Val d’Hérens

Authentic and traditional, the Val d'Hérens is only a few minutes away from the Valais capital.

This secret valley, preserved from mass tourism, has a lot to offer outdoor enthusiasts, contemplative people, nature lovers and epicureans.

"Hérens" is both the name of the valley and that of a very special breed of Alpine cow - their fighting instinct pushes them to confront each other in impressive but harmless duels. No one knows if it is the cow that gave its name to the valley, or vice versa. What is certain is that the link between this territory, its inhabitants, its visitors and the local agriculture is vital.

For generations, the inhabitants have tamed the steep slopes of this valley in order to provide for their needs through rearing livestock, tending field crops and cultivating fruit trees. This precious know-how in the service of nature and taste has allowed them to care for the meadows, the mountain pastures and the forests and thus to maintain a rich and varied landscape while developing agricultural products with delicate flavors.

Among the local specialties are the use of milk and meat from local breeds of cows (Hérens and Evolénarde) and Tsarfion, an ancestral recipe showcasing cabbage and St-Martin pork that has been secretly passed down from generation to generation.

Today, numerous offers allow everyone to explore the heights of the Val d'Hérens and to discover its charms: tasting of cheeses, cured meats, seasonal fruits, wines and liqueurs, visits to the heart of the land, participation in the making of cheeses... The beauty of this territory can be shared in a thousand ways!