Discover Mase

When you choose Mase as a destination for a stay in Valais, you’ll find a rural village setting, historic buildings and hiking trails with a variety of themes. When looking for hotels for a trip to Mase, the combination of village history, bisses and alpine excursion destinations can help guide your planning. Mase forms a group of villages with Nax and Vernamiège in the heart of Valais. Together, they lie at an altitude of around 1,300 metres and about 20 minutes from Sion.

Village layout and history

Mase has a distinctly rural character and sits prominently halfway up the eastern slope of the valley. The historic settlement is arranged in successive tiers running parallel to the contour lines. It includes houses and outbuildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. This layout and the older buildings together shape the character of the village.

The churches also tell stories of different periods of construction. The Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Church in Mase was built in 1910; a new nave was consecrated in 1988. The Chapelle du Prélet is dedicated to the Holy Trinity and was consecrated in 1687. Its most important furnishing is a small Baroque altar in the style of the late 17th century. Another local tradition concerns a bear’s paw: it is said to have come from one of the last bears killed in the Val d’Hérens, probably in the 1830s.

Bisses and trails around Mase

The Bisse de Tsa-Crêta dates back to before 1400 and was restored and brought back into use in 2002. Its water once again irrigates the meadows and powers an old mill in Mase with a horizontal waterwheel. In this way, the bisse, the meadows and the mill are directly connected, illustrating how water is used in the area.

A marked trail leads from the village to the alpine pasture hamlets of Tsa Crêta at 1,600 metres and continues from there to the Mayens des Praz. Conditions on this trail can vary depending on the season. Another nature trail connects Nax, Vernamiège, Mase and Saint-Martin and is 15 kilometres long. Its themes include flora, fauna and bisses; it also covers the construction techniques used for the bisses of Saint-Martin and Tsa Crêta. For navigation, the two trails differ in the information provided: the trail to Tsa Crêta highlights its intermediate destination, elevation and continuation, while the nature trail highlights its length, the places it connects and its interpretive themes.

A hike to Mont Noble is also described: the Alpage de Mase–Mont Noble route passes the Alpage de Mase and reaches the summit of Mont Noble. If you travel from Sion by public transport, this hike starts in the village of Mase. Check current connections before your trip.

Alpage de Mase: animals, products and season

Visitors can observe alpine wildlife at the Alpage de Mase, including marmots, chamois, deer, eagles and bearded vultures. Tastings of the pasture’s own products are also offered, including raclette cheese, Tommes, Sérac, butter and cream.

Visits to the Alpage depend on the season and the weather: the new season begins as soon as weather conditions allow, usually in late May or early June. It generally lasts until the first snowfall, usually in mid- to late October. Check whether the Alpage is open before travelling there. This helps you plan this seasonal visit as part of your stay.

Traditions and trip planning

A Mase tradition is the “Nuit du Conte,” held around mid-July. Storytellers can be heard throughout the village. The event concludes with drinks, soup and cake shared with the whole village. Since it takes place around mid-July, check the latest event dates before your trip.

Together with Nax and Vernamiège, the group of villages is considered a destination for mountain enthusiasts and for hiking and adventure activities. It is also associated with traditions and convivial gatherings. Mase therefore offers several different starting points for your stay: a historic village layout and religious buildings, trails featuring bisse-related themes, and seasonal offerings at the Alpage. Which of these aspects matters most to you can guide your trip planning and search for a hotel in Mase.

Discover more destinations: Evolène, Eison, Les Masses, Vernamiège, Vex, Saint-Martin Vs, Ayent, Vex.

See the broader travel overview: Hérens.