This "eagle's nest" town is
set high in the Alps of Valais in a fertile valley. Cowbells are in constant concert as
they echo from valley to valley.
To get to Evolene, drive or train to
Sion. From there drive south or take the bus (several per day) for 40 minutes to the
center of town. The views are incredible as you snake up a twisty Alpine road.
There is great prestige in the size
of bell a farmer has for his animals -- and some of the bells are huge. The wood houses
are extremely well kept, most with flowerboxes at each window. Many buildings have
pictures painted on them. Most of the homes have barns attached and you can hear hear the
animals inside -- but amazingly there's no odor. The barns are built on a series of large
wood pilings. On top of each piling there is a stone disk about 3' across. The beams for
the foundation of the barn rest on these disks. The ramp (for the animals) and ladder (for
the caretakers) are stored flat on the ground under the barn.
The reason for this? The disks
provide a barrier to keep the mice out of the barn!
Each home has extensive woodpiles
with the most perfectly cut and stacked wood we've ever seen -- very artistic! It's also
interesting to find inside the open garages such cars as Mercedes and BMWs.
You'll find older men and women in
"traditional dress" which includes flowered cotton dresses and kerchiefs. We
found a man pulling a large handcart down the street. He had a huge wheel of cheese going
from store to store trying to sell it. Although we couldn't understand the language, it
was obvious the shopkeeper and the man were negotiating for the best price -- and he
finally did sell his cheese. The stores sell wonderful homespun wool clothes made locally.
You can find lunch at Le Central,
with excellent soup, bread and beer for 11 SF (1993.) It's a simple cafe/bar -- nothing
special decor wise, but the food and service are very good.
There's an old church there (perhaps
14th century) that is very picturesque set against the towering rugged mountains.
It's a charming little town with a
small tourist trade -- but still relatively undiscovered. Most tourists are French
mountain climbers who go there to climb Mont Collon and Dent-Blanche.
For a hiker or mountain climber it
would be the perfect place to settle in for a few days. Other travelers would enjoy a
night or two there if they are seeking peace and quiet in a quaint mountain setting. Those
in search of nightlife would be quite disappointed, but there's lots of interesting
walking to do around town and in the hills. |
