brochrando 02 ANG SentierDesMinesEducational panelMont-Vélan Hotel
The Mont-Vélan chalet perpetuates the memory of the hotel of the same name. The superb building, nestled in amongst larches, was located in the extension of the chalet. Built in 1901, it housed 45 rooms. The catalogue acclaimed absolute tranquillity, the absence of dust and offered, besides walks, tennis and milk cures, which were very popular at the time. In February 1944, a fire completely destroyed the hotel. Only the chalet was rebuilt.Bus stopName of the stop: Col des Planches
Timetables on the website: www.cff.chRusty-coloured quartz blockThis block of quartz comes from the Goilly region, at the top of Mont Chemin. "AuroVallis", a mining exploration company, conducted surveys to assess its economic potential. A lenticular vein consisting of several metres long was discovered and in turn analysed. It was found to contain an average of 50 grammes of gold per tonne and more than 100 grammes of silver. Despite these excellent results, the constraints mainly due to the terrain made the operation not viable.Educational panelIntroduction to the walk:
Long ago, the Mont Chemin provided the link between the Rhône plain and the Aosta Valley while avoiding the then untamed Dranse Valley.
For today's visitors, it is a sunny promontory that offers a magnificent view of the Alps.
This mountain reveals unsuspected secrets: the entrances to the mines that penetrate the Mont Chemin are the evidence of man's repeated efforts to extract minerals and use them.FountainWarning: non-potable water.
But, you can still refresh your forearms there.Picnic areaMap of ValaisThis magnificent relief model of Valais, sculpted in bronze, was created by the current FASA (Foundry and Mechanical Workshops of Ardon). Between 1850 and 1855, this company was the most important company in Valais boasting 600 workers.
The Foundry wanted to mark its appreciation to the canton of Valais by offering this prestigious gift.Alpine pasture - Refreshment barLes Planches Pass alpine pasture
From mid-May to September, the Schildknecht family welcomes all hikers to their refreshment bar, where you can taste several cheeses, serac and different types of tomme.
All these products are produced daily at the Alpine pasture (over a wood fire)!Rock cupuleNear the gouille (small lake) of the Les Planches Pass, a flat stone has intrigued the imagination of everyone for generations. Its surface is carved out of cups or “cupules" whose translation has not retained its meaning.
Was this stone used by the Druids during sacrifices, the cups used to collect the blood of the victims? Or were these cups used to grind the hazelnuts and seeds?Educational panel145 million years ago, all these areas were next to each other at the bottom of a now lost sea, called Tethys. By a compression movement, the African plate approached very slowly from the European plate. The two continents met about 40 million years ago. The Alps are still in constant evolution, for two reasons: the continued collision between the two plates and erosion.Educational panelFrom the Middle Ages, the quest for new pastures led Man to clear forests. But the significant need for wood also encouraged Man to maintain a supply of trees. This is how wooded pastures came to be, a form of landscape subject to mixed management, agricultural and forestry. Larch mitigates the negative effects of the climate in very sunny or windy sites and protects the grass from drought.Bus stopName of the stop: Chemin, Chez-Larze
Timetables on the website: www.cff.chSilver mineLa Crettaz Mines
Here is one of the two lead and silver mines worked in 1856 and again in 1864.
It was then abandoned due to lack of profitability. The miners first crossed the vein perpendicularly, clearly visible on both sides of the opening, then followed it in depth by digging a vertical shaft of 15 m.Silver mineLa Crettaz Mines
Second entryEducational panelThe pine forest protects us
The pine trees, on these slopes formed by cliffs and scree, play an irreplaceable protective role. Thanks to its thick bark, its high resin content which quickly heals its wounds and its resistant heartwood, the pine is able to withstand many shocks. A pioneer tree, the Scots pine was the first to colonise the slopes after the retreat of the glaciers, more than 10,000 years ago.Picnic areaMine wagonIt's time for a family souvenir photo!Fluorine mineThe Hubacher mine - The fluoride rush
This 430 m gallery and an 80 m shaft were drilled between 1974 and 1976, under the impetus of the Valaisan Willy Hubacher. The purpose was to connect the bottom of this gallery to the old lead and silver mine of La Crettaz to probe the same vein. This prospecting revealed a deposit of more than 150,000 tonnes of fluorite.
The sharp fall in the price of this raw material on the international market has stopped operations.Educational panelSlag heap
The dating of certain slag heaps proves the existence of iron extraction on Mont Chemin over 1,300 years ago, in the Merovingian era.
Ore is rarely pure, it is often mixed with barren rock called gangue. During the extraction process in an on-site furnace, the high temperature melts the iron and separates it from the unwanted part, the gangue.Iron mineChez Larze Iron Mine
This iron mine was exploited during the Second World War and produced more than 54,000 tonnes of ore.
Iron has been the main wealth of Mont Chemin since the 7th century. At that time, the ore was processed directly on site, in blast furnaces. There were three main mining areas: Les Grandes Férondes, Collaud and Chez Larze.MineMine hidden on the left of the road following the recommended direction of travel.MineMine hidden on the right of the path following the recommended direction of travel.QuarryQuarry of white marble and asbestos
The extraction of marble was carried out in the open air, but also by means of galleries which sometimes connected with the iron mines. The marble was carried by wagons, which used the network of galleries.
What is marble?
