Chamoson among vineyards, hiking trails and book culture
Accommodation in Chamoson
Chamoson is in the district of Conthey, in the French-speaking part of Switzerland’s Valais. The village sits on an alluvial fan below the cliffs of Haut de Cry. Vineyards, hiking trails and St-Pierre-de-Clages, with its book village and Romanesque church, offer different ways to shape your stay: spend time outdoors, discover wine or make time for book culture and architecture.
Hiking among vineyards and forests
The Sentier du Cep Ă la Cime is an easy 11 km hike that takes about three hours and involves 360 metres of elevation gain. It starts at Chamoson-St-Pierre-de-Clages station, where parking is available. There are picnic spots and restaurants along the route. Check local conditions before setting out.
Chamoson’s hiking trails pass through terraced vineyards and alpine forests. Viewpoints offer vistas across the Rhône Valley. These landscapes provide varied scenery along the hike, while the distance and approximate duration of the Sentier du Cep à la Cime offer a practical basis for planning your time.
Discover wine and winemaking
Chamoson has more than 400 hectares of vineyards and more than 50 wine producers. Twenty-one red grape varieties and 18 white grape varieties are grown here. The most common varieties include Pinot Noir, Sylvaner—known as Johannisberg in Valais—and Gamay. Johannisberg is considered a speciality of Chamoson, with around 75 hectares of vineyards devoted to it. The municipality also uses the designation “Terre de Johannisberg.”
Four grape varieties from Chamoson carry the Grand Cru AOC Valais quality label: Johannisberg, Petite Arvine, Pinot Noir and Syrah. The wine experience “Chamoson – patrie du Johannisberg” includes a walk through the vineyards, lunch, a guided wine tasting and a visit to a wine cellar. This experience is available from May to October.
La Petite Cave welcomes visitors for wine tastings and explains the different stages of winemaking. Chamoson’s wine cellars also invite visitors to discover their wines and the work involved in the vineyards. Visiting arrangements may vary from one cellar to another. The experiences therefore have different focuses: the wine experience connects several stops, while La Petite Cave centres on tasting and explanations of winemaking.
Book culture and the church in St-Pierre-de-Clages
Booksellers at the Village Suisse du Livre welcome visitors all year round. Their selection includes rare, second-hand, old and out-of-print books. The FĂŞte du Livre in St-Pierre-de-Clages has been held on the last weekend of August since 1993. It combines a large second-hand book market with authors, themed exhibitions and numerous activities. Check the dates for the relevant edition before travelling.
The church of St-Pierre-de-Clages is a semi-underground Romanesque church in the Cluniac style. Its octagonal bell tower is described as unique in Switzerland. The church’s main structure forms a cohesive whole dating from the first half of the 11th century; the upper storeys of the octagonal tower were built later. Guided tours of the church are available by reservation for groups of 2 to 15 people and last about an hour. Confirm current tour availability before booking.
Getting there and planning your visit
Regional trains run from Sion or Martigny to Chamoson station, which is located in St-Pierre-de-Clages. Check the timetable before travelling. The experiences differ considerably in when they are available: the wine experience is offered from May to October, booksellers at the Village Suisse du Livre welcome visitors year-round, and the FĂŞte du Livre is scheduled for the last weekend in August. Plan your stay around wine, book culture or the event programme for the dates of your visit.
Discover more destinations: Conthey, VĂ©troz, Ardon Vs, Nendaz.
Return to the main travel overview: Conthey.
