The Val d'Anniviers is part of the Valais Alps. It opens into the Rhône Valley at Chippis, south of Sierre. The river that flows through it is called the Navizence. Its inhabitants are known as the Anniviards. At Vissoie, the valley splits into two smaller valleys. To the west lies the Val de Moiry, through which the Gougra River flows, featuring the village of Grimentz and, further up, the Moiry Dam. To the east, the Val de Zinal, with the village of Zinal, extends all the way to the Zinalrothorn and the Weisshorn. Since January 1, 2009, the Val d’Anniviers has been a single municipality; previously, it consisted of six separate municipalities: Ayer, Chandolin, Grimentz, Saint-Jean, Saint-Luc, and Vissoie. Thanks to the three ski lift companies—Grimentz-Zinal, Saint-Luc–Chandolin, and Vercorin—the Val d’Anniviers is a true gem to explore in both winter and summer. The name “The Five 4,000s” refers to the group of peaks comprising the Weisshorn, the Zinalrothorn, the Ober Gabelhorn, the Cervinet, and the Dent Blanche, all of which are clearly visible at the same time from the Val d’Anniviers. Every August, the Val d’Anniviers also hosts the Sierre-Zinal trail race, also known as the “Course des Cinq 4 000.” The winners cover the 31 km of trails and a vertical climb of some 2,000 meters, traveling from the town of Sierre to the Zinal resort in about 2 hours and 30 minutes. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, if you love mountain biking, you’re in paradise! Are you up for the challenge of the Grand Raid BCVS? Discover the local specialties and come taste the valley’s wine—our “Glacier Wine.”
