Making a stop in Sion is well worthwhile: the oldest of Switzerland’s cities in the sunny Rhône Valley is characterised by its fortress hills and its old town. From here, you can explore the Valais region and sample specialities such as the famous Valais wines in the vineyards themselves.
This is Sion
Sion, also known by its German name Sitten, is a town in the canton of Valais in the southwest of Switzerland. The city in the Rhône Valley is known for its
old town, its castle hills and the many Valais specialities that can be found here.
Discover Sion
Begin your exploration tour at the Mont d’Orge lake. From here, you can enjoy the views over Sion, with its fan-shaped old town and its unmistakable castle hills. Settlement history dating back 7,000 years lie ahead of you. Through the vineyards, you’ll reach the traffic-free Grand Rue du Pont, which offers local shops. Stroll through the winding alleyways past the Cathedral of Our Lady of Sion and the Witches’ Tower until the route heads uphill to the city’s landmarks: the ruins of Tourbillon Castle and the fortified Valeria Castle Church.
Valais specialities
From the
Rhône Valley via the vineyards to the alpine pastures:
Valais is one of the most exciting Swiss cantons when it comes to cuisine. No matter whether it’s
raclette, apricots, saffron,
wine or
dried meat: you can find typical Valais products in Sion at its weekly market, at its speciality shops, as well as in Sion’s wine cellars and numerous restaurants.
The bisses of Sion
How does the water get from the mountains down to the Rhône Valley and to the meadows and vineyards? The answer: a centuries-old
irrigation system with reservoirs and canals, known as
bisses. Fill your backpack with Valais specialities from Sion’s shops and discover its exciting cultural heritage – on the idyllic paths along the six bisses in and around Sion or at the
“Bisses” museum in Ayent.
Around Sion
A boat trip on the largest
underground lake in St-Léonard is a truly magical experience. Also worth a detour is the Domaine des Îles, with its lake, adventure park and
surfer’s paradise Alaïa Bay next door. Other popular destinations include the Savièse winegrowing area above Sion or the
Derborence nature reserve. You can reach the summer and winter destinations of
Anzère,
Verbier and
Crans-Montana or the thermal baths of
Saillon and
Leukerbad in no time at all.
Experience Sion for less
Stay in Sion for one night or more and you’ll get the
Carte d’Hôte, which offers many advantages such as free city bus travel and free admission to the thermal baths. With the
PASS 13*, you can also travel for less by public transport throughout the entire canton.
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