Bella Tola

Overview

This 3000 meters peak stands out in the Rhone Valley above Sierre in such a way as to give a splendid view of the Berner Oberland peaks but also a view of the Pennine Alps (Matterhorn, Zinalrothhorn, Weisshorn, Dent Blanche). The only important peak masked by another is Monte Rosa.

Getting There

- Start point : Sierre (station).

- Next airport : Sion (15 km).

- From Sierre take the street of the Val d'Anniviers to Vissoie., then left to Saint Luc (15 km from Sierre), one of the five resorts of the Val d'Anniviers with Zinal, Grimentz, Chandolin, Vercorin.

- In Saint-Luc take the Funiculaire of Tignousa. Climb to the Refuge de la Bella Tola. The route follows the jeep track, then breaks clearly to the left (North), having avoided some down & up. Then, there are zig-zags to the ridge north of the top ( 3 hours from Tignousa). Before walking down, take the ridge pathway direction north to the Rothorn (3005m). In 1866 Ernest Griolet wanted to build a beacon at the summit of Bella Tola so that hikers could find their way in the night in order to admire the sunrise from the summit of this mountain. In fact this structure was built in 1991 on the top of the Rothorn and an orientation table was added indicating the names of the most prestigious summits visible from the top.

Red Tape

Park fee in Saint-Luc.

Sight from the summit

Bella Tola (3026 m) is the best viewpoint in the Swiss Alps ! Beginning in the west : Mont Blanc, Diablerets, Wildhorn, Wildstrubel, Balmhorn, Blumlisalp, Aletschhorn, Weissmies range, Mischabel, Weisshorn, Zinalrothorn, Matterhorn, Dent Blanche.

When To Climb

From may to october

Camping and Huts

- Camping
Camping in Saint-Luc : Le Prilet campsite
Open from mid-June to mid-October, Le Prilet campsite is situated in the lower part of the village and is the departure point for several hikes, such as the chemin du Bisse (along the irrigation canal), the climb to the Weisshorn Hotel…
Gîte du Prilett 3961 St-Luc
Tel. 027 475 11 55
giteduprilet@yahoo.fr
Fax. 027 475 46 44
Internet site :www.prilet.cjb.net

- Hut
Cabane de la Bella Tola (2345m) : cabane@funiluc.ch
CH - 3961 St-Luc
Tel. 0041 27 475 15 37
Fax: 0041 27 475 15 37

The François-Xavier Bagnoud Observatory

The François-Xavier Bagnoud astronomic observatory at an altitude of 2200 metres is situated above the village of St-Luc. It can be reached by the St-Luc – Tignousa funicular railway. Located on a site renowned for the pureness of its atmosphere and absence of turbulence, it is destined for the simply curious, schoolchildren, or alert amateurs who wish to study on a semi-professional level. When you get there, before the starting the evening and in an absolute silence, broken only by the murmur of torrents, take the time to admire the landscape of our own planet.

The planetery footpath

The solar system has been reproduced on a smaller scale all the way along this path, that way, with every step forward, you will move a million kilometres forward through the cosmos. Without noticing it, you will move three times faster than the speed of light. Leaving from the sun, you travel a distance all the greater that the object is remote from the sun. Whilst stopping along this celestial path, you will learn about the planets’ dimensions , their characteristics and above all be able to discover and admire the beauty of one which is only a stone’s throw away – planet Earth!

External Links

• Val d'Anniviers
  Home page of the Val d'Anniviers
  
• Funiculaire of Tignouza
  
  

Images

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