“A landscape that is both lunar and Amazonian.” This is how Patrice Clivaz*, the man who paved the way for the Chemin des Contrées, describes Le Boup. The name means “chasm” or “hole” in the local Franco-Provençal dialect. The legacy of a glacial retreat, this remarkable 140-hectare landslide scar was formed thousands of years ago and is composed of schist rock and gypsum engorged with water. Geology fans can admire the colourful, brocaded rocks that range from rose to blue. This rocky space transforms into a veritable Amazonian forest once the vegetation comes back to life in spring. The area is also popular with the local fauna: foxes and roe deer share the space with shyer animals such as the wild boar who like to relax in the mud and marshes.
Le Boup was for a long time an impenetrable and inhospitable place, and has given rise to a number of legends in the region. Residents spoke fearfully of it as the place where the devil himself lay hidden away! Its bad reputation might well have exerted an influence on a witchcraft trial that took place in the mid-15th century. A certain Mr P. Chedal was alleged to have been transported to Tovachir (the southern part of Le Boup) on a three-legged footstool and to have held a witches’ sabbath – a nocturnal meeting of witches – in an attempt to cause landslides and other kinds of damage to property. He was condemned to death and burned at the stake.
Tovachir is also known as the home of FC Loc-Corin’s football pitch, which was built in the 1970s. The pitch rapidly became so deformed that the opponent’s goal line couldn’t be seen from the corner flag! Despite their brave efforts, the footballers of the villages of Loc and Corin were nonetheless forced to abandon their match on this decidedly unsettling pitch.
To the west, you’ll discover the picturesque hamlet of Diogne; to the east you’ll reach the Noble Contrée via Les Echerts, which features several charming little bridges across mountain streams.
*Patrice Clivaz, former President of the Grand Conseil Valaisan and Jacky Duc, Head of Crans-Montana-Exploitation, are the two principal initiators of the “Chemin des Contrées”.
