Hikes

Terraced Vineyards Trail around Martigny

Martigny

11/16°

A loop through the terraced vineyards above Martigny, taking in the medieval castle and the pretty winemaking village of Plan Cerisier. Thrilling views of Martigny and the Rhône valley.

Difficulty

Easy

Length

6.39 km

Duration

1:45 h

Description

For generations, winemakers have grown vines on the sunny slopes overlooking Martigny. These are steep – hence the complex network of terraces and supporting dry-stone walls, carefully maintained by hand.This walk is a loop through the vineyards, with a series of illustrated panels covering vinegrowing techniques, local traditions, wildlife and history.

Along the way, the trail leads past Martigny’s medieval castle, with reconstructions of siege weapons in the open courtyard. Climb the tower for a 360-degree panorama from the roof terrace.

At the far end of the loop, the winemaking hamlet of Plan Cerisier is home to pretty houses, traditional wooden “mazot” barns and Switzerland’s smallest “mazot-museum”. The views from the café-restaurant’s wide, shady terrace over Martigny and the Rhône valley are superb.

The final stretch of walk is a pleasant stroll along the river Dranse back into town.

Highlights:

Château de la Batiaz – courtyard with siege weapons, panoramic tower
Plan Cerisier – pretty winemaking village, tiny “mazot” museum
Martigny – many attractions within a few minutes’ walk of the trail, including Barryland (museum devoted to St. Bernard dogs and local history); Fondation Gianadda (world-class temporary art exhibitions plus collections of local Roman artefacts, vintage cars, sculpture garden); Roman amphitheatre; Museum of Earth Sciences (crystal collection); Le Manoir arts centre (exhibitions, live music)

Turn-by-turn directions

From the historical wooden bridge across the River Dranse, the trail leads to the right along the foot of the cliffs before zig-zagging up through the woods to the castle.

The trail then climbs steadily through the steep vineyards, occasionally on stony paths, at times on surfaced lanes used by the winegrowers. Along the way it crosses the road leading to the Col de la Forclaz and France, before reaching the hamlet of Plan Cerisier, ideal for a refreshment break.

From here, the trail drops back down to the valley floor, first following lanes through the vineyards, then along the river Dranse downstream, back to the covered wooden bridge.

NB The English name “Terraced Vineyards Trail” appears on an official leaflet but not on signposts. The walk also appears online under other names, including “Chemin du vignoble de Martigny”.

Start

Bridge Pont de la Bâtiaz (474m)

Destination

Bridge Pont de la Bâtiaz (473m)

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Author's recommendation

Towards the end of the walk, cross the river to visit the Fondation Louis Moret (art exhibitions).

Technical information

Altitude

666m

467m

Ascent

+200m

Descent

-199m

Technique

Stamina

Experience

Landscape

Best time of the year

Public transport

Train to Martigny (SBB). The walk begins 800 m from the station. Find full timetable information at www.sbb.ch.

Approach

A9 motorway: exit 21, “Martigny-Fully”. Take Avenue de Fully to get to the centre of Martigny.

Parking

Public car parking close to the start of the walk (fee payable). Follow the local car park routeing in Martigny.

Equipment

We recommend:

good footwear
clothing suitable for the weather: always carry a waterproof jacket
hat or cap
sunscreen
bottle for water
picnic
camera
binoculars (optional)
hiking poles (optional)
printout of this hike (click “Print” icon, top right, to download)

For certain walks:

Swimwear

Safety information

Use of the trails and the information on this website is at hikers’ own risk. Local conditions may entail changes to routes. Valais/Wallis Promotion accepts no liability for the accuracy and completeness of information on this website.

For all hikes:

Bring a map. Download full description of this route including large-scale map by clicking on “Print” icon, top right of this page.
Use marked trails only, and observe all signposting – for your own safety, to safeguard grazing animals and to avoid disturbing wildlife.
Close gates after passing through.
Please be considerate to other trail users, and to the plants and animals.
Do not leave any waste in nature.

For mountain hikes:

Take extra care protecting yourself from the sun at altitude. UV radiation can be exceptionally strong, even in cloudy weather.
Plan hike carefully: take into consideration fitness level of each participant, weather forecast and season.
Weather conditions can change quickly in the mountains, without warning. Appropriate clothing is therefore essential, along with adequate supplies of food and water. In uncertain weather, turn back in good time.

For high-altitude hikes:

Inform others of the route you plan to take. Whenever possible, avoid going alone.
Do not venture onto glaciers without a mountain guide.
Take note of the warning signs that point out the constant danger in river beds and along watercourses below dams and reservoirs: water levels may rise rapidly without warning.

Additional information

More information:

Martigny

Literature

The tourist office in Martigny (500 m from the station) has a leaflet on the walk, and details of the town’s many sights.

Maps

SwissTopo maps 1:25’000: 1325 Sembrancher

Source

This activity is brought to you by Valais/Wallis Promotion