High above Sion, the capital of the Valais, two rocky hills have defined the skyline since the Middle Ages: the fortified Basilica of Valère and, facing it, the dramatic ruins of Tourbillon Castle. Inside the basilica stands an organ built around 1435 – the oldest playable pipe organ in the world. Tourbillon, once a 13th-century bishop’s stronghold, burned down in 1788 and now crowns its hill as a striking ruin with sweeping views over the Rhône valley and the surrounding Alps.
Sion sits in the heart of the Valais, one of the sunniest corners of Switzerland – mild, wine-rich and almost Mediterranean in feel. Between the two hills, the compact old town invites you to wander its lanes, squares and wine cellars. The short, steep climb to the castles rewards you with one of the finest panoramas in the canton.
From Zurich it is roughly a three-hour drive, which passes in comfort aboard a Mercedes V-Class. Your private chauffeur collects you at any address and takes you straight to Sion: no changing trains, no parking hunt on the steep castle hill, no dragging luggage. Entrance fees and the climb to the castles are paid on site – we handle the relaxed ride there and back.
