Grimentz/​Zinal

Deep within southwestern Switzerland's French-speaking Valais canton, approximately 180km from Geneva and 30km from Sierre in the Rhône Valley, lies the remarkable Val d'Anniviers housing both Grimentz and Zinal. The dramatic Gougra gorge physically separates these authentic mountain communities while creating their distinct characters—Grimentz with its medieval village core and Zinal with its end-of-valley mountaineering heritage. This isolated position preserved traditional Valais culture evident in dark-timbered buildings, narrow lanes, and distinctive local customs. Among these traditions, the ceremonial production of Glacier Wine stands out, aging in larch wood barrels stored in village cellars and served only on special occasions in this captivating Alpine enclave.