Granges is a former municipality that has been part of Sierre since 1972, even though the village is more than 6km from the town. From its beautiful church nestling in the greenery, you can follow a path up to the ruins of its castle perched on a hill overlooking the Rhône plain.

During the Middle Ages, Granges was an important walled town, built on two hills dominated by three castles and several monumental towers. It controlled the Rhône plain route between the towns of Sion and Sierre.

Not much remains of this medieval period, the last tower having been demolished in 1910. Only the ruins of one of the castles still watch over the Rhône plain from the top of one of the hills. A bucolic path leads up to the ruins from the church esplanade.

In the 19th century, the damming of the Rhône and the construction of the railway led to an intensification of livestock farming, agriculture and viticulture, all essential resources, but the village did not undergo any industrial development and became a residential suburb halfway between Sierre and Sion.

Useful links

Swiss Canton of Valais (iSwitzerland Guide) - Wikipedia