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Martigny in ancient times, seen from the Bâtiaz heights around martigny TERRACED VINEYARDS Trail TRAIL The walk starts from the town square – the place Centrale (1) – entirely restored in 2012. The trail first follows the rue Marc Morand et runs Martigny Tourisme along the Vaison-la-Romaine square that is bordered on the east by the Collotype Co., Médiathèque – Image et Son Av. de la Gare 6 1920 Martigny Grand-Maison, an ancient inn built at the beginning of the 16th century 027 720 49 49 (2) that boasted illustrious guests such as Goethe and Dumas. From the [email protected] Manoir – a patrician house dating from 1730 that houses many contem- www.martigny.com porary art exhibitions (3), the trail joins the banks of the Dranse by the Superimposition of plans dating from 1850, 1910 and 1990, former main track. It briefly follows the river’s course before crossing according to C. Coppey, 1991-1992 it by the covered bridge (4), built after the Giétroz debacle that devas- tated the neighbourhood in 1818. The Our-Lady-of-Compassion chapel Path along the Dranse banks (1625-1630), in front of which was located the old bridge, was miracu- lously spared; it houses one of the most beautiful collections of ex-votos Starting point: place Centrale from the Valais (5). Walking time: 1h20 The path then goes back up the Dranse’s left bank, along the front of the Difference in altitude: +30 m -30 m Louis Moret foundation, known for its contemporary art exhibitions (6). Length: 6 km A sign at the Rossettan bridge describes its main characteristics. A little beyond a bend in the river, the trail joins the territory of Martigny-Combe The development of the town of Martigny and goes through the Creusats quarter. It reaches the main road to Martigny’s history in rich in events. A first settlement was founded Photo: Benedetti cross the Dranse at Martigny-Croix, then takes a western direction and around the year 45 AD, close to the Celtic city of Octodure. Then the penetrates Martigny-Bourg, leaving the St-Michael chapel on its left (7). capital city of Roman Valais, Forum Claudii Vallensium became the The walk continues along the village’s Grand Rue; further down, on the first episcopal see. right, are located the former Ursuline convent (8), built in 1645 and, on During the Middle Ages, Martigny was a group of hamlets forming a Gianadda Foundation: the village square, the Trois Couronnes Hotel, built in 1609, at the time community dependent on the Bishop of Sion or the Count of Savoy – large private art exhibition site open of the Martigny Vidomnes’ residence (9). according to historical events. Located at the crossroads of the to the public every day of the year around martigny Continuing along the rue de Surfrête, then the rue du Forum, the trail transalpine routes of the Simplon and the Great St. Bernard, the com- reaches the Gianadda Foundation (10), and the archaeological walk munity’s commerce thrived. Goods and passengers passed in transit. with its many Roman buildings: the Tepidarium (11), the Amphitheatre During the 19th century, the town’s urbanisation took place in stages: (12) – one of the most spectacular monuments of the Forum Claudii overall, the place Centrale’s planning and the arrival of the railway Vallensium Roman town (2nd and 4th century AD) – a section of flagstone constituted a turning point between the mediaeval Martigny, consti- road, the Mithraeum (13), the oldest cellar of the Valais adjoining the tuted of several villages, and the present-day city. Caldarium (14), the Domus Minerva (15) and, finally, leaning against the The town grew along the avenue de la Gare, to the detriment of the parish church, a military milestone as well as the remnants of the early former main road: the old north-south axis of Chemin Royal gave way Christian cathedral dating from the 4th century (16). The town visit ends to the new east-west development axis. on the place Centrale after going round the Town Hall (17) and its huge, During the 20th century, Martigny stretched out to form a single entity Photo: Arnaud Carpentier 55 m2 stained-glass window created by Edmond Bille. by joining the old mediaeval quarters.

