Surrounded by peaks over 3,000 metres high, this village is situated where the Arolla and Ferpècle valleys meet to form the Val d’Hérens. Located 3.5 km upstream from Evolène, the village is less well known than Evolène, but it is just as charming.

It is an excellent starting point for exploring the picturesque valleys of Ferpècle and Arolla, which wind their way up towards the glaciers. From certain spots in the village, you can see the Dent Blanche in the distance, which rises to an altitude of 4,358 metres.

Les Haudères is part of the municipality of Evolène, where many traditions are still alive, including the local language, ‘Evolène patois’, which remains the main language of some older people but is also taught in schools and embraced by young people.

It is one of the few places in French-speaking Switzerland where a variant of Franco-Provençal (or Arpitan) is still spoken, a language that has disappeared everywhere except in a few regions of the cantons of Valais and Fribourg.

The ‘Hérens Aréna’ amphitheatre is situated in Les Haudères, where the famous ‘combats de reines’ (‘queens fights’) take place in the spring – a time-honoured Valais tradition featuring ‘queens’, cows of the Hérens breed whose natural aggression is showcased in spectacular fights.

Useful links

Swiss Canton of Valais - Wikipedia