Martigny lies in the Rhône plain, where the river curves, and is part of Lower Valais. The town offers a range of options for planning your trip: Roman and medieval history, museums, public art, and paths through vineyards and orchards. You can tailor your stay to whether you mainly want to explore historic sites, visit collections, or spend time outdoors.

Roman-era and medieval traces

The Parcours archéologique is a 4 km walking circuit through Martigny’s Roman and medieval history; it takes about 1.5 hours on foot. Each stop has explanatory texts, photos of the structures and remains, and audio recordings. The Musée gallo-romain was built around the remains of a Celtic temple discovered in 1976 and presents the most important archaeological finds from Martigny. The route passes through several stops, while the museum brings archaeological finds together.

The Fondation Pierre Gianadda also brings together several historical and artistic themes: its gardens contain Gallo-Roman remains, including baths and the wall of the temenos, as well as a permanent sculpture exhibition. Since 1978, the Fondation has been a leading museum in Switzerland and Europe and has hosted major temporary exhibitions. The Château de la Bâtiaz was built in the mid-13th century; visitors can discover medieval siege engines there. The château can be reached on foot, by the Baladeur, a free shuttle bus, or by taxi. As transport options may change, check current access arrangements before your visit.

Museums, art and local history

Barryland is entirely dedicated to Saint Bernards and covers 22,000 m². At certain times, a glass-walled room offers a view of the dogs being cared for. Activities also include treasure hunts, skill and puzzle challenges, and mobility exercises. Historical objects, engravings, stamps and postcards from the Barry Foundation’s collection reveal further aspects of the collection dedicated to Saint Bernards.

Other collections offer their own highlights: the Musée des Sciences de la Terre displays large quartz crystals, fluorescent crystals and a scale-model reconstruction of a mine tunnel. The Musée de l’automobile showcases historic vehicles from the pre-First World War era of motoring; all the vehicles are roadworthy. The Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Compassion houses colourful ex-votos from the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as stained-glass windows by Father Kim En Joong.

Martigny-Bourg is a good place to get a sense of the town’s history: it is the oldest inhabited part of the town and is characterised by narrow lanes, archways, old buildings and squares. The roundabouts also contribute to Martigny’s artistic character. Each of the 17 roundabouts is decorated with a sculpture by a Swiss artist; together, they form a route to explore by day or night.

Vineyards and trails

The Chemin des vignes en terrasses leads to several points of interest: the covered bridge at La Bâtiaz, Martigny’s vineyards, the Château de la Bâtiaz, the hamlet of Plan-Cerisier and a scenic stretch along the Dranse. Another hike leads from Martigny to Vernayaz and the Trient Gorge, which is accessible via wooden walkways. The two descriptions offer different starting points for walks and hikes, without implying that the routes share the same character.

For a bike ride, the Tour de la Vallée du Trient gravel route starts in Martigny and follows the historic Route des Diligences. This was once a remote and historic link between Valais and the Mont Blanc region. Surface conditions may change, so check current conditions before setting out.

Getting there and finding accommodation

Martigny is a road hub with connections to Italy, France and Switzerland. One route crosses the Great St Bernard Pass to Aosta, while another goes over the Col de la Forclaz to Chamonix. The Mont-Blanc Express has connected Martigny with Chamonix for more than a century. RégionAlps transports passengers to Orsières and Le Châble.

There is also a specific fare rule for journeys within the municipality: single tickets, multi-ride tickets, and monthly and annual passes for the Martigny town bus are valid on all PostBus services within the municipal area. These include routes to Chemin, Dorénaz, Trient, Ravoire and Sion. Check the current validity rules and timetables before travelling.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Riddes, Saxon, Arbarey, Saillon, Trient Vs, Martigny-Combe, Isérables, Fully, Leytron, Martigny.

For the main travel overview: Valais.