Discover Fully: Nature, Wine and Culture

Fully can be explored through a wide range of themes: the Les Follatères nature reserve, trails through chestnut groves and vineyards, and places where Alpine traditions and the history of hydropower come to life. To plan your stay, you can first consider whether nature trails, mountain biking, or wine and culture will shape your visit.

Les Follatères: a nature reserve with varied elevations

Les Follatères near Fully is a nature reserve of national importance. It covers 5 km², extending from the valley floor at 450 metres to 1,800 metres. Dry, sunny trails and more than 200 plant species of Mediterranean or eastern origin characterise the area. In the Mont-Rosel–Les Follatères nature reserve, trails pass through vineyards, oak and pine forests, a rocky steppe and a dry meadow.

The Les Follatères nature trail passes through dry steppes and oak groves with a Mediterranean character, right in the heart of the Alps. It focuses on the region’s flora and fauna. At 11.1 km, it is designated as a full-day route. Its combination of elevations and varied landscapes gives this natural area a distinctive character.

Trails through chestnut groves and vineyards

Above the village of Fully, the Sentier didactique de la Châtaigneraie winds through the chestnut forest. The trail is considered unique in Valais, is 1.26 km long and is suitable for families. Fourteen information panels explain the history and characteristics of the chestnut tree and its forest. This makes for a clearly defined walk that also offers insight into local tree and forest history.

The Sentier des vignes et des guérites focuses on a different theme: it connects the chestnut groves of Branson and Vers-l’Église and offers views over the Rhône plain. Information panels explain how the vine develops over the course of the year and highlight the distinctive features of Fully’s wine-growing area. A guided walk through the wine landscape leads to terraced vineyards in the Combe d’Enfer and the Plamont area, and also explores the local flora and geology.

Mountain biking and geocaching

The Fully Bike Park is an outdoor mountain bike park for all ability levels. Its features include several difficulty levels, jumps of different sizes, balance modules and banked turns. The Bike Park can be reached from Martigny by car or public transport.

The Jeur-Brûlée mountain bike route leads to the hamlet of the same name at 1,525 metres, the highest hamlet in the municipality of Fully. It crosses the Les Follatères nature reserve and offers views of the Rhône plain and the surrounding peaks. The biking options therefore feature both the park’s technical elements and a route closely connected to the landscape.

The Explore Fully GeoTour runs from Beudon to Branson, taking in 20 geocaches along the municipality’s slopes and passing key tourist attractions and historical sites. Allow around 8 km and a full day to complete the tour. It can be done in several stages and in any order, making it possible to structure the tour differently from a route with a set day-by-day itinerary.

Winegrowing, museums and hydropower

At the Maison de la Petite Arvine, a fresco by Pierre Faval depicts the history of winegrowing in Fully. The Maison also includes a wine cellar featuring wines from Fully, regional products, a workshop space and light meals featuring local specialities. The wooden pavilion Fol’terres offers wines and local products from 100 winegrowing businesses and 40 producers. These two venues give wine its own place alongside the trails through the vineyards.

The Musée de Fully is housed in the Belle Usine and showcases Alpine know-how and the history of hydropower in Valais. Its historical perspective spans Alpine traditions and the first turbines through to the rise of hydropower in Valais. The museum thus complements the wine and nature themes with insights into technical and regional history.

Visits and trail directions

The Musée de Fully is open for self-guided public visits on Wednesdays from 14:00 to 17:00. Check the opening hours before you travel. Guided group visits can be arranged on request through the Office du Tourisme de Fully; advance booking is required.

The Portail de Fully is a natural arch of dolomite rock formed by erosion. The rock formed in shallow, very warm waters. From L’Erié, you can reach it via the Col de la Blè: cross the pass, descend into the scree field, and then follow the signpost to the Portail de Fully. Mountain access conditions can vary seasonally; check them before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Martigny, Isérables, Martigny-Combe, Trient Vs, Leytron, Saxon, Saillon, Arbarey.

Return to the main travel overview: Martigny.