Cliff route of St-Maurice
St-Maurice
2/13°
ClosedThis varied and scenic path around St-Maurice runs along the steep rock face past important cultural sites and historic fortresses.
Difficulty
IntermediateLength
7.29 kmDuration
2:15 h
Description
The ancient and charming town of St-Maurice, surrounded by its majestic rock face and the Rhone, was built at the narrowest point of the Rhone Valley.
The picturesque path first runs along the rock face and then up to a plateau, offering a breathtaking view of the Rhone Valley. After crossing the plateau in the opposite direction, the trail descends through dense woods to the northern edge of the small town.
The final stretch holds some secrets to discover. The Fairy Grotto was the first publicly accessible grotto in Switzerland, and for over 150 years you can admire the small underground lake and waterfall on the 500 m long walk through illuminated galleries.
Through a door inside the gallery, you can also reach one of the three underground artillery fortresses carved into the rock on both sides of the river. The Cindey fortress was strictly secret until 1995 and can now be visited on guided tours. A bit further down the hiking trail is St-Maurice Castle, built between the 15th and 17th centuries and today hosting a museum and exhibitions dedicated to graphic art.
The last highlight of the path is the 1500-year-old abbey of St-Maurice with its precious collection of numerous works.
Highlights of the hike:
- Majestic rock face – dramatic backdrop at the starting point of the hike
- Fairy Grotto – underground grotto, small lake and waterfall
- Military artillery fortresses – guided tours through the connecting tunnels, armories
- Abbey of St-Maurice – 1500-year history, treasury
Turn-by-turn directions
From the train station, the path first leads north to a railway underpass before turning south below the rock face. From the hamlet Les Cases, it zigzags up to the hamlet Les Bassex, which is located slightly below the village of Vérossaz. The path then heads north across the plateau, following the rock face in the opposite direction, before descending through the woods (caution, slippery when wet) down into the valley. The hiking trail passes the Fairy Grotto and the Cindey fortress, descending to St-Maurice Castle, which overlooks the Rhone. The last section runs along the rock face past the 1500-year-old abbey back to the train station.
Start
St-Maurice train station (421m)
Destination
St-Maurice train station (421m)
Author's recommendation
Technical information
Altitude
767m
413m
Ascent
+358m
Descent
-358m
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Best time of the year
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Tags
Public transport
Train to St-Maurice. Detailed train schedules can be found at sbb.ch.
Approach
Parking
Source
This activity is brought to you by Valais/Wallis Promotion
