Pierrier de Dzerjonna. D’où viennent toutes ces pierres ? Quel mystère plane sur ce lieu ? Un panneau informatif vous permet d’en apprendre plus sur une légende nendette autour de ce site. Profitez-en également pour retenir quelques mots du patois de Nendaz !
Poursuivez ensuite votre chemin jusqu’à la magnifique clairière de Pra da Dzeu et sa splendie vue sur les Alpes bernoises.
De là, quittez le bisse et entamez votre descente en suivant le chemin passant à côté de la charmante Gouille d’Ouché puis continuez jusqu’à Haute-Nendaz.Bisse de Saxon automne Etienne 2020 (Etienne Bornet)Pra Da Dzeu Balade Bisse Saxon Automne 2020 (Etienne Bornet)Bisse de Saxon ponton 2019 (Elodie Moos)Bisse de Saxon famille 2014 (Arolle)Gouille d'Ouché_vue_Jean Cingria_2016 (Jean Cingria)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)1733.8332519531Restaurant Les BergersLocated at the entrance to Siviez, the restaurant Les Bergers, with its alpine atmosphere, promises a journey into the authenticity of the Valais. On the menu: open hearth grills, cheese dishes and other local specialities. In this establishment, local products and hospitality are essential.
In both summer and winter, you can also enjoy your meal on the beautiful sun drenched terrace.Assiette_valaisanne_2015 (Saifuddin Ismailji)Restaurant Les Bergers plat hiver 2023 (Elodie Moos)Restaurant_Les_Bergers_repas_terrasse_hiver_2020 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Restaurant_Les_Bergers_terrasse_été (Les Bergers)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)1763.3087158203Pra Da DzeuPra da Dzeu is a dialect name which means "the meadow in the forest". This idyllic and magical place, located in the region of Isérables, brings calm and serenity in an unspoiled natural setting. Throughout the year, this surprisingly large expanse of land on the edge of the forest is the perfect place for a picnic or a well deserved break in the sun !
The Pra Da Dzeu pasture is located in a large clearing and has been used for centuries as summer grazing for the cattle from Nendaz and Isérables. The Bisse de Saxon, situated a few metres above this meadow, provided water for the cattle.
Every year, on the main plateau, a shallow natural pond is formed when the snow melts.Ski de randonnée Pause Pra Da Dzeu 2019 (Etienne Bornet)Pra da Dzeu hiver Elodie Moos 2020 (Elodie Moos)Pra da Dzeu hiver barrières Elodie Moos 2020 (Elodie Moos)Pra Da Dzeu VTT Été 2020 (Raphaël Surmont)Pra Da Dzeu Pause Automne Pause Jeunes_2020 (Etienne Bornet)Pra Da Dzeu Balade Bisse Saxon Automne 2020 (Etienne Bornet)Pra Da Dzeu Balade Bisse Saxon Automne 2020 (Etienne Bornet)Pra Da Dzeu Raquettes Hiver 2020 (Elodie Moos)1521.5815429688Rairettes ChapelThe Rairettes Chapel is one of the three mayen (mid mountain pastures) chapels along with those of Le Bleusy and Planchouet.
From the 1920s onwards, some inhabitants of Sion seeking tranquillity and wishing to escape the summer heat of the valley built the first chalets in the Rairettes region. Together with a few people from Nendaz who owned mid-mountain grazing, they decided to build a chapel in order to avoid travelling to Basse-Nendaz for Sunday mass.
There is an anecdote about the chapel bell. It should be known that at the time of the construction of the chapel of Les Rairettes, the Saint-Michel chapel in Haute-Nendaz had not been restored and had been left in a state of neglect. The parish priest in place at the time donated the bell "la Metzotte" dating from 1642 to the construction committee of Les Rairettes. After the renovation of the village chapel, the Metzotte returned to its original location. On the new bell in the Rairettes chapel is the following inscription:
"After the Metzotte which now chimes on the restored chapel, I sing the glory of Notre-Dame and the faith of her children - Assumption 1964".Chapelle des Rairettes hiver promeneurs 2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Chapelle_des_Rairettes_hiver_2021 (Florian Bouvet-Fournier)Chapelle des Rairettes clocher 2016 (Yvette Martignoni)Chapelle Rairettes 2014 (Etienne Bornet)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)1731.03784179691730.14208984381731.54248046881733.87646484381738.73498535161745.80395507811767.00915527341780.39990234381787.63610839841795.38562011721813.59045410161825.37573242191814.66833496091810.13610839841815.66223144531812.32690429691809.714843751818.89160156251822.73400878911835.67089843751838.53527832031827.12719726561809.13940429691827.17089843751821.46691894531831.42321777341830.17285156251841.04711914061831.77880859381826.89697265621825.65295410161829.06689453121822.46496582031819.92211914061822.62719726561820.17907714841818.58032226561828.17297363281820.1035156251824.6933593751818.46923828121823.6464843751819.67541503911823.85363769531813.90649414061826.9160156251820.52685546881805.24377441411804.06579589841803.36450195311802.93212890621802.8847656251814.40893554691814.93725585941818.94958496091803.84680175781795.67443847661799.45874023441808.51293945311801.77478027341809.68481445311808.42456054691803.95922851561804.36474609381823.73596191411818.92834472661812.45239257811791.20214843751799.2324218751807.77429199221811.04272460941805.72009277341789.22570800781788.44836425781803.57873535161798.97631835941806.63549804691798.15869140621796.32373046881801.75695800781795.62951660161808.75878906251777.33691406251777.17077636721796.58825683591800.2910156251804.07116699221795.13793945311782.11389160161789.33874511721799.183593751793.06274414061774.71166992191767.60522460941757.01147460941751.6386718751741.38635253911735.50744628911726.81188964841725.90527343751713.87182617191723.02429199221710.8751663.07385253911648.31848144531624.13232421881632.76733398441601.88745117191587.18859863281576.08227539061563.33618164061556.19946289061548.566406251528.79846191411504.5605468751484.26000976561450.90161132811446.41125488281429.92126464841397.23791503911390.0449218751389.68444824221383.11804199221368.07727050781367.19897460941350.53137207031339.52990722661335.93066406251333.53857421881327.64953613281329.4339599609