Chemin du vignoble
Overview
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Distance 22 km
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Duration 6 h 15 min
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Ascent 860 m
Intro
Steep limestone walls tower imposingly above the scree at Chamoson. Vines grow on the scree, almost baking in the sun. Vétroz is the birthplace of the rare grape variety Amigne. Enchanting vineyard terraces with ancient Suonen (irrigation channels) encircle Sion.
Description
The second leg of the chemin du vignoble route starts in picturesque Saillon. This village is known for its unique climate, which is not only ideal for grapes, but also for almond and fig trees. The main landmark of Saillon is the 19-metre-tall Bayard Tower. It sits enthroned atop the keep, with magnificent views over the village and Rhone Valley. Shortly after heading off, you will have another lovely view of the medieval village.
The Salentse stream is followed by a short, steep climb. Walk along the grapevines and enjoy the fantastic views of the Rhone Valley and the Bietschorn. Upstream lies the Goms district, while downstream is Chablais. Although the Rhone flows through both regions, neither is considered part of the area known as the Rhone Valley.
After almost two hours, you will reach the village of Chamoson, which is towered over by steep limestone rock faces. Staying on surfaced road for the most part, you will arrive at Ardon and then Vétroz, where the rare Amigne grape variety thrives. This ancient, native grape variety only grows on 38 hectares of vineyard in the world, 70% of which are located here in Vétroz, with the rest in neighbouring municipalities. This is an extremely small area, especially taking into account the fact that there are 5,200 hectares of vineyards between Visp and Lake Geneva alone.
In the quaint village of Sensine, you will walk down narrow streets to the Morge stream and then climb back up to the same altitude again. Now comes the final hour of walking to Sion, surrounded by grapevines. Just like in Saillon, the main landmark here is also above the town: the two rocky hills of Tourbillon and Valère. While the castle on Tourbillon was ruined in a fire in 1788, Valère and its basilica are very well preserved and a popular tourist destination.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Saillon
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Sion / Sitten
|
| Direction |
One way
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| Ascent |
860 m
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| Descent |
800 m
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| Distance |
22 km
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| Duration |
6 h 15 min
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| Duration back |
6 h 15 min
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| Technical requirements |
Easy
|
| Physical requirements |
Difficult
|
| Season |
All year
|
| Theme |
Through a vineyard, With panoramic view
|
Quick Facts
Route number
