Road cycling route Col de la Croix de CœurAu départ d’Aproz, la route prend tout d’abord la direction du village de Fey avant de rejoindre, après un passage relativement pentu, la route principale à Basse-Nendaz. L'itinéraire bifurque ensuite sur un tracé peu fréquenté menant à Saclentse.
Prenez ensuite à droite en direction de Haute-Nendaz et traversez le cœur de la station avant de plonger en direction d’Isérables sur une route sinueuse qui surplombe la vallée. Une soudaine bifurcation sur la gauche vous fait traverser un pont en bois et vous amène à une section non asphaltée et pentue qui permet d’atteindre La Tzoumaz.
À la sortie du village, la route serpente à travers la forêt, puis dans les pâturages, jusqu’au sommet du col situé à 2'173 mètres d’altitude. La dernière partie se déroule sur une route en gravier compacté.Vélo de route Col de la Croix de Coeur été 2018 (Office du tourisme La Tzoumaz)Vélo de route Col de la Croix de Coeur panorama été 2018 (Office du tourisme La Tzoumaz)Village Saclentse Chapelle 2018 (Inès Bonvin)Village Aproz 2018 (Inès Bonvin)484.64343261719AprozIn Aproz, every year in May, the cows of the Hérens breed compete in the Pra-Bardi arena at the National Cow Fighting Final.
Aproz is also well known for its water. Founded in 1947, Aproz Sources Minérales SA is the largest mineral water bottling company in Switzerland and the market leader for the production of syrups in the whole country. Without knowing it, you have certainly already tasted Aproz water !Village Aproz 2018 (Inès Bonvin)Aproz plaine 2017 (Inès Bonvin)Aproz église 2003 (Yvette Martignoni)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)Old village of Haute-Nendaz (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)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)500.20568847656Café de la CoopérativeAbout 15 minutes by car from Haute-Nendaz, the Café Coopérative awaits you for memorable evenings in both music and food. Theme evenings are offered occasionally.Café_croissant_2018 (Unsplash, Markus Clemens)Restaurant_choucroute_2014 (Kalhh)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)803.76165771484FeyFey is located on the main road between Aproz and Basse-Nendaz.
The village is crossed by several small mountain brooks, the most important of which is the torrent of the Bisse Vieux, which irrigates the apricot orchards.
In summer there is a fruit stand where you can buy apricots, liqueurs and juice directly from the producer.Village Fey 2018 (Inès Bonvin)Fey 2020 (Florian Guntern)Fey 2017 (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)984.27569580078St-Sébastien ChapelThere are no historical documents to date the construction of the building precisely. However, a deed dated March 1555 mentions a donation of three florins and two altar cloths for the restoration of certain religious buildings in the area, including the Saint-Sébastien Chapel.
At that time, Nendaz was subject to the Seven Dizains of the Upper Valais and dependent on the governing body of St-Maurice in the Lower Valais. This perhaps explains the choice of St. Sebastian as patron saint. The latter was a contemporary of St. Maurice, leader of the Theban legion massacred by Emperor Diocletian, persecutor of the early Christians. In 288, St. Sebastian, a Roman centurion who converted to Christianity, was pierced with arrows and miraculously healed. Since then, he is beseeched against evil curses and the plague.
Nendaz, like the rest of Europe, fell victim to the plague on several occasions, which decimated the population. These epidemics can be seen as another reason for choosing St-Sebastian as a protector. Throughout the year numerous processions led the faithful from the church of Basse-Nendaz to the chapel.
