| Short stroll in Pralong, the last hamlet before the Grande-Dixence dam (30 panoramas) |  |
| Let's face it, there isn't much to see in Pralong, but its hotel-restaurant-campsite is a little piece of paradise at the end of the world. The Grande-Dixence dam is just a few kilometres away, but as it is inaccessible in winter, this is where the road ends from November to May. As soon as the first snow falls, Pralong becomes a mini winter sports resort popular with cross-country skiers and snowshoers. |
| The pretty village where Val d´Hérens splits into Vallon de Ferpècle and Val d´Arolla (76 panoramas) | |
| Far less touristy than Evolène, the village of Les Haudères is a place to explore at your own pace, far from the crowds. You’ll find plenty of very old chalets here, often beautifully restored, as well as smaller, more recent houses, all built in keeping with the local architectural style. There’s no rampant urban development here; respect for tradition remains the order of the day. |
| A famous but tiny destination at the foot of the glaciers (44 panoramas) | |
| This little square is the terminus of the 381 post bus route, which departs from Sion and serves the Val d’Hérens via Vex, Euseigne, Evolène and Les Haudères. It is the heart of Arolla: a post office that also serves as a tourist information centre, a hotel with a café-restaurant, and a small grocery shop. A little further on, the Route de l’Evêque leads to another hotel, and you’ve already seen the whole of the hamlet! |
| A long stroll in Hérémence, one of the most surprising villages in Valais (87 panoramas) | |
| The village offers one of the most striking contrasts in Valais, with its monumental brutalist complex centred around Saint-Nicolas Church, surrounded by well-preserved traditional buildings. Architectural masterpiece or heresy? Everyone makes up their own opinion, but no one can remain indifferent. |
| A stroll through Vex, gateway to the Val d´Hérens (67 panoramas) | |
| We are now at the village's main square. The main road continues towards the Pyramids of Euseigne and the village of Evolène, while a secondary road on the right leads to Hérémence and the Grande-Dixence dam. Before going any further, take the time to explore Vex: head down towards the Fond Villa "raccards" (old barns) (left arrow, but on the right on the satellite map) and be sure to climb up to the new Saint-Sylve church (right arrow). |
| Some views of the famous Pyramids of Euseigne (24 panoramas) | |
| The village of Euseigne is famous for its ‘pyramids’, also known as ‘demoiselles coiffées’ (hooded ladies) or ‘cheminées des fées’ (fairy chimneys). These cone-shaped rock formations are 10 to 15 metres high, and some are crowned with a block of stone weighing up to 20 tonnes. Until recently, the main road in Val d'Hérens passed through a small tunnel under these pyramids. Since the opening of a new tunnel in October 2023, the site has been returned to pedestrians. |
| Stroll in Mâche, a traditional village on the road to the Grande-Dixence dam (41 panoramas) | |
| This ‘Main Road’ (as Google Maps names it) does not pass through the centre of the village. To discover the richness of its built heritage, take the time to stop and stroll around on foot. At the Hérémence Tourist Office, 3 km downhill, you can pick up a map of an educational trail, but you can of course just wander around and let inspiration guide you. |
| A grand virtual stroll through Evolène, one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland (69 panoramas) | |
| Evolène is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland, and one cannot help but admire the architecture of the place and the tasteful renovations. |
| Stroll at the foot and summit of the Grande-Dixence dam (57 panoramas) | |
| This concrete wall is 285 metres high, a few metres taller than the top floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. With a thickness of nearly 200 metres at its base, it weighs some 15 million metric tonnes, three times more than the Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt. It holds back an artificial lake over 5 kilometres long and is still the largest gravity dam in the world, three quarters of a century after its construction. |
| A stroll along the Borgne, the torrent that flows down the Val d´Hérens (58 panoramas) | |
| In some places you have great views of the river. Our shots were taken in July, well after the snow had melted, the Borgne is not very impressive but beware, a storm can suddenly make it grow and become dangerous! |
