Martigny

May to October is the best time for the town, the museums and the vineyards. Summer is warm and dry. Autumn is the grape harvest. Winter is cool, and nearby ski resorts have snow. The museums are open all year.

• Fondation Pierre Gianadda is a large art museum with changing exhibitions, a sculpture park and the ruins of a Roman temple.
• Musée gallo-romain shows finds from the Roman town of Octodurus.
• Musée de l'automobile shows historic cars.
• Château de la Bâtiaz is a medieval castle on a rock above the town, with a tall tower.
• Western City Martigny is a small Wild West theme park.
• The Roman amphitheatre near the art museum is partly restored.

• Visit the art museum and its sculpture park.
• Walk up to the castle tower for views.
• Take the mountain train to Chamonix.
• Taste wines in the vineyards around the town.
• Visit the Roman amphitheatre and the Gallo-Roman museum.

• Sion is the capital of the Valais, about 20 minutes away by train.
• Verbier is a large ski and hiking resort above the valley.
• Siders is a wine town further up the valley.
• Chamonix in France is reached by a scenic mountain train from Martigny.
• The Great St Bernard Pass is known for its hospice and the Saint Bernard dogs. The pass road is open in summer.

• Sion and Siders are the nearest towns in the valley.
• Verbier is the nearest large mountain resort.

• By air: Geneva is the nearest main airport, about 1.5 hours away by train.
• By train: Martigny is on the main line along the Rhone valley. Check times on SBB.
• A narrow-gauge mountain railway goes from Martigny to Chamonix in France.

• The town centre is small and easy to walk.
• The station is about 10 minutes from the main sights.
• Local buses serve the districts and nearby villages.
• Postal buses go to the Great St Bernard and to mountain resorts.

• A car is not needed in the town centre.
• Parking near the main sights is limited at busy times.
• A car helps for the Great St Bernard Pass and for the side valleys.

Try raclette, which comes from the Valais. Dried meat, rye bread and local cheese are common. Local white wines such as Fendant and red Pinot Noir are made nearby.

People speak French. English is widely understood.

• Martigny is very safe.
• Mountain roads can close in winter.
• Tap water is safe to drink.
• Summer can be hot, so carry water on hikes.

The Romans founded Octodurus here in the 1st century BC to guard the route over the Great St Bernard Pass. The town kept its role as a crossing in the Middle Ages.

A Roman temple was found in 1976 and became the centre of the art museum that opened in 1978.

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