| Avenue des Alpes |  |
| We are here at the bottom of the stairs leading up to Château Mercier. There is no sign, but our panoramic view will help you find them. To get to downtown, follow the avenue in any direction, take the first cross street you see, and you’ll arrive at Avenue du Général-Guisan, the city’s main artery. |
| Castle Mercier | |
| Built between 1906 and 1908, Castle Mercier stands with its elegant silhouette on Pradegg Hill, just above downtown Sierre. It is a venue that hosts all kinds of private and professional events (weddings, baptisms, birthdays, private parties, corporate meetings, conferences, and seminars). Its vast grounds are absolutely stunning and open to the public. |
| Castle of Vidômes | |
| This strange fortress-like building in the centre of town is the oldest in Sierre. Built at the end of the 15th century, it is a private residence that is unfortunately not open to the public. The 'vidômes' (or 'vidomnes') were once representatives of the church responsible for managing property and collecting tithes. The name, which is equivalent to the French 'vidame', dates back to the 12th century and comes from the Low Latin vicedominus, meaning 'vice-lord'. |
| Church of Saint Catherine | |
| Built in 1687 and restored between 1991 and 1996, this Baroque-style Catholic church is dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria and features a high altar modelled on that of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It serves as a meeting point between the two linguistic regions of Valais, as, whilst situated in a French-speaking town, it is also the church of a German-speaking parish. |
| Church of Saint Martin | |
| In the mid-19th century, the Anniviards of Muraz had this church built at their own expense so that they could attend Mass in French, because at the time Sierre was still predominantly German-speaking, while the inhabitants of the Val d'Anniviers spoke a local variety of Arpitan, the Romance language formerly spoken in France, Switzerland and Italy. |
| Géronde Baths | |
| Located at the north-western end of the lake, the Géronde Baths offer two pools, a play area, a 72m waterslide, a refreshment bar, parasols and sun loungers from late May to early September. Outside operating hours, i.e. from 7pm to 9am, there is a passage allowing to walk around the lake, which is bordered entirely by a footpath. It's a pleasant walk that offers beautiful views of the lake and mountains. |
| House of Courten | |
| The Pancrace de Courten House, one of the most beautiful buildings in Sierre, was built in the second half of the 18th century and probably completed in 1769. Sheltered by a Mansart roof, this building is in the purest French style. Purchased by the Commune of Sierre in 2012, it houses the Rilke Museum dedicated to the famous poet from Prague, who spent the last years of his life close to Sierre, in the Muzot tower in Veyras. |
| Lake Géronde | |
| This small lake on the outskirts of Sierre is a popular leisure area. Set between hills and vineyards, and freely accessible in summer as in winter, it's an ideal place to swim, stroll, do sport or just relax. A refreshment bar, restaurant and open-air swimming pool make this lake, with its almost phosphorescent waters, a small Riviera in the heart of Valais. |
| Pradegg Stairway | |
| These stairways, lined with grapevines, connect the city center to Pradegg Hill, where Château Mercier stands. They begin at Avenue des Alpes (near the Protestant church) and end south of the magnificent park surrounding the castle. The total elevation gain is about 50 meters. |
| Rue de Borzuat | |
| It is only when you venture away from the city center that you realize just how unique Sierre is. Surrounding the old town and its beautiful aristocratic mansions are mountain-style hamlets like Borzuat, consisting of seasonal residences for the inhabitants of the Val d'Anniviers, who practiced a semi-nomadic lifestyle until the mid-20th century. |
| Rue de la Vanire | |
| Here, educational panels tell the story of Muraz, a district of Sierre that resembles a village in the Val d'Anniviers, with its threshing barns, storage barns and barns for hay and livestock. With free parking, it's the perfect place to start your visit! |
| Rue Edmond-Bille | |
| In Borzuat, there are still beautiful mountain-style houses that were once occupied for a few months each year by the people of Anniviers. At that time, the Val d'Anniviers practiced “remuage,” a semi-nomadic lifestyle that involved moving between the mountains and the plains as the seasons changed. Its inhabitants would all travel down to the Rhône Valley twice a year to cultivate their vineyards and farmland. |
| Sierre Townhall | |
| Construction of the magnificent town hall of Sierre has begun around 1658 for Jean-François Courten, a captain in the Swiss Guards in the service of King Louis XIV. Extended over the centuries, this private mansion became the Grand-Hôtel Château-Bellevue at the end of the 19th century, a renowned establishment, before falling into decline following the First World War. Bought by the local council in 1964, it now has a new life as the town hall. |
| The Small Lakes (1) | |
| Between Lake Géronde and the centre of Sierre lie two small lakes surrounded by vineyards and gardens. Our virtual stroll takes you along the path around them. To discover the 64 views, use the StreetView arrows built into the panoramas. |
| The Small Lakes (2) | |
| Between Lake Géronde and the centre of Sierre lie two small lakes surrounded by vineyards and gardens. Our virtual stroll takes you along the path around them. To discover the 64 views, use the StreetView arrows built into the panoramas. |
