Anzère
Anzère is a sunny, south-facing mountain resort in the Swiss canton of Valais, perched at around 1,500 metres above the Rhône valley and just 20 minutes from the city of Sion. The destination spans the communes of Ayent and Arbaz, stretching from the fertile, vineyard-covered Rhône plain up to the Wildhorn summit at 3,250 metres. It is a family-friendly, medium-sized resort with a pedestrian village centre, surrounded by forests, alpine pastures and the historic irrigation channels known as bisses. Water shapes the landscape, from the Tseuzier reservoir lake to the Sionne and Liène rivers and the Wildhorn glacier. The region offers abundant nature and outdoor activities year-round, with a lively programme of events and a modest cultural scene centred on local heritage.
Summer activities
Summer in Anzère is a playground for outdoor sports. Around 166 km of marked hiking trails cross forests, vineyards, meadows and alpine pastures, including walks along the historic bisses irrigation channels and routes up to the Tseuzier reservoir lake and the Wildhorn glacier. The region is a renowned climbing destination with more than 300 routes on the Rawyl, Andins, Audannes and Arbaz crags, plus an indoor bouldering hall. Mountain bikers and road cyclists can tackle six marked VTT loops and the demanding 22 km climb from Sion to the Tseuzier dam, while trail runners have five marked routes and the annual Tour des Alpages race. Paragliding, fishing, tennis and padel, golf at nearby courses, and family attractions such as the Family Fun Park and the Insectopia exhibition round out the offer.
Winter activities
Anzère is a family ski resort with a sunny 58 km of alpine pistes (from 12 blue to 9 black runs) rising to 2,420 metres, part of the Magic Pass network and open from mid-December to early April. Two dedicated beginner areas, including the free village slope and the snow-sure La Cuvette zone, make it easy to learn. Beyond downhill skiing, the resort offers a 4.1 km cross-country trail, marked ski-touring itineraries (including night touring), 30 km of snowshoe trails, a village sledging run and the longer Rousses luge track, an ice-climbing park, an outdoor skating rink and a winter Family Fun Park.
Culture and entertainment
Anzère's cultural life is modest but rooted in local heritage. The Valaisan Museum of the Bisses in Botyre tells the story of the region's historic irrigation channels through a hands-on, family-friendly permanent exhibition, and the village hosts a lively programme of events organised by the Anzère Culture association, including concerts, film evenings and the annual Anzère Fantastique festival of drawing, painting and graffiti. Traditional Valaisan customs such as the Hérens cow fights and the seasonal inalpe and désalpe transhumance add to the local character.
