Saint-Jean Vs: Discover Chapels and Bisses

Saint-Jean Vs combines a village shaped by history with trails through the surrounding landscape. When planning your stay, you can focus on different interests: in the village, chapels, traditional buildings and a historical walking tour take centre stage; outdoors, the Bisse de Saint-Jean offers a route with information on its length and elevation range. This makes it easy to consider cultural sightseeing and outdoor activities as distinct travel interests.

Chapels and Historic Village Fabric

The Chapelle de St-Jean Baptiste is located on the Route de St-Jean d’en bas in Saint-Jean d’en bas. Its construction dates mainly to around 1680. Its interior and furnishings have undergone only minor changes since the extensive works of 1881. The chapel is a cultural property of cantonal importance. An earlier historical reference leads to St-Jean d’en haut, on the edge of Combaz: a chapel there is mentioned as early as 1266.

Notre Dame du Rosaire is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. The chapel stands beside a lane in the centre of the village. Its barrel vault was probably built no earlier than the 14th century. Beneath the chapel is a low cellar housing the civic archives of Saint-Jean as well as several objects relating to the religious past of the place.

The Oratoire Saint-Félix also offers insight into the history of the place: it was built in 1711. Inside, painted depictions of the Evangelists from the early 18th century and a keystone showing a bearded Christ have been preserved. The confraternity associated with the Oratoire is said to date from the mid-14th century. The Four banal de Saint-Jean adds a secular architectural landmark to this picture. Its traditional construction combines a masonry section and a wooden section; the building has a shingle roof and is of historical and architectural significance. The historical walking tour offers another way to explore the village’s history, taking in 22 significant sites.

The Bisse and Trails Through the Surrounding Area

The Bisse de Saint-Jean was restored in 2012 using traditional techniques. Along the restored bisse, water once again flows in the open in some sections; wooden distributors are used for irrigation. The bisse passes through St-Jean d’en Haut and ends in Mayoux. As a trail, it is marked T1, is 3.90 km long and runs at an elevation of 1,430 to 1,260 m. These details clearly distinguish it from the historical walking tour through the village.

Another hiking option is the Chemin des Animaux, an easy, family-friendly route between Grimentz and Saint-Jean that passes through forest and pastureland. The Grimentz–Bisse de Saint-Jean stage also goes through Saint-Jean and past the Gîte de Saint-Jean. To return from Saint-Jean to Grimentz, you can take the PostBus or walk via the Grand Bisse de Saint-Jean. Depending on your interests, you can choose between a hike described as family-friendly, a stage along the bisse and the historical walking tour.

Seasonal Trails and Getting There

In winter, the “Grimentz – St-Jean” snowshoe trail, equipped with reflective signs, makes it possible to hike between the two places at night. The trail is not illuminated; a headlamp is required. The seasonal “St-Jean – Mayoux” snowshoe trail leads from Saint-Jean via Orzival to Mayoux and partly follows the Taougdires forest road. You can plan to take the PostBus back from Mayoux to Saint-Jean. As snow and route conditions can change, check them before setting out.

To reach the snowshoe trail, the route includes a train journey to Sierre, followed by the PostBus towards Vissoie and then the bus towards Grimentz to the Saint-Jean stop. PostBus services are also available in Grimentz and Mayoux; the trail along the Bisse de Saint-Jean can be reached by public transport. Check the current timetables before travelling. Saint-Jean also offers a view of the Zinalrothorn and the valley—a scenic highlight alongside the historic buildings and trail options.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Luc Vs, Chippis, Ayer, Vercorin, Icogne, Chandolin, Miège, Grône.

For the overall travel overview: Siders.