Near Vernayaz, in Valais, the Trient river flows through 200 m deep gorges carved into the rock and spanned by two towering bridges. A route along wooden walkways lets you explore them in about twenty minutes, with the whole family.
Caves & mines
Main highlights
- A 200 m deep chasm carved by the Trient torrent, beneath two of Europe’s highest bridges
- A 20-minute walk on wooden walkways, easy and suitable for young children
- Information panels on the geology, wildlife and plant life of the gorges all along the way
Overview
The Trient Gorges were carved by the torrent of the same name into the rock of the Mont Blanc massif. They reach 200 m in depth and lie in Vernayaz, beneath the Gueuroz bridge, near Martigny. Erosion has polished the rock walls and shaped a narrow, steep-sided landscape.
The site combines nature and engineering : walkways suspended above the water and two of the highest bridges in Europe. Since 1988, the gorges have been listed in the Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments.
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What to see and do
The walk follows wooden walkways that cross the river at the bottom of the gorges. The route is an out-and-back along the same path. From the walkways, you can take in the power of the torrent, the rock walls smoothed by the water and, high above you, the bridges spanning the chasm.
All along the way, information panels explain the geological formation of the site as well as the wildlife and plants that live there. They help you understand how erosion carved this passage through the rock.
The walls are home to vegetation adapted to the gorges’ microclimate. The site is popular with botanists, who find rare plant species here, and with climbers, drawn by the cliffs.
Practical information
Access : the gorges are located in Vernayaz, beneath the Gueuroz bridge, in the canton of Valais.
Visit duration : about twenty minutes for the walk, half an hour if you take time to read the panels.
Suitable for : an easy, secure route, suitable for families with young children.
On site : tickets are sold at a flower shop near the entrance.
Visiting tips
Wear non-slip shoes : the walkways can be wet. The cool air in the gorges makes the visit pleasant in hot weather.
Mornings offer good light at the bottom of the gorges and fewer crowds than the afternoon. As the visit is short, you can combine it with other sites in the Trient valley.
Nearby attractions
- The Dailley Gorges are formed by the Salanfe, which flows down from the foot of the Dents du Midi towards the Rhône valley.
- The Triège Gorges feature walkways and three bridges that trace the history of the valley’s transport routes.
- The Marécottes Zoo is home to around 130 animals of Alpine wildlife in a larch forest, at 1,100 m.
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