Sion

May to October is the best time for the hills and vineyards. Summer is warm and dry. Autumn is the grape harvest and has clear light. Winter is cool and sunny in the valley, and the nearby resorts have snow. The Valais is one of the driest areas of Switzerland.

• Basilique Notre-Dame de Valère is a fortified church on the Valère hill. It has one of the oldest playable organs in the world, from the 14th century.
• Château de Tourbillon is a ruined castle on the second hill, with views of the valley.
• Cathédrale de Sion is the main church of the old town.
• Musée d'art du Valais shows art from the Valais.
• Nécropole du Petit-Chasseur is a prehistoric burial site with standing stones.

• Climb to Valère and Tourbillon for views.
• Walk through the vineyards on the slopes above the town.
• Taste Valais wines such as Fendant and Petite Arvine.
• Visit the old town streets and the town hall.
• Cycle along the Rhone path.

• Siders is a wine town about 10 minutes away by train.
• Martigny has Roman ruins and a large art museum. It is about 20 minutes away by train.
• Crans-Montana is a ski and golf resort above the valley.
• Nendaz is a mountain resort south of the valley.
• Zermatt is the Matterhorn village. The trip takes about 2 hours with a train change in Visp.

• Siders and Martigny are the nearest towns in the valley.
• Crans-Montana, Nendaz and Zermatt are the nearest mountain resorts.

• By air: Geneva is the nearest main airport, about 2 hours away by train.
• By train: Sion is on the main line through the Rhone valley. Check times on SBB.
• Trains from Lausanne take about 1 hour.

• The old town is easy to walk.
• The castle hills are a steep climb on foot. A bus also runs to the foot of Valère.
• Local buses link the station with the surrounding villages.
• Postal buses serve the side valleys.

• A car is not needed in the old town.
• Use a car park near the centre and walk.
• A car helps for the side valleys and ski resorts. Winter tyres or chains may be needed.

Try raclette, which comes from the Valais. Dried meat and rye bread are local products. The region is Switzerland's largest wine area. Local wines are served in many cafés.

Most people speak French. Many speak some German and English.

• Sion is very safe.
• The castle paths are steep and uneven. Wear good shoes.
• Tap water is safe to drink.
• Summer can be hot and dry, so carry water on hill walks.

People have lived at Sion for thousands of years. The site had a large prehistoric burial ground. The Romans later held the town. Sion became a bishop's seat in the 6th century.

The bishops ruled the Valais for centuries, and they built Valère and Tourbillon. The ruins of Tourbillon date from a fire in 1788.

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