It is a rock that was formed from sediments deposited at the bottom of the seas and lakes that covered our lands, tens of millions of years ago.Bioley Alpine PastureLocated 5 minutes walk from the mine trail, the Bioley refreshment bar is the ideal place for a short break after the walk. It is open every day from May to September. You can also taste regional products.Educational panelFrom self-sufficiency to rural exodus
Until recently, man used agricultural land for grazing, hay-making and crops (wheat, rye, barley and oats, potatoes, kohlrabi, field peas and beans were the food of the population living in self-sufficiency). Until 1960, the cultivation of strawberries enabled the people of Mont Chemin to produce for export, before a succession of dry years brought an end to this additional income.Educational panelThe forests surrounding Goilly are spruce forests. This type of forest covers half of the Valais woodland. With its highly developed adaptability, spruce can adapt to a wide variety of soils and climatic conditions. Introduced on the Swiss plateau by plantation, the spruce is indigenous here. At medium altitude, it was favoured during cuts, to the detriment of white fir tree.Educational panelBretelle Grandes FérondesEducational panelBretelle charratbrochrando 02 ANG SentierDesMines1406.771406.771407.711407.80999999880831408.28000000000021408.211407.09999999887461406.991406.991406.991406.73999999811371406.27000001257941405.761405.181404.68999998770781404.21000000351641403.62000000000011402.27999999211651401.641400.07000000000021399.76000000829141398.27999999480081397.23000000819371396.01395.15999999999961395.15999999999961395.15999999999961393.7000000410571390.90999999999991389.87000004167841388.231386.30999999559661384.661383.251383.32999999664161385.59000001015121386.62999998483021388.481389.671390.731391.70999997712761393.5800000218051394.58999999999971395.20999999999981397.03999999999971397.03999999999971397.03999999999971398.56999999999971399.371399.96999999999981400.66999999999961401.02999997588431403.20000001212521404.9099999619981406.01000002518121406.92999999999981407.39000004807051408.10999998055011410.67999999999961411.621412.281412.72999999999981413.18999999999981413.61999997129031414.23999999256921414.83999996876261415.69999999999981416.11999999999971416.7699999577321417.44999999999981417.96999999999981418.77999997117581419.68999999999981420.11420.61421.011422.22000000000031422.53000000000021423.241424.14999997874221424.85999999752181427.45000000667781427.61427.61427.61427.61427.33000000021231428.91999999494241428.5300000522181431.68999999999981429.88000000161921430.031432.83999997130351436.84000000000011437.661433.06000000356221426.58000002387441423.2399999910431422.451422.451422.451422.131425.991423.33000006054431422.45999995985681418.231416.45999999190741414.68999999999981418.20000003520361421.57999999999971419.56999999999971410.46999999999981403.80000016718241402.39999999999991400.76999999999981397.07999999999971394.96000005664061396.70999999999981395.051393.12000002106421389.49000008577831387.42000017084751381.18999999999961380.1800000040971380.38999996204551374.92000016692851369.09999998330611366.66999997164161364.49999999999981360.15000011583021353.371353.371353.371353.33000000000021349.361346.43000003911971347.4100000217011348.641347.94000000476381346.711345.82000000000021345.88999999999991344.15999999999991342.471340.38999999999991339.40999999999991338.99000000000021338.991338.99000000000021339.40999999999991340.38999999999991342.471344.15999999999991345.88999999999991345.82000000000021343.48999999999981341.8900000921451339.82999999999971339.42999999999961336.31999999999951321.60999999999941320.62999999999971315.989999971241312.79999999999951312.42000000542751312.0800000052811309.60999999999941308.53999999999951308.5400000212341309.34000001597381310.261310.261310.261310.62999999578981310.96000000000031310.96000000000031309.451309.391309.90000000168721310.181310.43999999564021308.16999999999981306.351305.541307.93999999999981308.741309.95000001990021310.7500000351371312.351313.15000002010131313.94999999999981316.09000006371161316.66999999766971318.26999999999981318.79999999999971319.77999998494371320.95000004756961321.59999999999971322.35999999999971323.47000002379631324.041324.03999999999971324.041324.62999999999991325.04000000000021326.11000000000011327.27000000000021327.69999998239311328.581329.72999999802691330.911331.85000000000041332.55000000000021332.51333.411337.771338.21340.111341.841343.721350.14999999999991350.14999999999991350.14999999999991351.00999998933141354.3999999110311354.91000001013121355.41999999999981356.32999997796511358.15999999999991360.4000000563051361.76999999256581367.951369.10000002920151369.561371.10999995530231373.82999999999971376.42000003762181377.48999999999981378.56999999999971379.32999999999971381.351382.69999999999981383.47999999999981383.46000000061241384.76999999999951384.64000000320681385.21000001041741385.71999999999931387.36999998690661387.94999999668861387.40999999999941387.10999999999941386.87999999999941386.17999998949561385.47000000233241382.60999998491681381.06999999999971378.8900000676951376.11375.871377.011377.56999998756371377.9099999948751378.37000000449621378.61378.81999999420241380.17999998330061380.54000000577181381.58000000010541381.76999999999981381.76999999999981381.76999999999981382.661383.43999998067421383.770000000231383.88000000741521384.0099999976671383.95000000000031384.01000001285571384.49000000000021385.231385.03000000261021384.82000000000021384.55000000000021384.28000000000021380.97000000000031381.03999999894721381.04000000000041381.23999999167651381.24000000000021381.151380.83000000000021381.47000000000031381.47000000000031381.47000000000031381.56000001922621382.38000000000031383.20000000000031383.84000000000041384.37999999165161385.75000003081461387.39000003670341388.391389.661390.481393.98000003033461395.88999999999991396.6299999546811397.54999995942241399.16999999999981400.2499999724641401.44999992833231403.42000001127781404.121404.99999999999981405.46999999795531406.14999995911561407.03000003202711407.691407.80999999880831407.76000000000021407.76000000000021407.76000000000021407.391407.39