Saxon: History, Bisses and Themed Trails

Saxon offers a range of ways to enjoy a stay combining culture and activity: from fortifications and medieval architecture to bisses, themed trails and the Apricot Festival. The specific route details and themes can help you choose what to focus on during your trip.

Fortification history and La Tour de Saxon

The Sapinhaut artillery fort was built in 1991 and is among the last fortifications constructed in Switzerland. Fort de Saxon is located at a strategic point on a transalpine route of European importance. La Tour de Saxon represents an earlier era: its keep is the surviving remnant of a castle built at the end of the 13th century under the rule of Philippe de Savoie. The outer walls are also remarkably well preserved.

A circular trail leads from the village square to La Tour de Saxon. The loop is listed as taking around 1 hour and 45 minutes, with 300 metres of elevation gain; the duration and elevation gain may vary slightly depending on route conditions.

Museum, bisse and trails through the orchards

The Musée de Saxon has permanent exhibitions on apricot growing, the casino and the bisse. A space for temporary exhibitions adds a changing range of topics. The museum opens on request; during exhibitions, opening hours are listed on the museum website. Check these details before your visit.

The Bisse de Saxon stretches for more than 32 kilometres. Historically, the bisse carried water from the Printse in Nendaz to Saxon to irrigate numerous orchards and crops. One of the museum’s themes thus extends into the landscape: water supply, cultivation and orchards offer different perspectives on local history.

The Sentier de l’Abricot crosses a footbridge to the orchards of Champassé, Verney and Maraîches at an altitude of 800 metres. From there, you can choose between two circular route options: via the hamlet of Tovassière or through the crops of Combe Arrangée. The Sentier du Petit Bisse is a family-friendly walking trail with information panels and mushroom sculptures as a learning theme. The Sentier ludique focuses on enjoying time together with children: the 2.7-kilometre route starts at the Casino de Saxon and leads through the village, with games and activities along the way.

Activity and music

The Piste Finlandaise is a 750-metre running track surfaced with wood chips. The Vertic indoor climbing centre has routes graded 4 to 8. The wall shapes include slabs, vertical walls, overhangs and ceilings; details about the facility may change. On the heights of Saxon, at Plan Bot, the Parcours VITA is an outdoor fitness trail with 15 stations. Check its availability locally.

The Espace Consonance is a concert hall where well-known artists perform in an intimate setting. It also serves as a recording studio. The concert programme changes, so the hall and its studio function offer two distinct ways to discover the venue.

Apricot Festival and local produce

The Apricot Festival takes place in Saxon every two years. It features a market selling regional specialities, as well as various activities and entertainment. Visitors can sample apricots prepared in different ways and regional specialities. A 4-kilometre culinary walk passes through apricot orchards and includes tastings of apricot-based dishes.

Escalier de la Dame also features local produce, with a selection of 18 grape varieties, two eaux-de-vie and an apricot liqueur. The range may change. Saxon’s culinary offerings therefore extend from the festival with its market and tastings to this changing selection of products.

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

Return to the main travel overview: Martigny.