A longer tour, the hiking route across the plateau and historic sites reveal different sides of Vérossaz. When planning, it helps to consider the distance and walking time of individual routes separately: the Tour des Dents-du-Midi is about 42.5 kilometres long, while the plateau route is listed as taking around three hours. This lets you decide how much to focus on hiking before looking for a holiday apartment for your stay.
Hiking and outdoor activities
The Tour des Dents-du-Midi is well marked, about 42.5 kilometres long and accessible from several directions. One described section runs from Mex through the forests of Orgères and Seintanère to Vérossaz; it then follows the Chemin de la Poya down into the plain to Saint-Maurice. From Saint-Maurice, the Chemin des Cases, locally known as La Poya, also leads on foot to Vérossaz. Before setting off, check local guidance on trail safety and the specific conditions of the mountain route.
Classified as easy, the Plateau de Vérossaz route is 9.02 kilometres long and takes about three hours. It climbs to a plateau overlooking the Rhône Valley, continues to the village of Vérossaz and then heads towards La Doey and Daviaz. The Sur les traces de saint Sigismond route offers a different duration: it takes about two hours and 45 minutes. An optional three-kilometre loop adds an hour.
The Tour de la falaise leads from Les Cases along a series of hairpin bends to Les Bassex, a hamlet below the village of Vérossaz. On the paths above the village, you can observe the local wildlife and the varied flora on the slopes. Seintaneire lies on a spur of the Cime de l’Est and is considered an exceptional viewpoint. The plateau is also home to an astronomical observatory, surrounded by the Dents de Morcles and Dents-du-Midi mountain ranges. If you are planning a visit, check the booking arrangements in advance.
There are also specific options for activities of a different duration: a Parcours VITA is available in the Chétillon area. It starts in the Chétillon car park, near the football pitch. Trail conditions can change; check the relevant trail before setting off.
Heritage and local traditions
The Church of Sainte-Marguerite was built in 1838, consecrated on 30 May 1883 and dedicated to Saint Margaret. A bell tower, construction of which began in 1531, stands beside the former chapel. In the hamlet of Chavannes, the historic water-powered mill complex includes a grain mill, a press and a sawmill. These buildings reflect different aspects of local history, from sacred architecture to the former use of water power.
The Sentier découverte de Vérossaz is a discovery trail with ten information panels, inaugurated on 27 August 2022. It includes, among other things, the Druid’s Stone, a mill and a communal bread oven. North of the plateau lies the Pierre druidique de Combrevoux: a large stone made of gneiss and shaped by fire. It is considered one of the most interesting known Druid monuments in Switzerland; its association with sacrificial rites is part of the legend.
A monument to the writer Marie Trolliet, known as MARIO, was inaugurated in Vérossaz on 23 October 1921. It was made by Casanova and bears the inscription “Le Vieux Pays”. Another kind of local lore is associated with the Grotte à saint Sigismond, a site of oral legend in the ravine of the Mauvoisin stream below the Vérossaz football pitch.
Transhumance, which takes place every year in July and September, is a recurring pastoral tradition. More than 200 heifers and calves travel from Vérossaz via Les Cases, La Rasse and the Col du Jorat to Salanfe. Exact dates and route conditions may vary; check the details if you would like to plan your trip around the event.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Maurice Vs, Finhaut, Massongex, Salvan, Mex Vs, Dorénaz, Vernayaz.
For the wider travel overview: Saint-Maurice.
