Water Paths: The Aflaj of the Sultanate of Oman
Overview
Intro
When water carves paths between arid regions and mountains. At first glance, everything seems to set the Alpine landscapes of Valais in stark contrast to the arid expanses of Oman.
When water carves paths between arid regions and mountains. At first glance, everything seems to set the Alpine landscapes of Valais apart from the arid expanses of Oman. And yet, an invisible thread connects them: water.
In these two rare and challenging regions, societies have learned to capture, channel, and share this vital resource with remarkable ingenuity. The exhibition thus offers an immersive exploration of Oman’s traditional irrigation systems—the aflaj—which echo the Swiss bisses, revealing unexpected parallels.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the aflaj are among the oldest irrigation systems still in operation in the world.
Their operation relies on engineering that is as unobtrusive as it is remarkable: water is collected from underground aquifers or springs, then channeled over long distances through hand-dug tunnels, sometimes spanning several kilometers. Thanks to precise control of the slope, the water flows naturally—without the need for mechanical devices—before being redistributed to the oases via a network of secondary canals tailored to agricultural needs.
But the aflaj tell a story that goes far beyond a technical feat.
Through artifacts, archives, films, testimonials, and interactive exhibits, visitors are invited to explore these systems in all their complexity, as well as their deeply human dimension.
Note: This text was translated by machine translation software and not by a human translator. It may contain translation errors.
| Contact address |
Musée valaisan des Bisses / Walliser Suonenmuseum
Rue du Pissieu 1 1966 Botyre - Ayent 027 398 41 47 contact@musee-des-bisses.ch |
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| Location |
Musée valaisan des Bisses / Walliser Suonenmuseum Rue du Pissieu 1 1966 Botyre (Ayent) Switzerland |
| Event Homepage | http://www.musee-des-bisses.ch/ |
| Arrival |
Mit öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln:
PostAuto-Linie 351 (Sion – Anzère) oder 353 (Sion – Crans-Montana), Haltestelle Botyre (Ayent), Zentrum oder Botyre (Ayent), Abzweigung Blignou.
Mit dem Auto:
Ab Autobahnausfahrt Sion-Ost der Beschilderung Richtung Ayent–Anzère folgen bis Botyre (Ayent). Parkplätze befinden sich in der Nähe des Museums, bei der Kapelle.
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| Price |
Adult: CHF 10.–
Student/AVS/AI: CHF 8.-
Child: CHF 5.–
Family: CHF 25.-
Special rates are listed on the museum’s website; group rates are available upon request
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| Opening hours |
Mid-April through mid-November: Wednesday through Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
From July through August: Monday through Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
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The content presented here is provided and updated by regional/local tourist offices or event organisers, which is why Switzerland Tourism is unable to guarantee the correctness of the contents.
Event dates
- 02 October 2026
- 03 October 2026
- 04 October 2026
- 07 October 2026
- 08 October 2026
- 09 October 2026
- 10 October 2026
- 11 October 2026
- 14 October 2026
- 15 October 2026
- 16 October 2026
- 17 October 2026
- 18 October 2026
- 21 October 2026
- 22 October 2026
- 23 October 2026
- 24 October 2026
- 25 October 2026
- 28 October 2026
- 29 October 2026
- 30 October 2026
- 31 October 2026
- 01 November 2026
- 04 November 2026
- 05 November 2026
- 06 November 2026
- 07 November 2026
- 08 November 2026
- 11 November 2026
- 12 November 2026
- 13 November 2026
- 14 November 2026