Ayer

A small village on the road to Zinal, opposite the Grimentz valley, untouched by the tourist influx of the two famous Val d'Anniviers destinations. If you love old-fashioned charm and tranquillity, this is a place to stop!

It is the last village before Zinal, which used to depend on it. The road up from Vissoie was not opened until 1912 and was not extended to Zinal until 1951. While the mayens at the end of the valley were becoming the heart of a major tourist destination, Ayer has fallen asleep over the years and you will hardly come across any tourists.

It has to be said that there are no cafés or shops. The only sign of life is a Chinese restaurant at the side of the road... a rather incongruous sight in this old-fashioned atmosphere!

The village is well worth a stop. Clinging to the slope, it is full of charm and beautiful traditional homes. A timeless place, far removed from the hustle and bustle of modern times...