High-altitude villages & alpine elegance – Saint-Martin, Suen & Eison

High-altitude architecture: the art of building with the mountain

Above the slopes, the villages of Saint-Martin, Suen, and Eison reveal an architecture that breathes the mountain spirit, history, and daily life of its inhabitants.
Here, nothing is frozen in time — heritage is not a showcase, but living, inhabited, authentic.
You stroll to the rhythm of the wind through the larches, the bells ringing from the pastures, and the light caressing façades tanned by sun and time.

The stone houses with their massive walls and heavy slate roofs stand alongside the traditional granaries on stilts, resting on their stone “mushrooms” — pure sculptures born from ancestral know-how.
The raccards, barns, and mayens recall a refined agricultural world, where wood, stone, and landscape form a natural harmony.

In these perched hamlets, the alpine soul reveals itself: dense, warm, precise, and subtle.
The mountain is not just a backdrop — it is foundation, refuge, and culture.

Architectural highlights & details to admire

• Stone houses & slate roofs: compact volumes, wooden frames, mineral roofs built to last.
• Granaries on stilts: icons of alpine architecture, elevated above the ground, aligned along narrow lanes.
• Raccards & barns: weathered larch wood, ancient galleries, dry-stone walls.
• Chapels & oratories: small spiritual treasures, carved doors, fine wrought ironwork.
• High-altitude mayens: seasonal dwellings delicately integrated into the pastoral landscape.

Heritage trails

• Saint-Martin — alleys & mayens (45–75 min)
  Village center, traditional granaries, return via a panoramic trail.
• Suen — hamlet path (1–1h30)
  Stone houses, small squares, and lanes with discreet charm.
• Eison — lands & mayens (1h30–2h)
  Old mayen hamlet, open views, optional ridge route for the curious.

Recommended seasons

All year round. From May to October, flowery façades and golden light magnify stone and wood.
In winter, the atmosphere turns quieter and more crystalline — good shoes are recommended depending on conditions.

Access & practical info

Village parking in Saint-Martin / Suen / Eison, PostBus connections from the valley.
Marked trails, maps, and route ideas are available at the local tourist office.
Comfortable shoes and a light windbreaker are recommended even in good weather.

Combine with

• Hike to Lac de Lona and Hérens viewpoints for an altitude experience.
• Wellness break in Hérémence to unwind at the end of the day.
• Alpine cheese dairies in the Val d’Hérens for a local tasting (AOP raclette, tomme, sérac).