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La Tzoumaz

Canton of Valais · District: Martigny · No published figure for the locality. The municipality of Riddes has 3'830 inhabitants (31.12.2025, provisional FSO figure)
Part of the municipality of Riddes
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name La Tzoumaz

The place used to be called Mayens-de-Riddes. Its present name is said to come from the Valais patois « tzoumer », meaning to rest.[1][3]

Founding of La Tzoumaz

La Tzoumaz is the tourist resort of the municipality of Riddes, at about 1'500 metres above sea level. It was first called Mayens-de-Riddes. In the 19th century the Bisse de Saxon, an irrigation channel built from 1865 to 1876 and 32 kilometres long, crossed the place. Tourist development began in 1950 with the construction of a drag lift. The resort's pistes are linked to those of Verbier by the Col de Savoleyres. Since 2009 La Tzoumaz has been part of the tourist destination Verbier/Val de Bagnes-La Tzoumaz-Pays du St-Bernard SA.[1][2][4]

History of La Tzoumaz

1865-1876. Construction of the Bisse de Saxon, 32 kilometres long, the longest in Valais, which crosses La Tzoumaz.[2]

1950. The construction of a drag lift marks the beginning of the resort's development.[1]

1965. Construction of the Savoleyres Sud drag lift.[4]

1996. The detachable Le Taillay chairlift comes into service.[4]

1998. The Les Etablons chairlift comes into service.[4]

2002. On the north side, the detachable six-seat du Nord chairlift comes into service.[4]

2007. A gondola links La Tzoumaz to the summit of Savoleyres.[4]

2009. La Tzoumaz joins the tourist destination Verbier/Val de Bagnes-La Tzoumaz-Pays du St-Bernard SA.[1]

2011. A drag lift is built at the Combe de la Tournelle.[4]

Historic sites in La Tzoumaz

Bisse de Saxon. Irrigation channel built from 1865 to 1876, 32 kilometres long, the longest in Valais. It crosses La Tzoumaz and now serves as a hiking trail, part of the Sentier des Sens.[2]

Savoleyres. Pass by which the pistes of La Tzoumaz join those of Verbier and the 4 Vallées. Since 2007 a gondola has climbed there from La Tzoumaz.[3][4]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Riddes » (Bernard Monnet), version du 11.05.2012
  2. La Tzoumaz, office du tourisme, « Bisse de Saxon »
  3. Verbier Promotion, « La Tzoumaz »
  4. remontees-mecaniques.net, « Station La Tzoumaz »
  5. Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, chiffres provisoires au 31.12.2025, via citypopulation.de
  6. geo.admin.ch, service de recherche de swisstopo (La Tzoumaz)

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