Chippis lies on the left bank of the Rhône and is a Swiss municipality in the canton of Valais, in the Sierre district. The municipal area includes a village at an altitude of 520 m and a steep slope between 500 and 1,000 m above sea level. The riverbank and slope offer different geographical reference points within the local landscape.
Riverside landscape and Château de Beauregard
The Navizence is also part of Chippis’s landscape history: the village lies at a crossing point of the mountain stream. Recurrent historical floods, particularly the one in 1834, led to the excavation of the present riverbed. The Navizence thus adds a second river connection to the village’s location on the Rhône.
Château de Beauregard stands above the village on a rocky promontory, overlooking the Rhône Valley. Medieval ruins of the complex remain in Chippis. Based on its architecture, the château is estimated to date from the 12th century. The educational trail to Château de Beauregard starts at a small car park beyond the hairpin bend at the entrance to Niouc. Take care on the steep terrain.
The Pont de fer sur le Rhône in Chippis is classified as a Category B cultural property. While the château stands on the rocky promontory above the village, the bridge offers another connection to the Rhône landscape. Together, the two structures reveal different aspects of the historic townscape.
Church history and music
The Saint-Urbain Chapel dates from 1278. Until 1856, it was a branch church of Chalais; it then became the parish church. Later church buildings date from 1868 and 1923. The early chapel, its transition to a parish church and the later building phases mark different stages in Chippis’s religious history.
The bell tower of Saint-Urbain Church currently has six bells. The wooden vault creates exceptional acoustics, which singers and musicians use for concerts and recordings. Saint-Urbain can therefore be understood not only through its architectural history: its acoustic qualities are also put to cultural use. The programme for the Fête interculturelle 2026 includes music and dance, as well as culinary specialities from around the world.
Cycling in collections and landscapes
The Musée du Vélo offers a distinctive focus. Its collection includes at least 600 bicycles, 2,000 cycling jerseys and hundreds of other cycling-related objects. The collection thus ranges from bicycles and jerseys to other objects from cycling culture. Unlike Saint-Urbain and Château de Beauregard, the focus here is not architectural history but the material culture of cycling.
The Valais Alpine Bike 8 passes through Chippis and then crosses the Rhône north of the village. Seasonal conditions and access may change, so check the current route status before setting out. The museum and the route offer two different connections to cycling: a collection in the village and a trail that passes through Chippis.
Discover more destinations: Miège, Sierre, Crans-Montana, Crans-Sur-Sierre, Venthône, Chalais Vs, Saint-Luc Vs, Anniviers.
For the broader travel overview: Siders.
