Tour de la falaise de St-Maurice
St-Maurice
-2/4°
A contrasting and scenic loop below and above the cliffs that tower above St. Maurice, leading past nationally important cultural sites and historical fortifications.
Difficulty
IntermediateLength
7.29 kmDuration
2:15 h
Description
The narrowest stretch of the lower Rhône valley is by the ancient town of St-Maurice, strategically located between towering cliffs and the fast-flowing river.
This scenic trail follows the foot of the cliffs before climbing to the plateau above, revealing a balcony view of the Rhône valley. The trail then crosses the plateau in the opposite direction, before twisting back down through the woods at the northern end of the town.
The final stretch of the walk leads past some hidden secrets. “La Grotte aux Fées” (“Fairies’ Grotto”) was Switzerland’s first cave complex to open to the public, more than 150 years ago. A 500-metre passageway leads to a subterranean lake and waterfall.
A doorway in the side of the tunnel, meanwhile, leads to an underground artillery fort, one of three excavated in the cliffs on either side of the river. The Fort de Cindey regularly hosts guided tours of a complex that remained top-secret until abandoned in 1995. A little further downhill, a castle stands guard over the narrowest point in the valley; built between the 15th and 17th centuries, it now houses a museum that celebrates the art of the graphic novel.
The final stretch of the walk leads past the jewel of St-Maurice’s crown: its abbey, founded more than 1,500 years ago and home to a priceless treasury.
Highlights:
- Towering cliffs – dramatic backdrop to start of walk
- La Grotte aux Fées – underground caves, lake and waterfall
- Military fortifications – guided tours of tunnel networks, gun emplacements
- Abbey of St-Maurice – 1,500 years of history, priceless treasury
Turn-by-turn directions
From the railway station, the trail initially leads north to a railway underpass before doubling back south to follow the line of cliffs. At the hamlet of Les Cases, the footpath zig-zags up wooded slopes to the hamlet of Les Bassex, just below the village of Vérossaz. The trail leads northwards across the plateau, following the line of cliffs in the opposite direction, before twisting back down through the woods (beware, slippery in wet conditions) towards the floor of the valley. Along the way, the path passes the entrance to La Grotte aux Fées and the Fort de Cindey before descending to the castle of St-Maurice, just above the river. The final stretch of trail leads along the foot of the cliffs again past the abbey, back to the station.
Start
St-Maurice (train station) (421m)
Destination
St-Maurice (train station) (421m)
Author's recommendation
Bring a pair of binoculars: the cliffs are a nesting site for birds including rare peregrine falcons.
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. Find full timetable information at sbb.ch
Approach
A9 motorway, exit 20 (St-Maurice).
Parking
Source
This activity is brought to you by Valais/Wallis Promotion
