Rhône Valley Road - Driving Tour

The Rhône valley road runs northeast from the old town of Martigny, from which roads run south to the Great St Bernard and the Col de la Forclaz, and then up the left bank of the river, traversing a region of fruit orchards on the valley floor, flanked by rocky hillsides, and often passing between long rows of poplars. It then crosses to the right bank and continues to the old episcopal and cantonal capital of Sion, dominated by its two old castles, and the little town of Sierre, situated amid a jumble of hills created by a huge prehistoric landslide, in an area offering numerous attractive excursions. Beyond Sierre the road returns to the left bank and enters the German-speaking Upper Valais (Oberwallis), passing within sight of the interesting little towns of Leuk and Gampel on the sunny right bank. After passing through the picturesque little market town of Visp, where the road to Zermatt branches off, we soon come to the old town and road junction of Brig, where the towers of the Stockalperschloss form a distinctive landmark at the beginning of the road over the Simplon pass. The character of the landscape now gradually changes. Although there are still walnut-trees and chestnuts to give something of a southern air, the rock faces now come closer, wooded gorges and steeper gradients make it clear that we have entered the region of high mountains. Then through the Alpine region of Goms, and through Oberwald to Gletsch, with fantastic views of the famous Rhône glacier. From here there are magnificent passes over the Grimsel into the Bernese Oberland and over the Furka to the St Gotthard road.