Bourg-St-Pierre / Grand Combin

From Martigny the road climbs the wild narrow valley of the Drance, passing through the village of Sembrancher at the mouth of the Val de Bagnes, to Orsières, and then up the featureless Vallée d'Entremont to Bourg-St-Pierre (1,634 m/5,631ft), a little market town in a wider part of the valley at the mouth of the Valsorey. The parish church (1739) has an 11th C. tower. Beside the church is a Roman milestone (fourth century A.D.). From here a number of difficult climbs can be undertaken including Mont Vélan (3,765 m/12,353ft; seven-eight hours, with guide) and the Grand Combin (4,317 m/ 14,164ft; 11 hours, with guide).