Hike Tour des Mayens - VeysonnazThe departure of this hike is in front of Veysonnaz Tourisme. The footpath begins after the parking spaces along the route de l'Ours, on the right as you go up the road. The walk takes you pleasantly through the forest. You then return through the 'mayens' via Les Combes to the picturesque hamlet of Verrey. The tour continues on to the Ogeintze torrent, crosses it and then descends to the Bisse de Vex, which brings you back to the Veysonnaz gondola departure station.
What is a mayen? It is the Valais inhabitants' summer residence. In the past, families accompanied their cattle there after the winter and generally went to the mayens in May, hence the origin of the word.Verrey_automne_2013 (Anne_Fournier)Mayens_Veysonnaz_vue_Nendaz_2013 (Aline_Fournier)Mayens_Veysonnaz_Le Réê avec panneau_printemps 2020 (Veysonnaz)Mayens_Veysonnaz_Le Réê_printemps 2020 (Veysonnaz)1231.1627197266VeysonnazWinter in Veysonnaz: The ski resort is located at the gateway to the largest ski domain in Switzerland, the 4 Vallées. This white wonderland stretches over 400 km of ski slopes of all levels. Snow is guaranteed right down to the foot of the slopes with over 200 artificial snow making devices.
Linking Veysonnaz, Thyon, Nendaz and Verbier via Mont Fort on skis is no longer just a pipe dream, it's a reality at last! Sheer pleasure on a variety of slopes, for example a descent on the legendary Piste de l'Ours, known for its 30 World Cup ski races and always appreciated by competitors, with the Skicross and Snowboard Cross World Cup.
Spring in Veysonnaz: a quieter season for tourists, between the melting snow and the awakening of the surrounding nature. The village lives to the rhythm of the traditional festivals, the farmers bring out their livestock and the schoolchildren are ready to finish their school year, which means a new stage in their lives is about to begin. The beginning of summer is launched at the end of June when the cattle return to the mountain pastures and school closes for the summer holidays.
Summer in Veysonnaz: this little spot of paradise invites you to explore and respect the nature that surrounds you through its various outdoor activities. Getting a little closer to nature means a return to your roots along the many bisses and marked footpaths. Relaxation and self-awareness are also promoted while enjoying our forests.
Mountain bikers can enjoy their favourite sport on a variety of tracks of different levels with the possibility of using the ski lifts for the more demanding uphill sections.
Families are welcome, thanks to our flagship Sun&Fun entertainment and outdoor activities programme, as well as numerous excursions.
Summer is, of course, a time to relax and watch the sunset while enjoying a fun time with friends.
Autumn in Veysonnaz is a time for walks, extraordinary colours and fine food. Brisolée and game specialities are the typical dishes of the season. Often mild summer weather is still present in October, while the tourist world is busy preparing for the approaching winter, as is the local wildlife, which is also getting ready for winter. Everything will be ready, but let's enjoy every last ray of sunshine.
This is how the year passes in this small village in the Valais, through each changing season. Welcome to the village!Eglise_veysonnaz (Veysonnaz_Tourisme)Chalet fleuri_Veysonnaz La Golette_été (Aline_Fournier)Poudreuse-jeunes-groupe_Greppon_hiver 2018 (webevolutions)Rando couple_crête de Poé_été (Aline_Fournier)vue_aerienne_veysonnaz_profil_nendaz_été 2011 (Aline_Fournier)Eglise avec fleurs et panorama_Veysonnaz_printemps 2019 (Veysonnaz_Tourisme)Piste_de_l_ours_aerienne_2012 (Aline_Fournier)1471.7855224609Restaurant Ô CaboulisImagine a small wooden chalet, nestled comfortably on the edge of the forest, basking in the last rays of the sun.
It would be a dream come true to own such a gem. The restaurant Les Caboulis invites you to enjoy an exceptional moment in this authentic mountain setting.
In winter, as you hurtle down the Mayens ski slope, it is impossible to resist a short stop at Les Caboulis. In fact, why would you want to resist?Restaurant_Les_Caboulis_extérieur_avec_vue_2011 (Les Caboulis)Restaurant_Les_Caboulis_ext_hiver_neige_2015 (Les Caboulis)Restaurant_Les_Caboulis_extérieur_été_ânes_2011 (Les Caboulis)1442.1076660156VerreyPerched on the sunny mountainside overlooking the villages of Clèbes and Beuson, you can find the sleepy hamlet of Verrey. It presents an interesting architectural entity, representative of the traditional Valaisan village with its wooden and stone houses, its barns, stables and granaries. The houses were grouped together to preserve a maximum amount of land for agriculture. The cereal fields and meadows benefiting from maximum sunshine were highly sought after.
Even today, around the houses scorched by the sun, cows, goats, horses and sheep graze on ancient cereal fields.
The Ermitage guest house and restaurant, a completely renovated building dating back to 1823, offers you the opportunity to spend a night or to taste local products in an incredible out-of-time setting.Verrey Village 2018 (Etienne Bornet)Verrey Automne 2018 (Florian Guntern)1435.3659667969La Cab'Anne CaféThe hamlet of Verrey, with its large centuries-old wooden buildings and its breathtaking view, leaves no visitor indifferent.
