Grimisuat: Hiking Trails and Cultural Heritage

Grimisuat stretches across a south-facing slope. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay focused on hiking and culture, the village offers two specific starting points: trails with information on distance, duration and elevation gain, as well as historical evidence from different periods. You can compare the routes by the time they take; the Stations of the Cross, church and Château-tour add religious and architectural history to your stay.

Hiking trails by duration and elevation gain

Five trails differ in length, stated duration and elevation gain. The details provide a clear overview to help you plan:

• The Chemin de Besse-Surgat is 2.2 km long, takes about 40 minutes and has an elevation gain of 60 metres.
• The Chemin de l'eau is 2.8 km long, takes about one hour and has an elevation gain of 120 metres.
• The Chemin de Tsamarau is 2.8 km long, takes about 50 minutes and has an elevation gain of 110 metres.
• The Chemin des Places is 2.2 km long, takes about 50 minutes and has an elevation gain of 125 metres.
• The Chemin des Vignes is 4.9 km long, takes about one hour and 45 minutes and has an elevation gain of 205 metres.

The two 2.2-kilometre routes differ in both stated duration and elevation gain: the Chemin de Besse-Surgat takes about 40 minutes and has an elevation gain of 60 metres, while the Chemin des Places takes about 50 minutes and has an elevation gain of 125 metres. The two 2.8-kilometre routes also have different figures: the Chemin de Tsamarau takes about 50 minutes, while the Chemin de l'eau takes about one hour. So, comparing duration and elevation gain adds to the comparison of route length. This can help you gauge how much time each trail will take during your stay. Trail conditions may vary by season; it is best to check them before setting out.

The Bisse de Grimisuat and its water supply

The Bisse de Grimisuat is still in operation and is 2.8 km long. It carries water from the Sionne, the Bisse siphon and the Grand Bisse d’Ayent to the Étang de Revouire in Grimisuat. Alongside the route information, this brings another topic into focus: irrigation and the connection between the named waterways and the Étang. The bisse adds a distinct perspective on the area’s water supply to the hiking trails.

Stations of the Cross, church and Château-tour

The Chemin de Croix depicts the fourteen Stations of the Passion of Christ. It was painted on ceramic tiles in 1957; the fourteen panels are mounted on stone blocks on Les Crêtes hill, which overlooks the village of Grimisuat. The combination of religious imagery, ceramics and the hillside location gives this Stations of the Cross a distinctive character.

The church of Saint-Pancrace is dedicated to Saint Pancras and houses frescoes dating from 1626. Its Romanesque bell tower dates from the late 12th or early 13th century. The different dates point to different periods in the church’s history: the tower is considerably older than the frescoes.

The Château-tour dates from around 1200. From the 16th century until 1981, the former Château-tour was used as a presbytery. Its approximate date of construction and its later use as a presbytery mark two distinct periods in its history. Together with the church and Stations of the Cross, it offers another historical point of interest in Grimisuat.

Nearby, Grimisuat has restaurants, traditional wine cellars, and sports and leisure facilities. This means there is more to consider for a stay than just the trails and historic sites.

Discover more destinations: Veysonnaz, Saint-Léonard Vs, Sion, Savièse, Arbaz

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