Geological Landscape

Chamoson belongs to a geological region characterized by large outcrops of limestone, shale and slate covering the European continental basement, itself composed of granite and gneiss.

The vineyards of Chamoson sit on three distinct geological formations with widely different soils and forms:

A) The massifs and peaks (Ardévaz, Haut-de-Cry, Dent de Chamosentze, Grand Muveran, etc.)
surrounding Chamoson are composed of sedimentary rock of marine origin deposited on continental Europe’s crystalline basement.

B) Glacial and moraine deposits
dating from the last glacial period of the Quaternary (about 10,000 BP) were left by local glaciers that developed on the eroded remains of the massive Rhodanian glacier as it retreated from what is now the Rhône Valley. They are characterized by an abundance of limestone material of diverse structure, silt, and coarse sand, as well as gravel and pebbles mixed with clay in places.

C) A large dejection cone containing alluvial deposits,
formed for the most part 5,000 years ago, is composed of aalenian shale (Middle Jurassic or Dogger) and metalimestone carried down from Haut-de-Cry and Ardèvaz by the Losentse, Cry and Saint-André torrents. The cone contains no trace of Rhodanian moraine. It has a relatively gentle downward slope and is quite permeable to water.

A Diverse Landscape

Market gardens and fruit orchards are located along the banks of the Rhône River in the lower section of the immense Losentse dejection cone.

At the foot of the vineyards lies the village of St-Pierre-de-Clages, known as Switzerland’s “village of books” and home to a famous Roman church built by Benedictine monks in the 9th century along the route taken by pilgrim’s to St-Jacques de Compostelle.

Above the village are the vineyards, the jewel of the region’s largest winegrowing commune. These 430 hectares represent almost 10% of vineyards in Valais (5,000 hectares), which itself is home to a third of all winegrowing in Switzerland. The gentle slopes of the dejection cone host 90% of Chamoson vineyards, with the rest planted in a series of terraces on steeper hillsides. At the top of the cone, where the plain meets the mountain, is the hamlet of Le Grugnay, home to Switzerland’s museum of speleology.

The forest takes over as the slopes rise above this point. Anyone seeking peace and quiet can head for the hamlets of Némiaz and Vérines, havens of calm nestled in the mountain foothills at the base of the steep cliffs of Haut-de-Cry. Higher yet is Les Mayens de Chamoson, with its quaint chalets dotting the mountainside and small hotels forming part of a modest tourist industry based on the hot springs and ski slopes of Ovronnaz. Visitors can also continue on to Rambert hut, the starting point for a hiking tour of the Muverans.

The Commune of Chamoson

Set in the heart of the Swiss Alps along the right bank of the Rhône River in Valais, the village of Chamoson (home of the Foundation) lies 12 km from Sion, capital of the canton, and 17 km from the cultural centre of Martigny.

How to get there:

• By car: From highway A 9, take the Riddes/Chamoson/Leytron exit and follow the indications to Leytron-Chamoson. At the exit for Leytron, follow the Route du Vin.   • By train: Take the regional train from Sion or Martigny and get off at the Chamoson station.   • By bus: Take the Chamoson bus line from the Sion or Martigny station. There are  stops at St-Pierre-de-Clages, Grugnay, Les Mayens and Ovronnaz.

Map taken from the Chamoson tourism guide “Venir à Chamoson”

MAP.SEARCH.CH

In addition to its administrative centre, Chamoson includes the villages of Grugnay, Némiaz, St-Pierre-de-Clages, Vérines, and les  Mayens de Chamoson, which have a total population of 2,900. Together with the communes of Ardon, Vétroz and Nendaz, Chamoson is part of the District of Conthey. Chamoson’s 3,500 hectares comprise orchards, vineyards, huts, mountain pastures, and rock formations. The splendid landscape is surprisingly diverse as it rises from the banks of the Rhône (480 m) to the towering summits of the steep Haut-de-Cry and the majestic Grand Muveran, which reaches 3,051 metres.