In the mid-17th century there were only four people living in Diognes. The plague had passed through it, decimating its population. It was once an important village, as was evidenced by the small château that stood here in days gone by. The building was located near the forge, and was the residence of the noblewoman Barbe de Platea. The lady of the manor is known for having sold her silverware to pay for the Lens church bell that carries the name “Barbe la Joyeuse” (Barbe the Joyful). According to an old myth, the bell was to ring at full peal whenever Barbe left her manor in Diogne to attend Mass in Lens.
Be sure to visit the chapel in Diogne for a welcome opportunity to stop and gather your thoughts. Rebuilt at the end of the 17th century and dedicated to Saint Michael, it has a baroque altar whose altarpiece depicts the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple.
Diogne’s development was hindered by its peripheral location, poised between the two ancient municipalities of Montana and Chermignon. Hard as it is to believe, in 1946 the residents were forced to build an access road to the village themselves. Inadequate infrastructure such as this only encouraged the rural exodus: by 1980 there were only 20 people left in Diogne.
However, Diogne has proudly raised its head again, galvanised by new residents in search of a quiet, unspoilt home in a beautiful natural setting. In 2020, the village’s 100 residents took steps to reinvigorate it. The hamlet’s old forge was transformed into a B&B that offered an authentic place to unwind. Situated at the crossroads between the two stages of your hike – the Noble Contrée and the Louable Contrée – Diogne has regained a privileged position since the creation of the municipality of Crans-Montana.
You’ll discover some magnificent landscapes! To the east, the Grand Bisse de Lens offers a breathtaking view of the Rhône Valley. To the west, you’ll cross agricultural terraces to reach the most impressive section of your hike across Le Boup (which means “chasm” in the local dialect): a cirque ccreated by coloured rock landslide.
