Insight Guides Pocket Switzerland (Travel Guide eBook) by Insight Guides

Author:Insight Guides
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Travel, Switzerland
Publisher: Apa Publications
Published: 2019-11-17T16:00:00+00:00

The Val d’Herens, southeast of Sion, contains a relic from the Ice Age: the so-called Pyramides d’Euseigne, earth pillars protected from erosion by the flat stones which cap them.

Eroding rock formations near the village of Euseigne

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A chapel with Tourbillon Castle in the background

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Between the hills, in Rue des Châteaux, there are two more museums of interest: the Art Museum in Place de la Majorie (www. siontourisme.ch; open Oct–May Tues–Sun 11am–5pm, June–Sept Tue–Sun 11am–6pm), once the residence of church officials, now holds the Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts (Cantonal Fine Arts Museum); and the modern Espace d’archéologie de la Grange-à-l’Evêque (June–Sept Tue–Sun 11am–6pm, Oct–May Tue–Sun 11am–5pm), on the other side of the street, which brings together objects found at archaeological digs all over the canton.

In the heart of town, you will see the 17th-century town hall, painted pink; the astronomical belfry clock is from 1667. The cathedral (Notre-Dame-du-Glarier), in late Gothic style, was built after a fire destroyed the original Romanesque edifice, whose belltower is all that remains.

Sion is a good starting point for day trips to the neighbouring ski resorts. To the north, Crans-Montana ™ [map] offers exceptional ski slopes; it also has facilities for tennis and golf, and various places to shop. Food-lovers will not be disappointed with the cuisine, and night-crawlers may run into holidaying celebrities.

To the south, the Val d’Herens is known for its picturesque villages with dark wood chalets, generously hung with red geraniums in summer. Evolène is an authentic old village, and Arolla (2,000m/6,562ft), to the south, is a centre for mountain climbing.

At the bottom of the Hérémence valley, the 285-m (935-ft) tall Grande Dixence dam # [map] was the tallest dam in the world until 1980. You can arrange to visit from mid-June to September (tel: 027 328 43 11; www.grande-dixence.ch).

Continuing down the Rhône to the east, you will reach the last bastion of the French language, announced by a sign in two languages: Sierre/Siders. Surrounded by vineyards, the town enjoys a particularly dry climate. Taste vintage wines in any one of a number of cellars, or learn about viticultural techniques in the Valaisian Museum of Wines and Winemaking (www.museeduvin-valais.ch; Mar–Nov Tue–Fri 2–6pm, Sat–Sun 11am–6pm).

On a detour to the south of Sierre, nestled in the Val d’Anniviers, you will find Chandolin (1,935m/6,345ft), one of the highest European villages that is inhabited year round, as well as a few other charming mountain resorts, including St-Luc, Grimentz and Zinal, all of which are dwarfed by two mountains: Mount Weisshorn (4,505m/14,780ft) and the Zinalrothorn (4,220m/13,848ft).

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