Wine Route: Sion – Venthône (Stage 3)

The wine route follows a scenic path along the sunny southern slopes and through charming winegrower villages in the Valais wine region. The wine route can be explored in three ways – by car, by bike, or on foot. The 65-kilometer hike, consisting of 4 stages, allows you not to miss any of the numerous sights. 

Along the third stage from the northern outskirts of Sion, the hike passes through the vineyards to Venthône above Sierre. Here, the Rhone valley becomes noticeably narrower than during the first two stages. Water accompanies the hikers throughout the tour: the route follows a Suone, one of the historic irrigation canals that transported water from glaciers to the vineyards and orchards. 

The Bisse de Clavau was built in the 15th century and runs through the steepest terraced vineyards in the world with fantastic views of the old town of Sion. The first section passes numerous wine cottages that invite you to wine tasting on terraces beautifully shaded by grapevines. 

The hike leads through the gorge of the La Liène stream and leaves the Suone here. Then follows a short detour to the village of St-Léonard, crossing the river there to ascend again into the vineyards on the other side. The path here passes above an unusual attraction: the largest navigable underground lake in Europe. You can reach the lake from the village and book a guided boat tour on the crystal-clear water of the lake.

The path continues through some wine villages to the end point of the stage in Venthône. The village consists of a series of medieval buildings with a watchtower from the 12th century. The building is now used as a restaurant and regularly hosts exhibitions.

Highlights of the hike: