The European Heritage Days, which will be held in Switzerland on 12 and 13 September 2026, highlight the threats facing our cultural heritage.
The Anniviers Heritage and Tourism Commission is participating by organizing two guided tours on Saturday, 12 September.
Programme 2026:
Theme: Soapstone stoves, a heating system worth preserving
In Val d’Anniviers, as throughout Valais, houses were heated with soapstone stoves, a stone that resists fire and stores heat very efficiently. Although hundreds of these stoves still exist, their ecological and cultural value is often unknown to their owners, and they are frequently replaced by more modern, more convenient systems. The presentation will cover soapstone, its origin, properties, and use as an ecological heating system, followed by visits to various houses, including the bourgeois houses of Grimentz and St‑Jean.
Conference with Hans-Rudolf Pfeifer and Cédric Cramatte, cultural heritage specialists, and Olivier Bressoud, heating specialist, followed by guided tours.
Saturday, 12 September, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Gîte de St‑Jean
Tour followed by an optional, paid meal at the Gîte de St‑Jean (reservation required).
Saturday, 12 September, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Bourgeois House of Grimentz
| Saturday | 10:00 - 12:00 | 14:00 - 16:00 |
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| Useful information |
Registration is required at the Grimentz Tourist Office until Friday, 11 September 2026, at 12:00 PM. | |
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| Location View map | Anniviers Commission Patrimoine et Tourisme Anniviers Route d'Anniviers 3961 Anniviers | |
| Contact | +41 27 476 16 00 info@anniviers.ch | |
| File(s) |
Programme - JEP Anniviers 2026
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