Thyon
Thyon (also known as Thyon 2000) is a ski resort in the Swiss Alps, located in the canton of Valais. The resort is situated in the central part of the canton, in the region of Sion, above Hérémence. It forms part of the 4 Valleys interlinked ski area[1], which also includes Verbier, Haute-Nendaz and Veysonnaz. The ski pistes from Thyon and Veysonnaz merge into a seamless integrated ski area, and connect easily with the whole 4 Valleys area.
Thyon lies at a height of 2,095 metres above sea level, on the ridge descending from Mont Rouge. Thyon 2000 was constructed in the 1970s. Administratively, it is in the commune of Vex[2].
Many of the winter ski pistes descend across what in summertime is still an active "alpage" - an area of high mountain pasture grazed by cattle. Part of the ancient alpage cow barn has been converted to a restaurant, open in the winter and summer seasons. The alpage dairy produces cheese from the milk, much of which is sold in the adjacent village of Les Collons during the September "désalpe" festival - the ceremonious descent of the cows, often garlanded, to lower pastures.
Apart from winter sports and summer hiking, the resort enjoys spectacular views of the Valais mountains, the so-called Pennine Alps, with direct views of six 4000+ metre peaks (Matterhorn, Dent Blanche, Obergabelhorn, Zinalrothorn, Weisshorn, Bishorn). A seventh, the Jungfrau, is visible in the Bernese Oberland to the east.
In August the annual trail race from Thyon to the Grande Dixence dam takes place[3], a 16km run with 700m ascent/descent at an altitude averaging 2000m, attracting around 1000 competitors.
The resort is accessed by road from Sion, by chair-lifts from Les Masses and Les Collons and by gondolas from Veysonnaz. Sion itself is easily accessed by road and rail from Geneva airport, approximately two hours distant.
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View of Thyon from above -
View of resort complex from the ski pistes -
Summertime alpage, Thyon