With such a setting, it is easy to plunge into a past, not so far away and yet so different from today's hectic lives. Don't be surprised if you encounter a goat or sheep, a cow or a donkey as you pass by a barn.
Anne, one of the last inhabitants of the hamlet who still lives here, welcomes you with pleasure and gladly shares her little piece of paradise with an anecdote or a piece of homemade pie.
During the summer, she proposes a small but mouth-watering menu where local products are honoured: crêpes, steak tartare, cheese fondue, craft beers, local wine, craft ice creams, etc...
If you book in the evening, you can also enjoy a raclette while admiring the magnificent sunset.
The café also sells products from the Vernettaz farm, located just a few hundred metres away: cheese, serac, sausages, etc.Cabane_café_Verrey_arbre_premier_plan_2013 (Anne_Fournier)Cab'Anne café_terrasse_Verrey_été Cab'Anne café_fourneau intérieur_Verrey Verrey_automne_2013 (Anne_Fournier)Cabane café_irish session_Verrey_été Verrey_vue sur la vallée_été_2018 (Veysonnaz_Tourisme)Cab'Anne café_terrasse avec monde_Verrey_été 1366.5284423828Bisse de VexThe Bisse de Vex takes its source in the Printse river at 1500 metres above sea level in the picturesque hamlet of Planchouet. Through wooden troughs, underground passages or channels dug into the ground, the water flows peacefully over a distance of 12 kilometres to Les Mayens-de-Sion. It first waters the mid-mountain pastures and then runs through the forest for several kilometres before emerging into the dry meadows above the hamlet of Clèbes. The bisse then passes through the charming village of Veysonnaz and continues through the forest to Les Mayens-de-Sion.
In 1453 the inhabitants of Vex, needing water to irrigate their fields, applied to Nendaz, at that time under the control of the Duke of Savoy, to obtain permission to collect water from the Printse by building a canal to bring it to Vex. An agreement was signed under the condition that the inhabitants of Vex would deliver each year, instead of those of Nendaz, a wooden beam of Larch to the town of Sion for the maintenance of the bridge over the River Rhone. Original documents dating back to 1453 and 1476 are deposited in the archives of both municipalities.
With the decline in farming and the introduction of more modern watering systems, the bisse fell into disuse and was abandoned in 1971. Thanks to the initiative committee for the reconstruction of the Bisse de Vex whose members were from Nendaz, the bisse was put back in water on September 30th 2000. Today it is one of the most beautiful bisses in the Valais and a magnificent family walk.
In winter the bisse is open between Veysonnaz and les Mayens-de-Sion and between Veysonnaz and Verrey, the rest of the path is closed due to the danger of avalanches.Chapelle de Planchouet extérieur été 2022 (Florian Bouvet)Bisse_de_Vex_Planchouet_pont_en_bois_vue_Nendaz_2018 (Veysonnaz_Tourisme)Bisse de Vex été 2022 (Florian Bouvet)Bisse_de_Vex_mayens_de_Sion_enneigé_2021 (Veysonnaz_Tourisme)Bisse_de_Vex_Mayens_de_Sion_2017 (Veysonnaz_Tourisme)Bisse_de_Vex_Planchouet_pont_en_bois_luminosité_automne_2017 (Veysonnaz_Tourisme)Bisse_de_Vex_Planchouet_2013 (Aline_Fournier)1381.9079589844Botza picnic areaThe picnic area, which is located 50 metres from the Veysonnaz gondola departure station, is a very pleasant place for a well deserved break. Situated in the shade of the forest, the temperature is pleasant, especially in summer. The site has four picnic tables (one of which is sheltered), three fireplaces, several benches and a fountain with drinking water. The ground is covered with wood chips. There is a play area for children just below.enfants_course_botza_picnic_abri_table_effet_2021 (LINDAPHOTO.ch)enfants_bassin_botza_vue_alpes_forêt_effet_2021 (LINDAPHOTO.ch)Pique_nique_botza_table_couverte_2018 (Veysonnaz_Tourisme)1357.41418457031383.82385253911406.18774414061446.08276367191445.74572753911471.47973632811457.60852050781467.22253417971477.91149902341506.87341308591513.83764648441521.06945800781548.66613769531567.35375976561598.16687011721616.25329589841635.27136230471635.21118164061633.75524902341634.03637695311658.01550292971635.62976074221603.66394042971597.77770996091578.76342773441535.46044921881533.72338867191512.42309570311499.65600585941476.92004394531471.85693359381464.05541992191443.11413574221450.97900390621449.73217773441453.19250488281461.54223632811476.89660644531466.61474609381469.70227050781472.65563964841473.17370605471494.97985839841485.72009277341467.56689453121435.332031251445.22033691411411.92504882811406.09191894531405.54113769531423.05444335941433.77416992191422.80114746091401.15588378911401.16235351561405.50769042971395.27319335941394.08593751388.86877441411377.95104980471378.50756835941386.24658203121371.43298339841371.14294433591381.19628906251373.99047851561368.93420410161368.66174316411367.86853027341369.03063964841367.40185546881368.77392578121364.21252441411366.69360351561370.30834960941375.55761718751356.4925537109