Time stands still in Sion.
I was walking in the main area of the old town. The area where the restaurants, cafes and shops are located. I was uninterested and decided to take the side alley to be away from the crowd. In these quiet alleys, I found myself wandering alone listening to soft chattering from the apartments, admiring the window display of hidden artisan shops, peeking at windows and feeling every cobblestones I walked on under my shoes. I love the stillness of these medieval alleys. When I close my eyes, I could imagine myself in a French movie. Vintage. Wandering and my fingers trail the wall of the alley, being present at that very moment and nothing else.
Just me and Sion.
7000 years old Sion
Camoflage.
Chapelle de Tous les Saints Sion
Towards Basilique de Valère
After spending some time in the alleys, I found myself in the intersection leading to Basilique de Valère. To reach the Basilique by foot, I walked through the medieval fortress of Sion. I love it very much when visiting ancient places like this especially when the old wall is still intact. Reminds me of Ravensburg in Germany.
There are still residents living behind this fortress in Sion. There are some cafes and restaurant as well as museums, art galleries and performing theater. All things art cluster in one small place. Somebody was playing violin when I was wandering around the fortress. It’s hard to chase the music as the sound was bouncing against the rustic wall. It was truly romantic!
As I made way to the castle. I had two choices. If I take the right turn, I will go to Basilique de Valère and if I take the left turn, I will go to Château de Tourbillon. Somehow I decided to turn right. To enter Basilique de Valère, you have to enter by the main door. The original door. I love the feeling of entering an old castle through it’s gate. It’s a time machine. As you take the first step into the castle, you will be taken to a journey through the past. The castle is so well preserved. There is a cafe and a museum in the castle as well. There was a hole in the wall (picture below) which I peek and see Château de Tourbillon on the opposite side of the hill.
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Château de Tourbillon from Basilique de Valère
The castle was quiet as there weren’t many visitors. I took my time admiring the details and the beauty of the place. There is an open space in the castle with panoramic view of Sion. After feasting my eyes with these wonders, I slowly made my way down to the city center of Sion. I remember I felt satisfied that Sion surprised me.
The only regret I have is that I didn’t visit Château de Tourbillon. When I was home, I googled the Château and found that the view is better than Basilique’s. Hopefully, I will be back again and this time I will head straight to Château de Tourbillon.
We wish you a happy summer. Till then!
x Frau Hallo
Note: We usually upload different set of photos on Instagram.
Terraced vineyard of Sion.
Old town Sion from Basilique de Valère
Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Sion
Visible from alley of Old Sion
Basilique de Valère
Visible from alley of Old Sion
Panorama view of Sion.
Colour of Autumn behind Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Sion
Basilique de Valère
from Musée d’histoire du Valais
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