Terraced Vineyards Trail around Martigny
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.
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Difficulty
easy
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Length
6.4 km
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Duration
1:45 h
- Visualizzare sulla mappa
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)
