Dolce Vista and Saype: when Art and Nature become one

Experience the mountains differently. That's what these two family experiences are all about this summer on the heights of Villars. Head for the Col de Bretaye and the summit of the Grand Chamossaire for moments of total immersion in nature, with the new Dolce Vista concept and Saype's ephemeral fresco.

Cogwheel train ride from Villars to Bretaye

On a beautiful July morning, we boarded the legendary train that runs from the village centre to the Col de Bretaye, at an altitude of 1,808 metres. We had previously booked our pedestrian Pass Escapades online, which allowed us to use the destination's ski lifts with our guide for the day. The sky is a brilliant blue, and the fields and mountain pastures are bursting with flowers: the promise of a moment in the great outdoors is there!

The prisms of the Dolce Vista concept

When we arrived in Bretaye, we immediately saw the first elements of the new Dolce Vista concept. Three installations are set out on the quayside, providing a fun way to observe the landscape, with a number of different perspective effects. It's the perfect opportunity to photograph the site from a whole host of different angles!

The sensory cabin at Grand Chamossaire

We continue our Dolce Vista adventure by taking the chairlift below Bretaye station to the summit of Grand Chamossaire, at an altitude of 2,112 metres. We take our time admiring the panorama, with breathtaking views of Mont Blanc, the Dents du Midi, and the Diablerets and the Argentine Massifs.

Then we head for the small wooden cabin, built into the side of the cliff, to discover the immersive experience offered by the concept. Inside, a window offers a breathtaking (and vertiginous!) view of the valley below as well as the Tours d'Aï, de Mayen and Famelon. This is the beginning of a journey in sound, recounting the landscape and the rhythm of mountain life through the seasons. A moment of pure contemplation, tucked away in this little wooded dwelling!

Saype: poetic and committed landart

When we emerged from the cabin, we went back down a few metres to discover the giant ephemeral work by Saype. The artist, who is returning to Villars for the third year running, is renowned for his commitment to raising public awareness of the challenges facing our society and the fragile beauty of the natural world around us. His monumental frescoes on grass are created using biodegradable paint developed by the artist himself. This year, Saype is breaking new ground by using luminescent paint, so that the frescoes can also be admired at night.

Saype's work is revealed before our astonished eyes, against a backdrop of rhododendron bushes in full bloom. The fresco features a little girl cuddled up on a giant pillow, holding her cuddly toy close to her. Beside her, her books, depicting a fox and birds and the moon surrounded by stars. 

The child's eyes are immersed in contemplation of the celestial vault, and we seem to catch him in the moment before sleep, when the sweetest dreams are permitted. The power of the expression on the little figure's face and the attention to detail in this large-scale painting invite the viewer to connect fully with this unique and fleeting moment, which, like the fresco, will last only a short time.

Back to the Col de Bretaye

After this moment of magic and calm, we walk back down to the Col de Bretaye to take full advantage of the magnificent views all around us. We then take the train back to Villars, impressed by the experience we've just had and with a few more stars in our eyes.