Photo Essay: In the Land of Bisses

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Walking along Bisse Vieux

I know I've been missing in action for the last couple of days, but I promise to make up for it. After all, during this time, I've been discovering some more corners of Switzerland, that I can't wait to share with you. Given that I missed out last week's Photo Essay, I decided to start the week with a walk through the land of bisses. 

What are bisses anyway?

To put it simple, Bisses are old water channels that are used for cultivation. These channels were built to fight the drought that farmer's in Valais are exposed to during summer time. By carving out water paths, farmers collect water from rivers ( mainly La Printse) and artificially divert it to their crops. 

I was surprised to find out that particularly this region - Nendaz - is one of Switzerland's most important raspberry and apricot plantations. When driving up to Haute-Nendaz during spring, we were surrounded by beautiful flowering apricot trees all over the valley.

Walking the Bisse Vieux 

Although there are several hike along different bisses in the region, we decided to explore the Bisse Vieux, one of the oldest channels, built around 1658.

The path next to Bisse Vieux, Nendaz

We found frozen water along the walk!

Unusual rock formations covered in moss

On our way back 

This walk goes for 7 kms starting in Nendaz up to Planchouet. We didn't walk the whole way, because we weren't really prepared for it - it was already late in the afternoon and, as we went by car, we would have had to walk back another 7kms in the dark. However, what I saw (about 3 to 4 out of the 7 kms) were beautiful. Its an easy hike for any age, since the height difference is of 100m along the full trail. 

Its views are spectacular - on a relatively clear afternoon, we could see the whole valley!

Views from the walk

The views as well as the hike is probably even more spectacular during late spring, when the fields are greener and more water flows through the bisse vieux. But I was impatient - couldn't wait for another month!

Facts on Bisses in Canton Valais

1. The water that flows through the bisse vieux has its source in the glaciers Grand-Désert and Tortin. 
2. The oldest bisse of this community - Nendaz - is Bisse de Salins, which was built in 1435 and is still regularly used to irrigate the crops of the region. 
3. In case 7 kms walking aren't enough, there are another 750 kms of walks along  200 bisses in the canton Valais. 
4. Valais is part french-speaking and part german-speaking. Therefore, whereas in the french side these channels are called bisses, the german-speakers call them Suonen. 
5. Valais' longest bisse is a hike of 32 kms that goes through 100 year old larches. 

How was your weekend? Did you find something new in your area?