Pierre Avoi, 2473 m

A scenic highlight 2000 meters above the Rhône near Martigny: The Pierre Avoi, a striking rocky peak, is visible even from the Rhône Valley, but its southeastern side offers a surprisingly easy climb and a breathtaking panoramic view across the entire Lower Valais. Opposite lie the foothills of the Bernese Alps with the distinctive Chavalard peak, to the southwest the Mont Blanc massif is visible, and to the south we have an unobstructed view of the Grand Combin glacier massif. Our route leads us from Verbier across open terrain to a historic water conduit, which we follow along a ridge to reach the enormous rock basin at the foot of the Pierre Avoi. In earlier times, water was indeed channeled across this chaotic rocky landscape from the Mont Fort area above Verbier to Levron. It plunged down the rock face at the "Chute de Bisse" (drainage channel) and was collected again further down before being channeled towards Levron. Anyone who dares to glance over the steep, sheer drop-off will find it hard to believe – the conditions under which such pipelines had to be built and maintained were life-threatening! Our onward route, in contrast, leads harmlessly across meadowland to the rocky outcrop of Pierre Avoi; steps and a railing help us over the last few meters to the viewpoint.