Culture

"Art and traditions, a story of love"

If the town of Martigny, with its large museums and its rich past, claims to be “the cultural capital of the canton”, the whole region is in agreement. Discover a real El Dorado for art and history lovers.

Visit of Martigny and its memories

Like a mirror ball, Martigny has shone through the ages. Sometimes artistic, sometimes historical, sometimes commercial, Martigny has always been able to adapt to the codes of its time.

Town hall

Headquarters for the local council and the district court.

Theater Martolet

This Lower Valais theatre stages Swiss francophone performances, welcoming well-known artists all the year round.

The town Manor

This cultural centre defends modern art and presents varied temporary exhibitions during the year.

The Supersaxo House

This residence was partly built at around 1440, and is the oldest in the town.

The Poenine Way

The Old Town

Martigny -Bourg is the oldest inhabited part of the town.

The La Bâtiaz district

The La Bâtiaz district is one of Martigny’s historic areas, found at the foot of the famous castle with the same name.

The car museum

An exceptional collection of forty cars, with makes as prestigious as Rolls-Royce, Bugatti, Mercedes-Benz, Alfa Romeo…

The Bourg Gallery

This vaulted cellar, situated in the middle of the Rue du Bourg, highlights the works which are exhibited there.

Tepidarium

The Tepidarium bears witness to a well-equipped ancient city with a rich social life.

Sunday’s discoveries

Sound museum

Set up under the Manor roof, this collection provides a passionate approach to the history of music from 1878 to the present day.

Semblanet’s Mill

This historic mill is still working. A single waterwheel activates about one hundred different mechanisms.

Saxon Museum

The museum traces popular village traditions like a witness for the younger generation.

Saint-Maurice Castle

The castle marks the entrance to the canton of Valais. Its highly strategic position used to enable it to control access to the region.

Saint-Maurice Abbey

Discover 1500 years of history via an outstanding visit to the Royal Abbey of St Maurice.

Rue de la Basilique

Limited excavations have enabled the 14 metres by 15 metres rue de la Basilique to be highlighted.

Roundabouts

Each of Martigny’s seventeen roundabouts are decorated with a sculpture by a Swiss artist. A unique artistic journey to be discovered by day and at night.

Roman visit

It is impossible to make a hole in Martigny without coming across Roman remains. Where does this rich historical past come from? The Roman tour is suitable for every member of the family!

Roman cellar

A cellar built at about the middle of the 1st century AD

Roman Amphitheatre

It is the only one of the ancient monuments whose remains are still visible in Martigny.

Rhône Elbow Protestant Parish – Hans Erni Stained-glass wondows

Admirable stained-glass windows encircled by colours and light highlight the protestant temple. Floodlighting accentuates the artist’s work.

Prisca Studio

In this art gallery, Prisca invites you into its coloured world with works which leave the door open to your own interpretation…

Plan-Cerisier Fuel-oil Museum

Considered as the smallest vineyard museum in Switzerland, it highlights wine-growing in Martigny and Martigny-Croix.

Pierre Gianadda Foundation

This cultural centre, situated at the heart of a vast sculpture park, receives internationally famous exhibitions and concerts throughout the year.

Notre-Dame-de-Compassion Chapel

Snuggling at the foot of the rock on which Bâtiaz Castle is situated, this place of worship possesses numerous wealthy objects.

Notre-Dame de la Visitation Parish church

With its stylistic homogeneity and architectural sobriety, this is one of the best examples of the baroque period in Valais.

Musée gallo-romain

Construite autour des vestiges d’un temple celte découvert en 1976, le musée présente les principales trouvailles archéologiques faites à Martigny.

Monumental stained-glass window by Edmond Bille

Situated at the heart of the Town Hall, this great stained-glass window reminds us of Martigny’s past.

Mithraeum

The only sanctuary of Mithra, Sun god originating from Iran, open to the public on Swiss soil.

Milestone

A Roman milestone engraved in the name of the Emperor Constantine.

Medieval visit

Attack on the Bâtiaz Castle, demonstrations by a troupe passionate about the Middle Ages, tasting of medieval flavours… the medieval visit is adapted to each member of the family!

Martigny Multi-media Library

The multi-media library is also an exhibition centre and features audiovisual elements often from archives.

Marconi Museum

Thanks to the inventor Marconi, Salvan has become the cradle of wireless telegraphy.

Louis Moret Foundation

Nestling in a bohemian garden, this cultural centre has exhibtions by contemporary artists as well as organising an intimate music season.

La Belle Toile Gallery

At the heart of the rue du Bourg, there is a beautiful stained-glass window by artists who are established as well as those who will be in the future.

François Fine Mill

This mill, which is still working, enables visitors to understand how bread is produced.

Espace Saint Michel

L’Espace Saint-Michel provides an admirable setting with its light and intimacy.

Espace Consonance

A concert hall which can hold 80 to 110 people

Earth Sciences Museum

This museum reveals the wealth of minerals found in the canton of Valais.

Early Christian cathedral

Remains of Martigny’s first Christian buildings

Domus Minerva

Remains of a large family mansion, with an inner ornamental garden surrounded by a colonnade.

Counterfeit money museum

A truly authentic hommage to Farinet, Valais’s Robin Hood, the museum displays the complete history of Swiss money, both real and false.

Châtelard-Barberine Swiss Railway Hydroelectric Museum

Located in the Châtelard hydroelectric plant, this museum retraces the history of the Châtelard-Barberine complex.

Charratmuse – concert venue

This little intimate room offers all kinds of concerts and performances.

Caves du Manoir

The oldest concert space dedicated to contemporary music in the French part of Switzerland offers an eclectic and alternative program.

Caldarium

The Caldarium was a room with hot water pools belonging to the thermal baths.

Belle Usine Concert Hall

The former hydroelectric power station in Fully has become a concert venue. The vertiginous volumes give a special dimension to performances.

Bâtiaz Castle

From the top of its tower, this Middle Ages fortification provides the most beautiful views of the town of Martigny.

Bâtiaz bridge

The last wooden bridge suitable for motor vehicles in Valais.

Barryland – St. Bernard dogs Museum

This living museum enables the general public to enjoy a cultural experience including a rich moment in the presence of St Bernard dogs.

Alpine Expertise Museum

The museum offers visitors a large view of all types of objects used in the last century.

Alambic Theatre

Each season, the theatre offers a programme based on French-speaking contemporary entertainment.

A domestic spirit dwelling

At the centre of the Roman town, was a fully notable’s detached house, with a central courtyard and private thermal baths.