Summertime in the Valais

I have been waiting for this day for weeks…the time has finally come to share this post!  We travelled to “Heidi’s Country” (this is how I nickname this secluded place) to spend the summer holidays in the mountain countryside.

Although I have posted our visits previously, each trip we experience is quite a bit different from the previous ones.

We had such a special time and it is my hope that some of the magic we experienced translates into this post.  At the very least, I hope that, by the time you are through viewing it, you will consider adding the Swiss Alps to your bucket list, because it is a region that truly deserves a visit.

I never experienced a morning here when I woke up and was not happy. It is for this reason that I take so many photos so whenever I look at them, I catch myself smiling and I am imagining I am there. It is wonderful to smell nature, feel the cool breeze, listen to the sound of the cow bells and play with the wild cat.

The tastiest fruits come from this region: a plate of raspberries.

Ask a Valaisan foodie to name the most popular dessert in the Valais and inevitably the response from many will be fresh apricot tart. For me, this is also one of the best and tastiest tarts that I have ever tried!

Lots of time to make comforting food, like this traditional British dessert - bread and butter pudding - which I slightly adapted to make it crispy and moist at the same time. Check out the upcoming recipe.

I read two books and will soon be back with my book reviews.  I’m a huge fan of the Portuguese author Eça de Queirós. “O Primo Basílio” (English title: Cousin Bazilio) is an exceptional and fun novel published in 1878 and translated around the world.

Eugenie Fraser’s moving account “The House by the Dvina” is a really beautiful read and I’d highly recommend it!

The nearby village...

One of my favourite things about the Swiss Alps is the absolutely stunning natural beauty.    Scenery doesn’t come more dramatic and more beautiful than in the Valais.

Lavey-les-Bains thermal baths are nearby and we often went to spend a fabulous pampering moment ar these thermal baths surrounded by mountains and greenery. As photos are forbidden there, these are snapshots taken with my smartphone.

The last day of my holidays we took the Tortin chairlift from Siviez to visit the Japanese Garden which is a source of delight to walkers. This magnificent natural site is situated at the end of the small valley of Tortin, at the summit of a beautiful glacial moraine, the view over the region is superb and the water that runs down the numerous meanders makes it special.