| Bridge over the Rhône |  |
| In 2020, this bridge over the Rhône underwent a complete renovation, with the addition of a footbridge for soft mobility that allows pedestrians and cyclists to cross in complete safety. As a result, the bridge has become an ideal place to take a stroll and admire the river. |
| Chemin du Lac (1) | |
| This unnamed path leads past the tiny Lake Pramont, which you can only glimpse from an observation deck. On our right is the site of the GAM, Sierre's aeromodelling club. In the distance, we can see an indentation in the mountains, the Réchy valley, already in shadow on this late autumn afternoon. |
| Chemin du Lac (2) | |
| The observation deck with its educational panels is not the only place from which you can see Lake Pramont. There are also some great views along the way, despite the high fence that protects the lake from human interference. |
| Lake Pramont | |
| Lake Pramont was created from a former gravel pit that was flooded and landscaped to develop biodiversity. The lake is off-limits to visitors, but there is an observation post with an information panel where you can get a glimpse of the lake and, with a bit of luck, see some of the biotope's inhabitants: kingfishers, herons, beavers, frogs, snakes, dragonflies and butterflies. |
| Observation deck | |
| To avoid any human interference with this biotope, Lake Pramont is entirely fenced off and the only observation post is here: a simple palisade pierced with loopholes, with a large educational panel featuring photos of the local fauna. An interesting destination for a stroll! |
| Route de la Bourgeoisie (1) | |
| Route des Fermes leads to Route de la Bourgeoisie. If you turn right, you can join Route de Granges between Réchy and Chalais, but we're going to turn left to continue our loop and return to the banks of the Rhône. |
| Route de la Bourgeoisie (2) | |
| Our panorama here is looking east towards the Upper Valais. On the left, you can see the sarcophagus isolating the former toxic waste dump, which we have already seen from the river bank. To the right are the large orchards that contribute to the fact that the Valais is Switzerland's largest fruit producer. In the distance, the snow-covered Illhorn, 2716m high, watches over Chandolin. |
| Route de la Bourgeoisie (3) | |
| We're now approaching Domaine de Pramont, a beautiful isolated mansion surrounded by orchards. To its right is the Chalais self-service strawberry farm, where you can pick your own strawberries in season for just 4.50 Swiss francs per kilo if you bring your own container. A fun activity to do with the whole family if your children are capable of respecting the rules of picking! |
| Route de la Bourgeoisie (4) | |
| Built at the beginning of the 20th century, Domaine de Pramont is one of the large rural farms built on the Rhône plain. Owned by the Bourgeoisie of Sierre, it is a fine example of Valais agricultural architecture from the Heimatstil period. The residence is built of stone masonry with decorative wooden elements and false brickwork window and door frames. Today, the estate is leased to an agricultural company, which runs the rural part and sublets the residential part to private individuals. |
| Route de la Bourgeoisie (5) | |
| Here we follow the wild forest that we can see from the banks of the Rhône. In places, we will catch a glimpse of the interior of this inextricable jungle, which seems to have been abandoned, but which is in fact home to a few friendly inhabitants who will be sure to come and say hello to us... |
| Route de la Bourgeoisie (6) | |
| Every time we pass by, the jungle inhabitants come to say hello, no doubt in the hope of being offered a treat. Horses and ponies seem very happy to live almost freely in this forest left in its wild state. The lady who occupies the site explained to us that this lack of maintenance is due to uncertainties about the future, as this biotope is threatened by a possible new correction of the river banks. |
| Route de la Bourgeoisie (7) | |
| To the east, Route de la Bourgeoisie joins Rue du Raby just a few metres from Rue de Pramont, which runs along the banks of the Rhône. This is the end of the loop of our virtual stroll, and we hope it inspires you to discover these landscapes with your own eyes! |
| Route des Fermes (1) | |
| The lake path ends here on Route des Fermes, lined with apple trees in blossom in April 2024, when the surrounding peaks were still covered in snow. Behind us, the road joins the main road linking Sion to Chippis on the left bank of the Rhône. Ahead of us, it heads towards Pont-Chalais and Sierre. |
| Route des Fermes (2) | |
| Drop in here in spring and you'll be surrounded by thousands of white flowers, or in autumn and you'll be strolling between trees laden with magnificent red apples. Either time, it's a feast for the eyes! |
| Rue de Pont-Chalais (1) | |
| Here we are at the very top of Rue de Pont-Chalais, where it joins the main street of the "modern" part of Noës (Rue de la Fraternité - Rue de Plantassage). Above the vine-covered slopes, a few houses of the village of Corin can be seen in the distance. |
| Rue de Pont-Chalais (5) | |
| Rue de Pont-Chalais spans the lower part of Old Noës, the cantonal road, the railway and the Rhône, then continues in the direction of the village of Chalais. Our virtual stroll extends on the other bank of the Rhône, so don't hesitate to continue! |
| Rue de Pont-Chalais (6) | |
| At first glance, the bridge doesn't pass over anything very interesting here, but if you go down Rue de la Tour on the right, you'll discover a winegrower like no other: the Baronnie du CEpK, a 100% organic winery that goes so far as to return its bottles in an environmentally-friendly way. This little-known winery produces some exceptional vintages! |
| Rue de Pramont (1) | |
| The whole of the left bank of the Rhône as far as the protected site of Pouta Fontana, a bird sanctuary opposite Saint-Léonard, is still part of the municipality of Sierre. Continuing straight on, we pass vineyards and sports fields to reach Chalais, where the bottom station of the cable car up to Vercorin is located. But our stroll now goes off to the right onto Rue de Pramont, skirting the river (to the left on the map). |
| Rue de Pramont (2) | |
| This road, reserved for pedestrians and cyclists, begins between vineyards and river, heading towards Sion, some fifteen kilometres away. We'll follow it for 1,400m before turning off to take a look at the small lake of Pramont and then return through the large orchards of the plain. |
| Rue de Pramont (3) | |
| From here, our virtual stroll will describe a large loop. Straight ahead, it continues westwards along the Rhône for 900m and then returns here along the path you see descending to the left. Many of the views were shot during springtime, but further along the river you'll also discover the colours of autumn. |
| Rue de Pramont (4) | |
| In places, the path offers beautiful views of the Rhône and the vineyards on the right bank of the river. Here, our panoramas were shot in mid-October, just after the harvest, when the vines were still sporting the golden flamboyance of autumn. |
| Rue de Pramont (5) | |
| The road runs alongside a forest that looks like an inextricable jungle. We dream of exploring it, but there's no path into it, and what's more, it's a private forest... So we're just going to walk around it and, on the other side, discover some of its friendly inhabitants... |
| Rue de Pramont (6) | |
| On our right, the vine-covered hillsides blaze with all the colours of autumn. On our left, a strange hill is rendered inaccessible by high fences. A secret military installation? No, a large vegetated sarcophagus isolates a former toxic waste dump. The industrialisation of the Valais has left traces that we could have done without... |
| Rue de Pramont (7) | |
| Continuing on Route de Pramont along the Rhône river, you will come to Lac de la Brèche, 4km further on, and then Lac de la Corne. Another panoramic stroll awaits you there, but this one will now descend to the left to take you towards Lac de Pramont and the fruit tree plantations that cover this part of the plain. |
