Bagnes

Access

Access to Bagnes is mainly by rail, with Le Châble being the main connection node. The valley can also be reached by car, following the routes into the Valais, and has adequate tourist services and infrastructure to welcome both winter and summer visitors.

Introduction

Bagnes, located in the canton of Valais in Switzerland, is a municipality that occupies the entire valley of the same name and is one of the largest in size in the country, with a surface area of approximately 301.91 km². As of 1 January 2021, Bagnes merged with the municipality of Vollèges to form the municipality of Val de Bagnes, which now has more than 10,900 inhabitants. The municipal capital is Le Châble. It is a mountainous territory rich in Alpine nature, with the Grand Combin (4314 m) one of its highest elevations. Bagnes is renowned for its natural attractions such as the Mauvoisin dam, an important engineering feat, and for ski resorts such as Verbier, a famous tourist destination.

Description

Historically, the Bagnes valley has experienced major events such as the Giétro glacier disaster in 1818, when a natural ice dam caused a disastrous flood. The population has gone through alternating phases of growth and decline over the years, but since the Second World War there has been a continuous recovery, with an increase in the presence of foreign residents to include more than 65 different nationalities.The area is characterised by extensive hiking and nature trails, with paths crossing alpine landscapes, mountain lakes, forests and protected areas. Numerous routes are dedicated to trekking and nature lovers, from the more relaxing to the challenging, with panoramic viewpoints of great beauty such as those of the Grand Combin massif and the Combins chain. The valley also favours outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, mountain biking and water sports in the surrounding areas.

Information

Area: 284.08 km²
Altitude: 821m
Maximum elevation: 4.314m - Grand Combin
Number of inhabitants:7807
Name in dialect:
Inhabitants' name: Bagnard
Patron Saint:
Bordering municipalities: Bionaz, Bourg-Saint-Pierre, Evolène, Hérémence, Liddes, Nendaz, Ollomont, Orsières, Riddes, Saxon, Sembrancher, Vollèges
Website: www.valdebagnes.ch