Tracing the past: discover the heritage panels of Bex

What if a simple walk through the streets of Bex could take you back in time? Behind the façades, squares and buildings that shape everyday life in Bex today lie countless stories waiting to be discovered. The Bex Heritage Panels invite you to uncover them along a walking route through the town centre and its surroundings.

Prestigious hotels, former thermal baths, religious buildings and places marked by historical events: around twenty stops bring the Bex of the past to life. An original way to see the town from a different perspective and uncover some hidden gems from its history.

When Bex had a different story to tell

Today, Bex is known for its Salt Mines, its vineyards and the surrounding landscapes. But Bex was once also an important spa destination. During the Belle Époque, Bex-les-Bains experienced a remarkable boom in tourism, traces of which can still be seen in several buildings and landmarks around the town centre.

This is the history that the Heritage Panels bring back to life. Installed at the very locations of the buildings and historical events they describe, they allow visitors to compare images and stories from the past with the present-day surroundings. The Hôtel des Alpes, now the Hôtel du Cèdre, the Grand Hôtel des Bains, the Protestant church, the Town Hall and the Market Square all come back to life for a few moments.

The past overlaps with the present, almost like augmented reality… without even needing to take out your phone.

Around twenty windows into Bex's past

Based on research by W. Jaquerod and A. Pyroth, the project was developed by the Tourist Office with funding from the Municipality of Bex. Each panel has been placed in front of a building or at a location whose appearance, purpose or history has changed over time.

Some panels recall the golden age of tourism in Bex: the Hôtel Bellevue, Hôtel des Alpes, Grand Hôtel des Bains and Logis de l’Ours – Hôtel de l’Union highlight the importance of the hotel industry in the town's history.

Others tell the story of everyday life and the town's development through landmarks such as the Town Hall, Post Office, Café Suisse, former infirmary and paper mill. Civic and religious heritage also stand side by side, with the Protestant church, Catholic church and Chapelle Nagelin.

And sometimes, it is not the buildings but the events themselves that tell the story. Along the banks of the Avançon, one of the panels recalls the flood of 1910, offering a striking glimpse of an urban landscape that looks very different today.

A historical walk between the town centre and countryside

You don't need to know Bex inside out to set off in search of these witnesses to the past. The panels can be discovered freely, during a leisurely stroll, or by following the complete route starting from Bex railway station.

The circular route covers approximately 6 kilometres and takes around 2 hours and 10 minutes, allowing time to explore the different panels. With just 92 metres of elevation gain, it offers a chance to explore the centre of Bex at a relaxed pace before venturing into the surrounding area.

As the walk progresses, the scenery changes. The streets and buildings of the town centre gradually give way to a greener side of Bex, before leading walkers back to their starting point.

From the Belle Époque to present-day Bex

Following the Heritage Panels means discovering the same town at two different points in time. Here, a prestigious hotel once stood. There, a building once served an entirely different purpose. A few streets further on, an old photograph reveals a setting that is almost unrecognisable today.

The panels give a new dimension to places you might otherwise walk past without stopping. They tell the story of Bex's development as a tourist destination, but also of the lives of its residents, its urban transformations and the events that have shaped its identity.

An accessible walk full of fascinating anecdotes, to enjoy all at once or at your own pace during your strolls through Bex.

Think you know Bex? Its past might still surprise you.