Zinal

Look at Zinal with the base station of the cable car to Sorebois.

Zinal is a resort in the Val d' Anniviers, in the French speaking part of the canton of Valais and belongs to the municipality of Anniviers. The place is known as the starting point for the ascent of several Valais four peaks.

• 4.1 summer
• 4.2 Winter

Geography

Zinal is situated at the far end of the Val d' Anniviers, a southern tributary of the Rhone valley in the canton of Valais. Through the village flows the brook Navisence, which flows with Chippis in the Rhône. East of the village, the Roc de la vache, the Les Diablons and the Besso, a lower summit of Zinalrothorns raise. West of the village, the Corne de Garde de Bordon Sorebois as well as the rise. Further up the valley extends the used mainly for pasture valley Plat de la Lé. Behind it is divided by a rock step towards the valley and white horn with the surrounding glaciers Glacier du Weiss Horn and Glacier de Moming and direction Glacier de Zinal, Grand Cornier, Dent Blanche and Obergabelhorn. The entire valley with the snow-covered four-thousand- called because of its majestic appearance and Imperial Crown ( Couronne impériale ).

Origin of the name

Originally was called Zinal Chinaz ( Chêneau = gutter ). This in reference to the at this point narrowing valley. The first topographers deems this dialect name on a card as unworthy and changed it to the now well-known word Zinal.

Traffic

The road to Zinal was late for Valais conditions, until 1957, created. The topographic conditions were very challenging. By regular mail Autokurse via Vissoie to Sierre Zinal station is connected to the network of public transport. There are also direct quotes from Zinal Grimentz to Moiry Dam.

History

Zinal was formerly a Maiensässdorf, so not a year-round inhabited village. The village was in May and June, before the cattle were out in the pastures, inhabited for a few weeks, then after Désalpe again in October for a few weeks. In December and January the introduced hay was finally fed to the cattle for a few weeks.

The first inn was built in 1856. The two- storey house made ​​of larch wood contained some small rooms. 1864 stayed Edward Whymper, the first ascent of the Matterhorn, in Zinal. 1889 a chapel dedicated to St. Bartholomew was built. At the entrance to the choir, the painter Cini 1948 created a beautiful fresco paintings and 1952 Stations of the Cross. Because of the inadequate road links the village had to contend with major economic difficulties and could touristy until 1957, after the construction of the road, develop.

In the 1960s, the cable car was built after Sorebois. There followed some ski lifts. Since then, the place in summer and winter tourism has continuously developed. Until December 31, 2008 Zinal belonged to the municipality of Ayer. Then Ayer merged together with 5 other valley communities of the municipality of Anniviers.

Tourism

In 1967, a cable car to the 2,438 m above sea level. M. -altitude mountain station Sorebois built. The cabins were renovated in 2007. Seen from Sorebois rises from behind the Imperial Crown ( Couronne impériale ) the Matterhorn. The village has two hotels and many apartments and chalets.

Summer

In the mountains around Zinal 300km of hiking paths are signaled. The National Route No. 6 Alpine Passes Trail SwitzerlandMobility leads from Turtmanntal over the Meidpass to Zinal and on to the Lac de Moiry and over the Col de Torrent to Val d' Hérens. With its five mountain huts Cabane du Grand Mounts (SAC ), Cabane Petit Mounts, Cabane d' Arpitettaz (SAC ), Cabane de Tracuit (SAC ) and Cabane de Sorebois Zinal is the starting point for the classic routes on the white horn that Zinalrothorn, the Bishorn and the Obergabelhorn.

Winter

The ski area at the Corne de Sorebois consists of 70 km of slopes. The main slopes with artificial snow. Skiers can use together with the aerial cableway two chair lifts and 5 ski lifts available. In late autumn 2013, the new, currently is under construction cableway will lead to the ski resort of Zinal from the valley station in Grimentz. Thus, the two ski resorts are interconnected. The result is a ski area with 120 km of pistes, 2 cable cars, 1 gondola, 5 chair lifts and 11 ski lifts. The ski -Zinal Grimentz will then belong to the 10 largest ski resorts in the canton of Valais.

In Plat de la Lé mentioned above Zinal valley floor are groomed total of 19 km of cross country ski trails in winter.

Gallery

Church of Zinal

View from Sorebois

The Val de Zinal with Besso (left)

Grand Cornier