Saint-Maurice lies in the Lower Valais on the western bank of the Rhône. The abbey, archaeological remains and Château de St-Maurice offer different ways to explore the town’s history; there are also fortifications and a route that combines hiking with sightseeing. When planning your stay, you can choose according to your interests: sacred art and early churches in the abbey area, castle history and illustrated storytelling at the Château, or a route that takes in several of these themes.
The Abbey, Martolet and Tradition
Areas of the abbey open to the public include the basilica, the archaeological site, the catacombs, the treasury and the cloister. In the treasury, you can see reliquaries and liturgical objects from the collection of sacred art. The different areas offer distinct perspectives, from the basilica and archaeological evidence to objects of religious art.
The Martolet archaeological site preserves evidence of a monumental complex shaped by a succession of several churches since the end of the Roman era. The town’s history can therefore also be viewed as a sequence of architectural changes, rather than only through individual objects.
An early tradition is also associated with the basilica. According to tradition, Maurice, leader of the Theban Legion, was martyred in the 3rd century at Agaunum, today’s Saint-Maurice. This should be distinguished from the construction of the basilica: between 360 and 370, Theodulus, the first bishop of Valais, had a basilica dedicated to Saint Maurice built there.
Castle History and Illustrated Storytelling
Château de St-Maurice offers a different cultural focus. Since 2005, it has been dedicated entirely to original exhibitions on illustrated storytelling, including comics, illustration, animated film and press cartoons. The Château’s historical exhibition opened in 2018 and tells the story of seven centuries of castle history. Two distinct interests therefore come together in one place: the castle’s history and exhibitions exploring a range of forms of visual storytelling.
Access to the historical exhibition is combined with the annual temporary exhibition currently on display. Before your visit, check which temporary exhibition is running and how combined access is arranged. This lets you take the current exhibition programme into account when planning your visit to the castle.
Fortifications and the Tour de la falaise
The Tour de la falaise passes the Grotte aux Fées, historic fortifications, Château de St-Maurice and the abbey, combining hiking with sightseeing. Fort de Cindey adds to this historical focus: it was built during the Second World War, between 1941 and 1946. The route links several sights along a hike, while the abbey and the Château each offer their own cultural focus.
On 26 August 2026, the Grotte aux Fées was closed for renovation work. Check its current status before planning a visit to the cave. This is especially relevant if you want to combine the route with visits to individual sights.
Location and Getting There
Cantonal roads 9 and 146 and the Swiss A9 motorway pass through Saint-Maurice; the municipality has its own exit onto the A9. The railway station on the Lausanne–Brig line connects the town to the public transport network and is a regional rail hub. When planning your stay, you can therefore consider road and rail connections as different ways of getting there, without having to follow a fixed order for your sightseeing.
Discover more destinations: Vérossaz, Massongex, Finhaut, Dorénaz, Salvan, Vernayaz, Mex Vs.
Go to the main travel overview: Saint-Maurice.
