Valais
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12 Recommendations
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1. Église-Forteresse de Valère
On Valère, Sion's lower hill, the Église-Forteresse de Valère is a striking example of sacred and secular power combined—reflective of the church's heyday, when it often subjugated rather than served its parishioners. Built on Roman foundations, the massive stone walls enclose both the château and the 11th-century Église Notre-Dame de Valère (Church of Our Lady of Valère). This structure stands in a relatively raw form, rare in Switzerland, where monuments are often restored to perfection. Over the engaging Romanesque carvings, 16th-century fresco fragments, and 17th-century stalls painted with scenes of the Passion, is a rare organ, with a cabinet painted with two fine medieval Christian scenes. Dating from the 15th century, it's the oldest playable organ in the world (though it doesn't appear old, as it was restored in 2005), and an annual organ festival celebrates its musical virtues. The château complex also houses the Musée d'Histoire (History Museum), which displays a wide array of medieval sacristy chests and religious artifacts. Expanded exhibits trace daily life and advances in the canton from these early centuries to the present day. Explanations are in three languages, including English. To reach the museum and church, you have to trek up uneven stone walkways and steep staircases, but you won't regret it.
24 rue des Châteaux, Sion, Valais, 1950, Switzerland027-6064715Sight Details
Rate Includes: Church free, guided tour SF4; museum SF12 (free 1st Sun. of month), Church and museum closed Mon. Oct.–May. No guided tours Mon.–Sat. Oct.–May -
2. Château de Tourbillon
Crowning Tourbillon, the higher of Sion's hills, the ruined château was built as a bishop's residence at the end of the 13th century and destroyed by fire in 1788. If you take the rugged hike up the steep hill, try to visit the tiny chapel with its ancient, layered frescoes.
14 rue des Châteaux, Sion, Valais, 1950, SwitzerlandSight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed mid-Nov.–mid-Mar. -
3. Hôtel de Ville
The Town Hall has extraordinary historic roots: though it was built in the 1650s, it has transplanted stones in the entrance bearing Roman inscriptions, including a Christian symbol from the year AD 377. The 17th-century doors are richly carved wood, and the tower displays an astronomical clock. The interior is accessible only on walking tours run by the tourism office.
Rue de Conthey and Rue du Grand-Pont, Sion, Valais, 1950, Switzerland -
4. Isérables
High up in the bluffs and valleys to the south of Sion are scores of isolated eagle's-nest towns, including Isérables. Set on a precarious slope that drops 3,280 feet into the lowlands, the town has narrow streets that weave between crooked old stone-shingle mazots. Since the arrival of the cable car, Isérables has prospered and modernized itself. Yet the inhabitants of this village still carry the curious nickname Bedjuis. Some say it's derived from "Bedouins" and that the people are descended from the Saracen hordes who, after the battle of Poitiers in 732 AD, overran some of the high Alpine valleys. Excursions to the sights and villages of this haute vallée (high valley) can be accomplished in a day, with a little time to hike and explore before returning to Sion.
Valais, Switzerland -
5. Lac Souterrain St-Léonard
For an activity the whole family can enjoy, take a half-hour boat ride across the largest natural subterranean lake in Europe at 984 feet long, where you can see strange rock formations and even fish under the crystal clear water. Bring an extra sweater, even in summer, as it gets chilly when you descend into the cave. Watch for monthly boat concerts on the lake, where the acoustics are exceptional.
21 rue du Lac, Valais, 1958, Switzerland027-2032266Sight Details
Rate Includes: SF10, Closed mid-Nov.–mid-Mar. -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. Maison Supersaxo
This grand old home, tucked into a passageway off Rue Supersaxo, was built in 1505 by Georges Supersaxo, the local governor, to put his rivals to shame. This extravagantly decorated building includes a Gothic staircase and grand hall, whose painted wood ceiling is a dazzling work of decorative art.
Passage Supersaxo, Sion, Valais, 1950, Switzerland027-3238550Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed weekends -
7. Musée d'Art du Valais
One of the main reasons to visit the Musée d'Art, housed in the remains of two 12th-century castles, is to discover the work of Swiss artist Ernest Biéler (1863–1948). For three decades from around 1905, he painted life in Savièse, a community in the Sion district. The naive vibe of these scenes and portraits offers a glimpse into the Valais as it once was. The museum also features a small but intriguing collection of canvases, photography, and other works from the 18th century to today by international and local artists.
15 pl. de la Majorie, Sion, Valais, 1950, Switzerland027-6064690Sight Details
Rate Includes: SF8. Free 1st Sun. of month, Closed Mon. -
8. Musée de la Nature du Valais
Opened in 2013 in the former Archaeological Museum, this space's theme is "Man and Nature in the Valais," which aims to inspire visitors to consider their relationship with the natural environment in the Valais, from the Mesolithic age to today. Installations feature typical flora and life-size representations of fauna that inhabit this diverse land.
12 rue des Châteaux, Sion, Valais, 1950, Switzerland027-6064730Sight Details
Rate Includes: SF8. Free 1st Sun. of month, Closed Mon. -
9. Notre-Dame du Glarier
The cathedral is dominated by its Romanesque tower, built in the Lombard style and dating from the 12th century. The rest of the church is late Gothic in style.
Rue de la Cathédrale, Sion, Valais, 1950, Switzerland -
10. Old Town
Up Rue de Lausanne, the Old Town is a blend of attractive 16th-century houses, modern shops, and a host of sights worth seeing.
Sion, Valais, Switzerland -
11. St-Pierre-de-Clages
Known for its 11th-century church, this village is also known as the only "book town" in Switzerland. Secondhand-book-dealers' shops are clustered around the Place and Rue de l'Eglise, and some of them, like Nico's Books, also sell titles in English. A main attraction is one of Switzerland's quirkiest mom-and-pop stores, La Potagère (3 rue de l'Eglise, 027/3064344), crammed to (and including) the rafters with local oils, vinegars, organic teas, syrups, dried fruit, and delicious jams made in-house.
Valais, Switzerland -
12. Tour des Sorciers
Just across from the cathedral, this tower is the last remnant of the walls that once ringed the town.
Rue de la Tour, Sion, Valais, 1950, Switzerland
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