Nestling at an altitude of 1100 metres in a hollow on the Châtelard hill overlooked by the statue of Christ the King, Lens is an independent municipality in the western part of the Crans-Montana tourist region. The village preserves a rich and well-presented heritage and is definitely well worth a visit.

As a municipality, Lens comprises the villages and hamlets of Lens, Chelin, Flanthey, Vaas, Saint-Clément and Valençon, as well as part of the resort of Crans-Montana.

Traditionally an agricultural and wine-growing area, since the second half of the 20th century it has turned towards tourism, participating in the development of the resort of Crans-Montana, but has escaped the urban sprawl of the famous tourist destination.

It's a beautiful village on a human scale, which has remained very authentic. You can follow an itinerary of the built heritage through its narrow streets, the explanatory brochure of which is on sale (CHF5.00) at the tourist office of the municipal administration.

To visit Lens, it's best to stop in the car park at the entrance to the village on the road from Flanthey. Near the monument commemorating the stays in Valais of the famous Vaudois writer Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz, you can consult a wealth of documentation on the region.

Then all you have to do is walk along a small irrigation channel through vegetable gardens to find yourself in the heart of the old village, where you can enjoy a leisurely stroll.

Useful links

Swiss Canton of Valais (iSwitzerland Guide) - Wikipedia