The bisses

In order to irrigate their land and crops, the farmers of the Valais fetched their water from distant rivers (often up to 10 km away) that originate from melting glaciers. Consequently, they built canals called “bisses” that cross ravines, cliffs and forests. It is not always clear when they were built, but it is known that some were dug into the ground in the Middle Ages. Not all of them are still in use today. These bisses contain some skilled handwork and show the ingenuity and persistence of our ancestors. The bisses were and are still an irreplaceable means of irrigation.

Association du Musée valaisan des bisses

Maison Peinte, 1966 Ayent

www.musee-des-bisses.ch