Terraced Vineyards Trail around Martigny
Martigny
5/16°
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
EasyLength
6.39 kmDuration
1:45 hDescription
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)
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
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Tags
Public transport
Approach
Parking
Source
This activity is brought to you by Valais/Wallis Promotion