Suonen are the historic irrigation canals of the Valais. These consist of open trenches that bring the precious and fertile water from the mountain streams - sometimes in an adventurous way - to the dry pastures and fields, to the vineyards or to the orchards. Many of the bisses are still in operation today and are carefully maintained. Since the suonen were very important as a water supply for the cultures and villages and their construction and maintenance was very dangerous, the people working on them had an important function and a corresponding reputation in the village community. The suonen partly overcome larger obstacles such as rock walls or scree slopes, for which special techniques have been developed over the centuries. In the rock walls, the suonen run in wooden channels that are suspended from beams along with a catwalk. The beams are wedged in holes made in the rock. To monitor the flow of water, small water wheels are sometimes used, which drive a hammer hitting a wood. The hammer blows can be felt over great distances and confirm the flow of water. More bisses have been created on the dry southern slopes than on the northern slopes. Most of the bisse are 500 m to 2 km long, the longest bisse is the 32 km long Bisse de Saxon.
Text / source: Brig Simplon Tourismus AG