Chemin du vignoble
Overview
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Distance 12 km
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Duration 3 h 30 min
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Ascent 460 m
Intro
Between Saillon and Martigny you’re in the land of Gamay wine and fascinating contrasts: at your feet the completely cultivated Rhonetal valley, in the distance the glistening snow fields of Mont Blanc. Fully is the capital of the Petite Arvine grape.
Description
The first leg of the 66-kilometre chemin du vignoble route, stretching from Martigny to Leuk, starts on the southern slopes of the Rhone Valley. The moment you set off from the banks of the river Rhone, you will already be in your first vineyard of the trip. It only takes a little bit of climbing and the views of the expansive Rhone Valley and the Bietschhorn mountain 66 kilometres away (as the crow flies) are already glorious. At almost 4,000 metres above sea level, its perfectly formed peaks tower above all the other mountains.
The terraced landscape nestled into its steep south face, which is home to a combination of grapevines and rocks, is perfect for the Marsanne (known as Ermitage in Switzerland) and Petite Arvine grape varieties. They thrive in this dry and sunny microclimate. You will walk along a mixture of narrow paths and wide gravel and country roads, passing by countless terraces of vines. The long retaining walls along the road are also impressive. After just under an hour and a half, you will pass through a little chestnut forest. In 1994, a festival was founded in honour of this esteemed nut. A market for chestnut products with 300 stalls, music, a wine village, outdoor activities and a cooking competition have been attracting many festivalgoers to Fully ever since.
After another hour, you will reach the Canal de Gru. Water pumps are at the ready to water the grapes in the hot summer months. You can also already spot Saillon’s main landmark: the 19-metre-tall Bayard Tower atop its keep. It was named after the owner of the plot and built by the Counts of Savoy in 1260. This first leg ends in Saillon a little further on. This village has a well-preserved medieval centre and is also renowned for its thermal spas.
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 |
Martigny
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
Saillon
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| Direction |
One way
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| Ascent |
460 m
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| Descent |
400 m
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| Distance |
12 km
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| Duration |
3 h 30 min
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| Duration back |
3 h 25 min
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| Technical requirements |
Easy
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| Physical requirements |
Medium
|
| Season |
All year
|
| Theme |
Through a vineyard, With panoramic view
|
Quick Facts
Route number
