Val d'Anniviers
The Val d'Anniviers is an alpine valley in the canton of Valais in Switzerland, at the heart of the Swiss Alps. It is a rural, high-mountain region gathering numerous villages and the resorts of St-Luc, Chandolin, Grimentz, Zinal and Vercorin, set beneath emblematic 4,000-metre peaks. The valley is not dominated by a lake but by high mountains and rivers, with traditional wooden chalets, shingle roofs and paved lanes giving the villages a picturesque, authentic character. Culture and heritage hold an important place, with strong local traditions, museums and exhibitions, and a notable astronomy theme centred on St-Luc. The region is a paradise for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, offering easy access to hiking trails, ski slopes and a wide range of mountain adventures, with no big cities and abundant nature.
Summer activities
In summer the Val d'Anniviers is a vast playground for mountain lovers, with over 200 km of signposted mountain-bike trails that make it a reference spot for VTT in Valais, exceptional trail-running routes, and a true hiking paradise. The region also offers thrilling activities such as scooter descents, climbing, paragliding and bungee jumping, plus open-air leisure options. Summer cable cars open the summits, and highlights include sunrise at the Corne de Sorebois, guided tours inside the Moiry dam, and open-air cinema evenings in the villages.
Winter activities
In winter the Val d'Anniviers is a small paradise for snow-sports lovers, with high-altitude ski areas guaranteeing excellent snow quality and pistes reaching up to 3,000 metres. The region offers downhill skiing and snowboarding, enchanting winter hiking trails, snowshoeing, ice-climbing on frozen waterfalls and even electronic biathlon. Four natural ice rinks and one artificial rink are available for skating, and several toboggan runs offer thrills with views of the emblematic 4,000-metre peaks.
Culture and entertainment
Culture and heritage hold an essential place in the Val d'Anniviers, where ancestral customs and traditional festivities still punctuate local life. The old villages reveal the authenticity of the valley, with museums and exhibitions dedicated to its heritage, and guided village tours exploring its past and present. Astronomy is a distinctive theme centred on St-Luc, home to a public observatory and the Chemin des Planètes solar-system trail. The valley also hosts a lively calendar of events, including music festivals such as Jazz sous les étoiles and the Palp Festival, the traditional autumn Désalpe cattle descents, and gastronomic festivals.
