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About Nendaz . . .
Nendaz is at the heart of the Alps in the Valais region which is the sunniest region in Switzerland. Whether you want activity or relaxation in the Summer or Winter you’ll discover breathtaking scenery stretching out over the valley and the 4,000m high mountains that dominate it.
Town Map & Orientation
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In Winter, you can gorge yourself of a paradise of skiing. Haute Nendaz is linked to the 4-Valleys with its 92 ski lifts and 412 km of pistes presents a unique and varied sports ground. The northern exposure, the high altitude and the Mont-Fort glacier (at 3,300m) guarantee snow from December to April.
For children, Tracouet ski area is the ideal site to have your first experiences of snow and includes a snow garden, 3 ski schools, a nursery and numerous activities for many moments of pleasure. Tracouet is directly above Haute Nendaz and is linked by a cable car from the town centre.
In Summer, you can discover the area on foot via the network of Bisses, which are paths that run alongside the irrigation canals and have the advantage of being on a slight incline providing very enjoyable walking . They pass through mountain pastures and woodland and provide stunning views of the valleys, villages and mountains. Nendaz offers 98km of walks along 8 Bisses. For more strenuous outings there are 250km of walks to reach the summits. For amateur and advanced mountain bikers there are 10 new circuits for all levels.
A Country Zone to capture the spirit of a country and its customs: tales and legends in the narrow streets of the old village, the making of alpine dairy cheese and a trip to an ancient mill will offer a surprising return to traditional roots.
Services
Nendaz offers all the services of a big resort: nursery, ski school, restaurants, bars, discos, sports shops and a wide variety of commerce.
Discover our quality accomodation and our all-inclusive special offers.
Restaurants; Bars and Night Life
Gastronomy
A wide choice of restaurants to meet to your wishes. Products from the region, specialities from the Valais and world cuisine.
Nightlife
Share your emotions and relax in agreeable surroundings. Bars and discos welcome you with different atmospheres.
Natural Environment
Full details here
Heritage & Culture
The first traces
The oldest document to mention Nendaz dates back to 19th March 985. Nendaz was originally attached to the Gallo-Roman city of Conthey, then experienced different dominations, among them that of the Count of Savoie. Since the year 1250, little by little Nendaz loosened its ties with Conthey in order to establish a separate community and from 1475 onwards Haut Valais brought about the stability necessary for the creation of a real community with its own authorities and with the new regime of 1798, Nendaz allied its fortunes to those of the Valais.
Gold fever started in the Valais region at the beginning of the 19th century. Here and there concession requests weresubmitted to exploit the lead, iron and carbon to gold mines. The commune of Nendaz didn’t escape this popular movement as in the 1840’s, a mining site was opened in the upper part of Siviez.
It wasn’t until 1920 that tourist activity started in Nendaz. First of all it was the arrival of the people from Sion who built their houses to spend their summer holidays. But it was only in 1958 that Nendaz really opened up to tourism with the establishment of Télénendaz.
Emergency addresses
Doctor, dentist, chemist, vet, police, fire brigade, mountain rescue.
MUST SEE
Japanese garden
At the end of the valley of Tortin, at the summit of a beautiful glacial moraine, the “Japanese garden”, is a delight to walkers and great for families. It’s a natural site with an ecosystem all of its own and the view over the region is superb.
Mont-Fort
With altitude of 3,300m, Mont-Fort offers a magnificent panoramic view over more than fifty majestic peaks of up to 4,000m including the Matterhorn and the Mont-Blanc. In summer, Nendaz organises sunrise excursions to the Mont-Fort with a breakfast at the Gentianes pass during the months of July and August.
The Pives path
This is a nature path that allows walkers to discover the forest and the beauty of Nendaz. which takes about two and a half to three hours. A guidebook is available from the Tourist Office and signs along the route gives descriptions of the various different plants found along the way
Isérables
Perched on the edge of the mountain at an altitude of 1116m, Isérables enjoys an exceptional location , again several marked walking paths allow you to discover the natural environment and an rich flora. Isérables has succeeded in maintaining its local traditions – there’s a museum which takes you through the local history
Balavaud
From the lake at Tracouet (accessible by cable car) it’ll take you half an hour to reach the alpine region of Balavaud with its famous larch trees which need a hundred or so days of sunshine per year to develop. The pasture area contains more than 250 trees aged between 300 to 800 years. There is also an old cheese cave which dates back to 1761.
Gouille d’Ouché
In all seasons the gouille d’Ouché is worth making a little detour for. Leaving from the "mayens" (old alpine chalets) of Pracondu, walk through a forest of spruce trees in the direction of the Alpine region of Pra da Dzeu and The Gouille d’Ouché, an open space in the middle of the forest can be found. A "gouille" is a small lake.
Pra da Dzeu
Pra da Dzeu is a patois name meaning “the meadow in the forest”. This alpine area was already used in the Middle Ages by the people of Nendaz and Isérables and was argued over for many years resulting in Nendaz giving up their share of the communal pasture. The area is traversed by the Bisse of Saxon which directs the water from the Printze up towards the hilltop of the village of Saxon in the Rhône valley.
Le Perrier de Dzerjonde (The Rocks at Dzerjonde)
Along the Bisse of Saxon from the Pra da Dzeu towards Siviez, below you will see an accumulation of moss-covered rocks. It isn’t known when the rocks became detached from the rock face that overlooks the area.
La place Fouskienne (The Fouskiene Square)
Above the village and the resort surrounded by a forest, a verdant plateau stretches out. In order to use this pasture the land had to be drained to dry it out. Despite everything, the prairie remains a humid place where interesting flora grow. On the north side of the pasture, one can enjoy a magnificent view over the Rhône valley and the mountains of the left bank: Petit and Grand Muverans (Small and Big Muverans), Haut-de-Cry, Quille du Diable…
In the region of the Tortin valley, two lateral moraines of the ancient glacier are clearly visible. These are the great and small Toit de Tortin (Roof of Tortin) that date back approximately 9,000 years. They are now covered again by vegetation and the flora of numerous different varieties, such as the “lys martagon” finds a favourable terrain there.
La pierre du Saint à Siviez
For a long time, rocks have intrigued historians and the mystery of their origin has yet to be revealed. Sacrifice tables, representation of the constellation and a place of worship. On arrival at Siviez, take the road that climbs towards the right, and then, by the reservoir, take the path to your right on a flat route towards the Rhône valley. You will soon arrive at the site of Inalpe at Siviez, “Dena Vio”. On the left side of the track you will see a large rock placed flat on top of another. This is the rock of the Saint of Siviez that was put there to avoid it ever disappearing. On this rock you can clearly distinguish an engraved circle in the stone and it is guessed it is the centre of cupules? It is unknown when and by whom this rock was engraved but it has given rise to a legend of many different versions.
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