BrochRando 16 SourceBains-TêteGéant ANG

Village of Saillon
Elected "Most beautiful village in French-speaking Switzerland" in 2013, Saillon is a medieval, thermal, wine-growing and cultural village.
Proud of its title, the municipality of Saillon has all the assets to seduce walkers.
The medieval village, the Bayart dungeon, Farinet’s vineyard, the museum of counterfeit currency, the medieval garden, Farinet’s footbridge, the parish church, the thermal baths and the various trails are among the many treasures of Saillon.

"Dove of Peace" by Hans Erni
Invited to harvest the Farinet’s vineyard with Léonard Gianadda in 2003, the artist Hans Erni fell in love with the region.
Erni decided to offer a dove to his Valais friends, "The Dove of Peace”. Instead of the traditional olive branch, it holds a bunch of grapes in its beak.
This piece of art in metal is sealed in the rock upstream from the Farinet footbridge.
Photo credit: @Ed Simonetta

Head of the Giant
Behind the wooden bridge, walkers can imagine a giant's head. It is from this vantage point that a giant is said to bathe in the water of the source of the Salentze.
Moreover, the painter Gustave Courbet immortalised this place on his canvas which is entitled “La Caverne des Géants”. This painting illustrates this idyllic place, where the source of the thermal waters of Saillon is located.

View of Produit
Produit is one of the five hamlets belonging to the municipality of Leytron, which marks out the road leading to Ovronnaz.
This hamlet, as well as that of Montagnon, is known because of its landslides. These two hamlets have been moving slowly for many years. Their soils are not stable. Besides, some dwellings had to be abandoned for fear that they would collapse.

Fountain, picnic area and playground
This picnic spot and the play area for children are located on Place Farinet.
The playground includes a slide, a seesaw, a zip line, etc.

Bus stop
Name of the stop: Saillon, les Bains
From this stop, you can take the bus to Sion or Martigny.
Timetables on the site: www.cff.ch

Stained Glass Path
This is the first stained glass belonging to the Stained glass path and it represents the Invitation (walk 17).
The path begins near the statue of Farinet and brings the walkers to the Farinet's vineyard. The route is marked with 21 stained glass windows, works by the painter Robert Héritier and Théo Imboden for glass work.
The memory of the counterfeiter remains present throughout the journey, which initiates a reflection on the fate of Man.

Bains de Saillon
Les Bains de Saillon and its 4-star hotel complex invite you for a unique experience in the heart of Valais.
This hotel complex has 148 rooms that offer breathtaking views of the Valais Alps. It also includes several themed restaurants.
The thermal centre allows you to recharge your batteries thanks to the various swimming pools and wellness areas. The water of Saillon and its baths comes from the source where the Giant bathes.
Everything is there to ensure you have a pleasant stay.

Via Farinetta
It is from the source of the thermal waters that the Via Farinetta begins and ends at the imposing cliff where the "Dove of Peace" by Hans Erni is hung.
Traced in the wild and mysterious gorges of the Salentze, this Via Ferrata highlights the natural and cultural resources of the municipalities of Saillon and Leytron.
It was designed for the greatest pleasure of sportsmen and climbing enthusiasts with three levels of difficulty.

Commemorative plaque
This plaque was placed in memory of Joseph-Samuel Farinet.
Seen as the "Robin Hood of the Alps", Farinet was a generous bandit who dreamed of freedom.
He was a friend of the people because he helped the poorest people by distributing fake 20-cent coins to them, while keeping a share for himself.
This counterfeiter is a posthumous celebrity who is recognised today as a big-hearted outsider and a dream-maker.

View of the Ardèvaz
The Ardèvaz mountain, situated at 1,501 m above sea level, proudly overlooks the village of Leytron.
The Ardèvaz should go unnoticed in the middle of the surrounding alpine peaks, which reach higher altitudes. And yet, this impressive rock wall, which is located on the right bank of the Rhône, is remarkable at first glance.
This mountain is full of riches and hosts a great number of botanical and fauna species.

Saillon vineyard
The vineyard in Saillon is a story that has taken root in the past since Roman times. The two oldest vineyards in Valais are located at the foot of Saillon castle.
Saillon has everything it takes to be a southern resort. On a sun-drenched land thanks to a special microclimate, the vine ripens its bunches in the company of almond, fig, apricot and olive trees.
The vineyard consists of 200 hectares.

View of the Saillon tower
The Bayart tower, which dominates the Rhône Valley, is the emblem of Saillon.
This 19-metre high keep was built between 1260 and 1262 by the architect Pierre Meinier at the request of the earl Pierre II of Savoy.
Access to the summit, by stairs, is open to all. Once at the top, you will be amazed by the breathtaking view of the Rhône Valley.

Saillon: medieval village
One of the most beautiful treasures of Saillon is its village, built around the year 1000. Enclosed in its 12th century ramparts, Saillon is one of the best preserved villages in Switzerland.
It was also elected "Most beautiful village in French-speaking Switzerland" in 2013.

Place Farinet
Place Farinet was designed as a reception point at the foot of the medieval village and close to the houses.
It is located at the starting point of several pedestrian, cycling and mountain biking routes to the old town, Farinet’s vineyard, the banks of the Rhône and the surrounding villages.
At the end of the square, on the rocks from which the water rises, stands the statue of Farinet, symbol of generosity.

Bus stop
Name of the stop: Saillon, les Collombeyres
From this stop, you can take the bus to Martigny. On the other side of the road, the bus takes you to Sion.
Timetables on the site: www.cff.ch

Hot water spring
This hot water spring flows into the water of the Salentze gorges and flows out at a temperature of around twenty degrees. It was already known to the Romans. Until the beginning of the 20th century, bathers were very frequent, alternating between cold water from the waterfall and hot water from the spring.
Currently, the spring is exploited by the Bains de Saillon but also by the Bains d'Ovronnaz.

Farinet’s footbridge
Since June 2001, this suspended footbridge allows the passage from the bank of Saillon to the bank of Leytron. It is a vertiginous passage 136 m above the gorges of the Salentze.
The footbridge owes its name to the counterfeiter Farinet, who died in the gorges it overlooks. Farinet wanted to take refuge there in order to escape the authorities.
By crossing it, the walker discovers the remarkable panorama of the plain, the vineyard and the summits which surround the Valley.