Discover the history of mountaineering in the Orsières region!
Located in the heart of La Fouly, one of the birthplaces of Swiss mountaineering, this educational trail was created to highlight the inclusion of mountaineering in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Through eight panels, discover the history and values of this practice, thanks to portraits of mountaineers, illustrations, archive photos and questions to explore along the way.
Accessible and family-friendly, the trail offers beautiful views of iconic sites in the region such as the Amône slab and the A Neuve glacier.
Discover the panels by clicking here:
2. History of alpinism in the region
3. The role of mountain huts in alpinism
5. A new generation of mountaineers with Kevin Richard
6. Worlwide alpinism with Jean Troillet
7. Women alpinists with Nicole Berthod
8. Culturally significant places in the region of Orsières
Itinerary
Best period to go there
Prestations
Author\s note
Getting there
Leave the motorway at Martigny, at junction 22-Gd-St-Bernard, and follow the E27 towards Chamonix/Gd-St-Bernard/Verbier/Martigny-Expo. At the end of the bypass tunnel, head towards Grand-Saint-Bernard/Italy, then leave the main road at Orsières and follow signs for La Fouly/Val Ferret.
Large free car park at the entrance to La Fouly.
Access by public transport
From Martigny, take the train to Sembrancher, then Orsières. Then take the bus to La Fouly. Check timetables at www.cff.ch.
Completion, 2025
Project initiators: Municipality of Orsières and Regional Centre for Alpine Population Studies (CREPA)
Project supervisor: Laine Chanteloup (UNIL and CIRM)
Idea and development: Alice Berclaz, Léa Fantini and Pauline Siggen
Trail installation: Nicolas Maillard
Printing: Design Copy
Creation of signposts and signage: DransEnergie
Printing of signs, signage and assembly: Mapub
Website: Pays du St-Bernard
Graphic design: Vivimocreations
English translation: Meagan Azzalini
German translation: Sebastian Wey
Italian translation: Andrea Lanteri
Communication: Gaëtan Tornay from Pays St-Bernard, Mélanie Clivaz (CIRM)
Photo archives: Médiathèque Valais – Martigny
Financial support
Commune of Orsières
New Regional Policy (NPR)
Pays du St-Bernard
Raiffeisen Entremont
Interdisciplinary Centre for Mountain Research (CIRM)
Interviews
Nicole Berthod, Philippe Bobillier, Alain Darbellay, Martine Gabioud, Pierre Mathey, Stéphane Michellod, Kevin Richard, Jean Troillet
Advice
Bureau Relief: Simon Martin, CIRM: Mélanie Clivaz, CREPA: Yann Decorzant and Séraphine Mettan, Nature Culture Tourisme: Régine Bernard, Family & Friends