Valère Castle, Medieval co-cathedral and castle on Valère hill in Sion, Switzerland.
Description
Valère is a fortified church perched on a hill overlooking Sion, housing multiple buildings and courtyards within its walls. The compound mixes residential spaces, religious structures, and defensive elements arranged across the slope in a compact arrangement.
History
The church began construction between 1100 and 1130 in Romanesque style, with Gothic elements added in later building phases. Over the centuries it served both as a place of worship and a defensive stronghold, shaping the region's history throughout.
Culture
The name comes from Saint Walther, a revered local holy figure. You can see how the sacred space and the fortress function lived side by side, with both roles expressed clearly in the buildings and layout.
Practical
The climb to the hilltop is steep but the paths are well-marked and the city views reward the effort. The basilica interior is open to visitors, and you'll also find the regional history museum within the same grounds.
Did you know?
Inside stands a pipe organ from the early 1400s made largely of its original components, one of Europe's oldest playable instruments. The organ reveals how musical craftsmanship has evolved over six centuries while maintaining its basic function.
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Switzerland offers much more than its famous destinations. This collection features places where nature and history are discovered at a gentle pace, far from crowds. You will find mountain refuges perched on rocks like Berggasthaus Aescher-Wildkirchli, wild valleys where ibex and chamois live, like...
Pipe organ of Basilique Notre-Dame de Valère
31 m
Supersaxo House
353 m
Majorie Castle
248 m
Sion astronomical clock
288 m
Valais Art Museum
258 m
Old Penitentiary Museum
117 m
Valais history museum (collection)
204 m
Theater
177 m
Former hostel Le Lion d’Or
290 m
Chapelle de Tous-les-Saints de Sion
104 m
College church (Holy Trinity)
193 m
Fontaine du Lion
318 m
Tower and rampart (fragment)
205 m
Former Prefecture of the Department of Simplon (Kalbermatten house)
363 m
Cantonal prison (former State chancellery)
141 m
Former hôpital des bourgeois
365 m
Grange-à-l'Evêque (museum building)
199 m
Town hall
288 m
Grenette
304 m
Casino
294 m
Rampart of the Rue des Tonneliers
294 m
Former pharmacy Uffembort
271 m
Building "Les Rochers"
268 m
Maison de la Cible
221 m
Maison de la Diète
241 m
Sous-le-Scex (archaeological zone)
178 m
Le Vidomnat
263 m
Tour du chien
199 mReal people, real opinions — but not verified.
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It is worth climbing the hill to see the beautiful architecture and the wonderful frescoes inside.
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