Discover Mayens-De-La-Zour

Mayens-de-la-Zour combines a dispersed settlement pattern with historic buildings and hiking destinations in the high-altitude landscape of Savièse. To put your stay into context, it is helpful to consider the landscape, local history, and the different demands of the trails.

Settlement Pattern and High-Altitude Landscape

The very loosely built-up structure of Mayens-de-la-Zour is representative of the typical, dispersed settlement pattern of the Mayens. Trees, boulders, and topography are among the landscape’s original features. In the higher areas of Savièse around Mayens-de-la-Zour, the landscape also includes forests, ponds, and bisses. Two scales are therefore relevant when choosing your destination: the loosely distributed buildings of the Mayens and the features of the surrounding high-altitude landscape.

Chapel and Historic Infrastructure

The Sainte-Thérèse Chapel was consecrated on August 10, 1941, and is dedicated to Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873–1897). It was built to allow guests staying in Mayens-de-la-Zour during the summer to attend Sunday Mass. A stained-glass window in the choir depicts Saint Thérèse with a bouquet of roses. The heritage values worth preserving are also to be safeguarded in the historic center of Mayens-de-la-Zour. Together, the dedication, construction history, and stained-glass window offer a tangible picture of the area’s religious heritage.

Another trace of history is the Prabé Tunnel: this 4,475-meter-long water structure runs between Tsandra and Mayen-de-la-Zour. Work began in autumn 1933 with the aim of providing sufficient irrigation for the entire municipality of Savièse, and was completed in early 1935. Unlike the history of the chapel, the tunnel points to a broader water-infrastructure project: irrigating the municipal area.

Hiking and Practical Information

A hike from Mayens-de-la-Zour offers a way to discover the higher areas of Savièse and its tourism zone. The hike to Prabé goes from Mayens-de-la-Zour to the 2,042-meter-high mountain, takes approximately one hour, and involves 650 meters of elevation gain. The route includes difficult and dizzying sections; sturdy hiking footwear is recommended. When planning your hike, therefore, take these explicitly noted route features into account, as well as the approximate duration and elevation gain.

Near Mayens-de-la-Zour, the restored Torrent-Neuf trail offers a chance to discover the remains of the old bisse and suspension bridges. The focus here is on historic traces of the trail; by contrast, the hike to Prabé specifies the elevation, approximate duration, and elevation gain. Place des Binii, in the heights of Savièse, offers parking for visitors to Torrent Neuf as well as for hikers and cyclists.

PostBus route 343 connects Mayens de la Zour with St-Germain. If you plan to travel using this service, check the timetable for your travel date.

Discover more destinations: Chandolin.

Return to the main travel overview: Savièse.