Saille tour
From the moment you reach the summit via the Jorasse chairlift, a dirt track guides you effortlessly to the Bougnonne stables. This mountain pasture, owned by Leytron, was managed independently until 1963. Today, it is the second most important alpine pasture after Odonne. The gently sloping route takes you to the banks of the Salentse, an inescapable river which, by turns discreet and impetuous, shapes the life of Leytron and Ovronnaz.
The old stables of Saille can be seen below, then the path continues to climb towards the Rambert hut, as far as the Pierre à Vatserou. Sitting on this imposing stone, the chief shepherd once kept watch over his flock.
Leaving this path, you take a magnificent path along the hillside, winding between rocky bars and scree at the foot of the Pointe d'Aufalle ridge. Larches, alders, bilberries and wooded pastures then guide you towards Larzay and Chavanne Neuve, where an old coach house once stood on the Bougnonne mountain pasture. Your tour ends at the top of the Jorasse chairlift.
Access to the Tour via the Jorasse chairlift.
Car park at the start of the chairlift.
Catering: Jorasse mountain restaurant.
Features
Length
7.50 km
Difficulty
Easy / T1
Duration
2h15 (no break)
Height difference
+8 m / -860 m
Minimum altitude
466 m
Maximum altitude
1317 m
Starting point
Tourist office
Point of arrival
Saillon
Period
Ovronnaz-Saillon
May to November depending on snow conditions
Dugny-Les Places-Saillon
All year depending on snow conditions
From the Tourist Office, follow the gentle course of the Salentse. Cross its crystal-clear waters over a charming wooden bridge. The route faithfully follows the stream as it rushes towards the plain, guiding your steps to the picturesque village of Dugny, which you cross from one side to the other.
To your right, a woodland path opens out onto the plain, leading to the hamlet of Les Places. A few minutes on a flat dirt road and you're on the Passerelle!
The path continues down through the forest and vineyards to reach the village of Saillon. Walk along the famous Farinet vineyard before entering this medieval town. The iconic silhouette of the Bayart keep, protected by its three ochre stone half-towers, overlooks the Rhône plain. Enclosed by its ramparts, this medieval town with its cobbled streets transports visitors to the heart of a centuries-old past filled with tumultuous events.
Did you know ?
The project is the work of the Friends of the Footbridge, in collaboration with the communes of Saillon and Leytron and the State of Valais. The footbridge, erected in 2001, is 97 metres long. Weighing 13 tonnes, it towers 136 metres above the Salentse.
The famous counterfeiter Samuel Farinet was killed in the Salentse gorges in 1880, after a hellish chase. His body was found at the bottom of the abyss, but the cause of the tragedy remains a mystery. The outlaw was 35 years old. He was buried in Saillon without a mass or a cross, his vineyard being his monument.
