St Maurice Attractions
The little town of St Maurice is picturesquely situated in a narrow pass in the Rhône valley, some 25km/16mi south of the end of Lake Geneva, at the end of a road which runs via Monthey to Champéry. This was the site of the Celtic settlement of Agaunum, where the legend has it that St Maurice and his companions of the Theban Legion were martyred by Roman soldiers about the year 300.
Castle (Military Museum)
St Maurice's 13th C. castle above the Rhône was built by the Savoyards and restored in the 16th C. It now houses a military museum.
Hours
June 1 to June 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
July 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
October 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
St Sigismond Church
The triple-aisled parish church of St Sigismond (18th C.) has beautiful Baroque side altars.
Town Hall
In St Maurice the two-story Town Hall, the Haus de la Pierre with an arcade of three stories and the Haus de Bons date from the same period. Also of interest is the pilgrimage church of Notre-Dame-du-Scex.
St Maurice Surroundings
Grand Chamossaire
From the Col de Bretaye a chairlift (12minutes; on foot 45minutes) ascends Grand Chamossaire (2,120 m/6,956ft), from where there is a famous panoramic view embracing the Bernese, Valais and Savoy Alps and Lake Geneva, and (summer only) a chairlift to the Lac Noir and the Chaux Ronde (2,027 m/6,651ft).
Read More
Planachaux (Croix de Culet, Dents du Midi)
Planachaux is a popular ski resort area which also has lovely walks and climbs in the summer.
Col du Pillon
From Les Diablerets it is possible to continue over the Col du Pillon (1,546 m/5,072ft) to Gsteig, Gstaad and Saanen.
Monthey - Medieval Castle (Museum)
6km/4mi northwest of Bex is Monthey (428 m/1,404ft), a busy little town of 11,000 inhabitants with a medieval castle (rebuilt in the 16th and 18th C.; museum).
Ollon (start of driving tour to Les Diablerets)
Leave St Maurice on road 9 (E 2), which runs north down the Rhône valley, and in 13km/8mi turns right into a steep and winding but very beautiful mountain road which comes in 3km/2mi to Ollon (15th C. church). From here the road continues uphill, with beautiful views into the Rhône valley, curves round to enter the Gryonne valley and climbs in several sharp bends to the village of Huémoz.
Sex Rouge
Sex Rouge Peak (2,971m/9,747ft) can be reached by cable-car from Pillon Pass or Reusch. The ride to the peak affords magnificent views of Les Diablerets Basin. The view from the summit is equally impressive, and includes the Swiss and French Alps, Les Diablerets Glacier, the Tornette and Pallette Peaks and the Ormonts Valley.
