Martigny-Combe: Plan-Cerisier, Viticulture and Culture

Martigny-Combe stretches from the plain to the mountains. Plan-Cerisier, viticulture and the history of the vineyard houses are what define the area for visitors. An annual festival and a puzzle adventure through the vineyards add to this focus. If you are looking for a destination with local history and viticulture, you will find plenty of specific points of interest here; the activities also vary in format and duration.

Plan-Cerisier: the village and its vineyard houses

Plan-Cerisier is a protected ISOS site and part of the Swiss Federal Inventory of Heritage Sites of National Importance. This protected village setting is a particular draw if you are interested in local architectural and settlement history.

Plan-Cerisier has always been a temporary settlement associated with working the vineyards. The mazots, the village’s vineyard houses, were occupied during vineyard work and the grape harvest. The history of the settlement thus connects the built form of the village with the working rhythms of viticulture.

Since 1994, the Amis de Plan-Cerisier association has held the “Plan-Cerisier en fête” festival every year on the last Saturday in August. It celebrates regional craftspeople and artists. If you are planning your trip around the festival, check the date for the relevant year in advance.

Viticulture and landscape

Martigny’s vineyards cover around 120 hectares, two-thirds of which lie within the municipality of Martigny-Combe. These two figures give both the extent of viticulture in Martigny and its share within the municipality.

One distinctive feature of the Plan-Cerisier vineyards is a flat section, rare in Valais. This specific landscape feature complements the broader picture of Martigny-Combe, which stretches from the plain to the mountains.

Experiences among vineyards and culture

“Traptour – L’enchanteur Magnus” is an outdoor adventure that combines puzzles and exploration, taking you through the vineyards of Martigny-Combe. It starts at the Eaux Vives car park in Martigny-Combe. The tour takes approximately two hours, including about one hour on foot; the duration may vary depending on the group. As the starting arrangements may change, check the latest information before your visit.

The festival and the Traptour offer different experiences: the festival focuses on regional craftspeople and artists and takes place annually in August. The tour adds a puzzle-solving experience to the viticulture theme, with an approximate duration and a named starting point.

Martigny-Combe in the Trient Valley

Martigny-Combe is one of seven municipalities whose territory makes up the 222 km² Trient Valley Nature Park. The park is a candidate park. Together with the municipality’s span from the plain to the mountains, this regional perspective places the local focus on Plan-Cerisier and viticulture within a broader landscape. When choosing where to stay, you can therefore take into account both the specific cultural heritage and the region’s character beyond municipal boundaries.

Discover more destinations: Leytron, Trient Vs, Martigny, Arbarey, Riddes, Saxon, Isérables, Saillon

For the broader travel overview: Martigny.