Sion is hills covered with grape vines, it’s local wine. It’s also two medieval buildings on the rocks that rise high above the city. The first is the fortified Basilica de Valeria, with one of the oldest playing organs in the world, and the second is the Tourbillon Castle.

Both buildings, as well as the entire city, are visible from the vine terraces. Plus, in the background, you can see the majestic Alps that surround this beautiful region.

You can walk along the vineyard paths practically all year round, but it is most beautiful at the end of summer and in autumn, when the grapes ripen and the leaves change colour.

It should be noted that Sion is among the top municipalities in the canton of Wallis in terms of the size of the areas under vines. Dozens of varieties grow here, and among them are Pinot Noir, Fendant, Gamay or Johannisberg.

Just looking at the vines makes you want a glass of wine.

I would add that the climate here is quite dry, so the vineyards have been irrigated for hundreds of years by narrow canals. These channel the water from the mountain streams to the vineyards, orchards and also to pastures and fields. They are called Bisses in French (the German name is Suonen).

The route I have drawn leads right along these irrigation channels. Be warned, however, that the paths on the vine terraces are quite narrow in places. There are, of course, no great precipices here, but it is nevertheless necessary to look underfoot and to walk in a jiffy.