Set off to 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 inscription of mountaineering on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list.
Through 8 panels, discover the stories and values of this practice, thanks to portraits of mountaineers, illustrations, archival photos, and questions to explore along the way.
Accessible and family-friendly, the route offers beautiful views of iconic places in the region such as the Amône slab and the A Neuve glacier.
Discover the panels by clicking here:
2. The history of mountaineering in the region
3. The place of huts in mountaineering
4. In the footsteps of the Darbellay family
5. A new generation of mountaineers with Kevin Richard
6. International mountaineering with Jean Troillet
7. Mountaineering for women with Nicole Berthod
8. The high places of the Orsières region
Itinerary
Best period to go there
Prestations
Getting there
Exit the motorway at Martigny, at interchange 22-Gd-St-Bernard, and follow E27 towards Chamonix/Gd-St-Bernard/Verbier/Martigny-Expo. At the bypass tunnel exit, head towards Grand-Saint-Bernard/Italy, then leave the main road at Orsières and follow La Fouly/Val Ferret.
Large free parking at the entrance of La Fouly.
Access by public transport
From Martigny, take the train to Sembrancher, then Orsières. Then take the bus to La Fouly. Check the schedules on www.cff.ch.
Completion, 2025
Project initiators: Commune 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 setup: Nicolas Maillard
Printing flyers and posters: Design Copy
Creation of panel supports and signage: DransEnergie
Printing of panels, 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: Valais Media Library – Martigny
Financial support
Commune of Orsières
New Regional Policy (NPR)
Pays du St-Bernard
Raiffeisen Entremont
Interdisciplinary Mountain Research Centre (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 Tourism: Régine Bernard, Families & Friends