Over the centuries, the building was probably renovated several times, especially in the years 1850 - 1860, when Charles-Frédéric Brun, known as Le Déserteur, restored a painting and painted the St. Sebastian situated below the triptych in Baroque style. More recently, in the 1970s, the hunters' association of Nendaz, Veysonnaz and Salins renovated the roof and walls. Since then, every 20 th January, they animate the service of St. Sebastian, patron saint of archers.Chapelle St-Sébastien Eté 2011 (Arnaud Delhez)Chapelle St-Sébastien été 2011 (Arnaud Delhez)Chapelle St-Sébastien hiver nuit 2011 (Arnaud Delhez)Chapelle St-Sébastien Hiver 2015 (Etienne Bornet)486.44979858398486.12564086914483.69143676758488.41833496094494.93603515625497.86328125501.53973388672507.02133178711520.70770263672520.62426757812537.06091308594535.49859619141524.56982421875537.12817382812533.01831054688551.59771728516555.86370849609567.06622314453570.10797119141580.06695556641581.07080078125596.26892089844609.42736816406616.57830810547629.99591064453638.53985595703649.05877685547672.65368652344731.09045410156718.50109863281719.22454833984729.51330566406736.90655517578741.544921875756.95233154297769.04504394531780.86004638672803.70056152344813.37384033203818.78564453125850.81292724609858.35357666016865.61083984375864.73889160156874.30334472656894.90844726562910.52935791016925.75610351562947.92138671875962.18267822266989.21331787109989.94757080078995.60321044922985.57702636719991.72235107422989.77258300781989.89190673828997.03179931641998.185058593751000.46270751951004.99835205081000.4627075195998.185058593751005.75335693361012.40008544921016.69311523441019.94616699221028.9550781251033.99926757811036.78735351561045.22985839841045.59387207031047.75561523441052.27319335941065.37805175781074.94580078121085.29577636721096.79504394531107.42285156251108.52770996091121.62121582031127.22412109381135.64733886721137.52966308591147.19226074221163.48510742191168.85266113281177.07946777341180.64880371091186.47326660161187.75537109381192.37207031251197.36669921881205.0488281251212.26086425781221.35205078121225.09594726561228.23327636721233.86035156251239.98193359381258.72143554691261.75170898441311.61853027341327.324218751341.34216308591346.43762207031347.96911621091353.31799316411367.66699218751353.86901855471351.13732910161339.49853515621329.76354980471311.38134765621350.87316894531359.02514648441359.54699707031355.87219238281359.11853027341367.60668945311373.67956542971383.13781738281391.47290039061410.3496093751467.34313964841490.86242675781493.51770019531501.48754882811500.55578613281500.61511230471478.28576660161477.74389648441466.51269531251445.67028808591436.88281251432.73693847661431.17846679691430.15173339841419.87524414061401.34423828121397.27795410161389.91430664061382.38647460941366.5781251362.68518066411356.55651855471354.15087890621350.33654785161345.95300292971345.2656251324.74792480471324.49328613281323.32409667971313.92138671881307.40698242191300.15051269531303.136718751292.27905273441299.56774902341300.12341308591304.45812988281308.74731445311312.26599121091352.43884277341348.26513671881381.83178710941384.72839355471393.08337402341394.10644531251395.84875488281408.61083984381413.48205566411434.99951171881440.36071777341434.01098632811423.30383300781430.49047851561434.98266601561450.51428222661453.48852539061469.72180175781474.15270996091488.54443359381491.27941894531499.80822753911498.30566406251493.25927734381489.45019531251493.17895507811491.13793945311491.17126464841492.84509277341489.50097656251484.1933593751481.62426757811471.68334960941486.05725097661484.29357910161489.24353027341492.07019042971502.41857910161507.38891601561517.14855957031521.57727050781532.75366210941540.49707031251550.96923828121558.86511230471568.0214843751576.95788574221585.67736816411590.54028320311598.99865722661614.45483398441629.25817871091636.06530761721642.75830078121647.73925781251658.10253906251658.69787597661663.51928710941687.9941406251700.40734863281711.71398925781721.01135253911734.00634765621733.92077636721726.40283203121728.33898925781733.9082031251741.68579101561764.9218751780.76611328121784.61547851561797.13195800781823.23071289061827.75988769531848.34204101561840.03430175781853.46777343751850.28784179691868.61840820311882.89245605471882.94604492191891.63354492191893.73083496091895.56896972661911.55017089841921.89501953121931.18811035161940.01770019531952.03576660161953.53173828121959.53491210941965.61572265621983.78881835941984.86755371091996.19995117192000.56176757812012.40490722662018.80480957032021.89855957032032.67065429692049.74096679692053.00952148442071.34399414062078.3886718752093.66137695312102.06811523442109.91528320312117.09887695312122.00146484382127.50781252133.01611328122143.29003906252151.33959960942156.88745117192162.08374023442167.83032226562175.55395507812175.6701660156