As a village that was home to numerous artists, including the painter Charles Clos Olsommer and the poet Rainer Maria Rilke, Veyras offers several ways to explore art and cultural history. There are also trails that showcase the village and winegrowing from different perspectives. You can tailor your stay to your interests, whether you are particularly drawn to artists’ lives, hiking or wine.
Art and Artists’ Lives in Veyras
The Musée Charles-Clos Olsommer is housed in the home and studio that Charles Clos Olsommer built in 1912 and which has been used as a museum since 1991. The works on display reveal many facets of his art, spanning Symbolism, Art Nouveau and his personal artistic explorations. In the garden, a reflective trail with reading stations complements the museum visit; the stations are based on Olsommer’s personal notebooks.
The Flânerie des Artistes presents the history of artists through an educational walking tour of Veyras. It introduces the lives of six artists who lived in the village during the 20th century. The route is just over two kilometres long and can be completed on foot or by bicycle. Alongside exploring Olsommer’s work in the museum, you can choose a route through the village that features several artists’ biographies.
Public guided tours are available at the Musée C.C. Olsommer, and private visits can be arranged. Themed tours are available by prior arrangement for groups of eight or more. They can be combined with a tasting of three specialities from the Veyras vineyards. The museum also offers a tasting of regional wines as part of a visit that combines art and gastronomy. Check the current visitor arrangements before your trip.
Discover Village Trails and Winegrowing
The Tour des villages de la Noble-Contrée is a circular hike that starts in Veyras and explores three villages. From the starting point, it passes through the old village and then climbs towards the vineyards. The Sentier viticole offers a different focus: this marked, six-kilometre trail features 80 information panels about winegrowing villages and winemaking techniques. It passes through Muraz and then reaches Veyras. The first circular route focuses on the village and vineyards, while information about winegrowing accompanies you along the Sentier viticole.
Wine culture also extends beyond individual trails. In Veyras, In Vino Veritas is based and promotes local wine culture through events centred on the Sierre winegrowing region and the Sentier viticole. Each year, the association organises the Marche des Cépages, a wine tourism hike through the vineyards. In the wine cellars of the three villages, you can discover local specialities from the Noble-Contrée. In nearby Miège, the Espace Terroirs has a wine library featuring regional wines and local products such as cheese, bacon and dried meat. The selection there may vary.
Cultural Events and Architectural History
The Tohu-Bohu Festival is an annual open-air music festival held in early September at Terrain des Crêtes in Veyras. Its first edition took place in September 2005. Check the dates for the relevant edition of the Tohu-Bohu Festival in Veyras. The Fondation Rilke holds an annual concert at the Chapelle de Muzot to commemorate Rilke’s birthday; the exact dates may vary here too. Château de Muzot was restored around 1921 to serve as Rilke’s residence from 1921 to 1926.
Another cultural landmark is the church in Veyras dedicated to Saint Francis. Built in 1947–48 in the Neo-Gothic style, it was adorned with frescoes, murals, stained-glass windows and a sculpted Stations of the Cross. The church is used for major celebrations; the nearby chapel serves in particular as a venue for weekday Masses and as a crypt for funeral services. As parish arrangements may change, check the current usage if you are planning to attend a service or celebration.
When planning your stay, you can weigh up a range of interests: art at the Musée Olsommer and the artists’ walking tour, the different focuses of the wine trails, or a festival or concert date. If a museum visit or event is the deciding factor, take the current visitor arrangements or the date of the relevant edition into account when choosing your dates.
Discover more destinations: Chandolin, Anniviers, Lens, Chippis, Ayer, Saint-Luc Vs, Crans-Montana, Vercorin
For the broader travel overview: Sierre.
