Porte-du-Scex, Medieval fortress between rock face and Rhône River in Vouvry, Switzerland.
Porte-du-Scex is a 17th-century fortress squeezed between the Rhone River and a sheer limestone cliff on Route 21 in Valais, serving as a gateway between mountain valleys. The structure today functions as an exhibition space run by the municipality and sits directly beside the main highway, making it easy to spot and enter.
Construction began in 1672 under the Valais Diet and was completed in 1678 to serve as a residence and administrative center. Excavations in 1974 revealed that the site had been occupied since Roman times, with coins and tools suggesting continuous human presence over many centuries.
The name comes from the Latin word saxum, meaning stone, reflecting the limestone cliff that dominates the site. This connection between the building and its rocky setting shaped how locals have understood and spoken about the location.
The site is easily reached directly from Route 21 and requires no detours or special arrangements to access. The compact setting between river and cliff means visitors walk through the space fairly quickly, so plan accordingly if you want to spend time with any exhibits.
The fortress was built atop a site that had been settled since ancient times, with polished stone tools and Roman coins uncovered by diggers telling the story of very long occupation. These layers from different eras reveal how this narrow passage between rock and water remained a crucial travel route for thousands of years.
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