A wine-growing village with an almost Mediterranean feel, Salgesch is on the border between the French- and German-speaking areas of the Valais. Vineyards and wine are an integral part of village life, with over 30 wineries for around 1,400 inhabitants.
Salgesch is the home of the Nature and Countryside Centre, the visitor centre for the nationally-important Pfyn-Finges nature park, and also of part of the Wine Museum, both of which are well worth a visit.
www.salgesch.ch
Situated alongside the Rhône, at the foot of the Val d’Anniviers and at the mouth of the Navizence gorges, Chippis is famous for its aluminium works. A small village with 1,540 inhabitants, Chippis has a splendid church (St-Urbain), a maison bourgeoisiale (historic public building), and a couvert (covered outdoor eating area) at Foulon.
www.chippis.ch
Between the mountains and the plain, Grône and the nearby hamlets of Loye, Erdesson and Itravers are the gateway to the Vallon de Réchy.
From the Pouta Fontana wildlife reserve to the Ar du Tsan marsh, and not forgetting the Vallon de Réchy, Grône provides an excellent choice of activities for groups and lots of interesting walks.
Grône not only has a history that goes back a thousand years, it also has some unique attractions, including the Château de Morestel and the old anthracite mines.
www.grone.ch
Between Sierre and the Noble-Contrée area, Veyras is an inspirational place for creative activity. A small village with 1,700 inhabitants, Veyras was a favourite place of writers and artists such as Rainer Maria Rilke, Charles-Clos Olsommer, Maurice Chappaz and Corinna Bille.
An inspirational place, Veyras is ideally situated among the sun-drenched vineyards of the Noble-Contrée.
www.veyras.ch
A thousand years of history have given Venthône a multitude of interesting places to visit, some of which are quite unusual. An architectural site of national significance, Venthône contains several mediaeval buildings, including the Tour de Venthône and the Château d'Anchettes.
Venthône’s superb position on a south-facing slope means that its 1,187 residents enjoy a panoramic view of the Valaisan Alps.
www.venthone.ch
A superb place for walkers, Miège is the ideal starting-point for some shady walks alongside historic irrigation channels and on the Planige plateau. Miège is a small wine-growing village beneath the Planige pine forest, with 1,290 inhabitants.
The starting-point for several walks, it has many places of interest, such as the parish church with its Stations of the Cross.
www.miege.ch
Situated partly on an alluvial plain and partly on the lower slopes of a mountain, St-Léonard and its vineyards enjoy a lovely sunny location.
A village with a population of 2,218, St-Léonard has several historic monuments, including the Château de Sonvillaz, the ancient Church of Sonvillaz and the Saint-Nicolas chapel.
The St-Léonard underground lake is an unmissable attraction, drawing numerous visitors from neighbouring countries every year.
www.st-leonard.ch
