Above the wine-growing village of Salgesch flow two bisses that cross a majestic landscape formed by the great landslide of Sierre that took place nearly 10,000 years before Christ. These watercourses, the Bisse de Varen and the Bisse du Mengis, were created by humans to irrigate crops, mainly vineyards, which are very present in the region. The two bisses are captured from the Raspille, a torrent symbolizing the linguistic border between French-speaking Valais and German-speaking Valais.
To access these two bisses, you first have to cross the village of Salgesch and then climb, first through the vineyard and then into the forest, until you reach the Bisse du Mengis. From there, head east through this steppe landscape but with a magnificent view over the Finges Forest. Then you continue climbing to reach the Bisse de Varen, which you follow westward, with equally majestic views.
OUR ADVICE
The area crossed by the two bisses is marked by vegetation quite unique in the region.
| Turn-by-turn directions | From the center of the village of Salgesch, pass by the wine museum, then through the vineyards, climb towards the cross overlooking the village. Continue climbing through the vineyard to the edge of the forest, then after bypassing the house at the top of the vines, take the climb into the forest. After some time, turn right along the edge of the meadow towards the Bisse de Mengis. Follow the bisse eastward, then once you reach the paved road, follow it to the bend. At the bend, leave the road and head uphill into the forest. Continue climbing until you reach the Bisse de Varen. From there, turn left and follow the bisse, which crosses the road after some time. Follow the bisse always against the flow, then turn left leaving the bisse to reach the heights of Salgesch. From there, return to the village by the same path taken on the way out. |
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