Acknowledgements: Espace Mont-Blanc – Creation: Commune de Martigny, Commune de Martigny-Combe, Valrando, Martigny Tourist Office, Gérald Besse wine cellar. Authors: Sarah Besse (Gérald Besse wine cellar oenologist), Sandro Benedetti (geographer). Terraced Cross-sectional view of the soil in the vineyards trail Champortey area Photo: P. Keusch Photo: J.-M. Pillet Photo: M. Darbellay The Western Green Lizard Mountain Pasque Flower Trail (Lacerta bilineata), settled in dry (Pulsatilla montana) is a habitats, its length can exceed 30 precocious flower typical of the From the famous covered bridge (1), the terraced vineyards trail goes Martigny Tourisme cm. It is the country’s most beautiful Valais steppes. It is rather rare through the Bâtiaz quarter. When it reaches the former school building Av. de la Gare 6 saurian, the male’s throat becoming in the rest of . The vineyards and the Bâtiaz tower (2), it turns to the left to climb the winding road towards the castle. On 1920 Martigny bright blue during the mating season. Photo: M. Darbellay the way, it meets various varieties of rocks, of which marble that was 027 720 49 49 [email protected] mined since the Roman period (3). After visiting the castle built during www.martigny.com the 8th century and abandoned in the early 16th century, and its siege engines (4), the walk continues towards the west to reach the very Grown in terraces, the vineyards overlap, each hanging on to the one heart of the Martigny terraced vineyards. above; the slope is steep and the climatic conditions favourable. Dry stone walls A constitutive part of the Valais heritage, the dry stone wall bears witness to the herculean work needed to estab- In 1812, the production of the best wine from Valais was noted on the Following the former historic path leading to the Sommet des Vignes lish arable land surfaces. In the Valais vineyards, the cumulated length of these constructions is estimated at and to Ravoire, it crosses the international Forclaz road – the last pass Martigny slopes. Grape growing expanded together with the arrival 1,500 km. Retaining walls border other stonework such as “murgères” (pile of stones) formed from the stones road entirely built on a new alignment (1957) – then joins a hillside of the railway in the mid-19th century. Techniques and grape varieties removed from the vineyards, arbours and other mazots. Since the years 2000, to counter the risk of dry stone road to carry on towards the Forclaz valley. After about 150 m, the trail change over the years. For the past few years, efforts have been con- walls disappearing and retain a know-how that is becoming rare, the attention of the Valais is newly focused on the maintenance and reconstruction of these walls. follows the old vineyard path down to Plan Cerisier, typical hamlets centrated on diversifying plantations so that a great many specialities constituted of “mazots” (small traditional chalets). One of them houses are produced nowadays on the Martigny slopes. The focus is also Photo: M. Darbellay the vineyard museum (5). placed on the conservation of the traditional heritage, in search of On exiting Plan Cerisier, the path continues downwards towards the authenticity. Martigny-Croix crossroads, leaving the village on the right, crosses the main road and joins the banks of the river Dranse through the The Martigny vineyards Creusats quarter. It follows the foot of the vineyards and their many The Martigny slopes vineyards extend over some 120 hectares across the terraces supported by dry stone walls. It meets a first covered bridge, Martigny and Martigny-Combe territories. With particularly steep slopes gen- View of the valley from then the Rossettan bridge and, along a last pastoral stretch between the terraced vineyards trail erally facing the south-west, it is the largest vineyard on the Rhone’s left bank. the rock and the Dranse, ends at the Bâtiaz covered bridge. Photo: M. Darbellay It is characterised within the Valais vineyards by its soil constituted of mixed scree: limestone, crystalline rocks and moraine. From the Bâtiaz heights to Plan Cerisier, the soil’s limestone content steadily decreases. Starting point: Bâtiaz bridge Walking time: 1h45

Difference in altitude: +205 m -205 m Soleil Tirbovet Le Brésil Les Bans Le Perrey Rossettan Le Liappey Coquimpey Champortey Sur les Scex Les Marques Length: 6 km Plan-Cerisier Les Girardins Les Bellaines The Plan Cerisier museum Opened in 1978 and renovated in 2008, Terraced vineyards the museum-mazot is a tribute to all wine- th th growers from Salvan, and

Growing wild or domesticated as early as the 6 -7 century BC, the Le Sommet des vignes (village) cultivation of vines on the Martigny slopes is attested in texts dating Entremont who worked at Plan Cerisier. The smallest museum reported in Switzer- from the beginning of the 14th century, with the description of les land, it exhibits traditional objects that were Bans, Soleil, Champortey and En-Celluysier (Plan Cerisier) plots. used in the vines and for the transhumance, and occasionally works of local artists. Photo: M. Darbellay

Reprinted with permission from swisstopo (BA 130157)