Chemin du vignoble, Stage 3/4

Sion is surrounded by a sea of vineyards that laps against the slopes of the two rocky outcrops of Valère (also known as Valeria) and Tourbillon, each crowned with castles. The terraces of grapevines in the first section of this walk are among the steepest in the world. The route takes you along a picturesque old irrigation channel, known as a “Suone”, and through winemaking villages where you can enjoy tasting opportunities.

The roughly 19 km hike begins directly at the Sion, Pôle Musique bus stop. The waymarked trail leads out of Sion, past the Guérite Brûlefer and onwards to Molignon. Open meadows and pastures alternate with village houses, while the trail initially remains at lower elevations.

From Molignon, the route descends to Saint-Léonard. Close to the trail lies the Lac Souterrain, which, at 260 metres long, is the largest underground lake in Europe. The trail then begins to climb again, steadily gaining elevation across open terrain. Ollon VS is the next village, before the longer ascent towards Venthône begins.

After just over five hours, the houses of Venthône are reached. On the final section, the route climbs once more, reaching its highest point at around 815 m. Shortly afterwards, it passes the Eglise St-Sébastien on the way to the destination in Venthône; the Venthône, village bus stop is just under 300 metres away.