Cycling in Switzerland
Rhone Route
Stage 3, Brig–Sierre
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Rhone Route
Stage 3, Brig–Sierre
The main valley in the Valais widens, sun warms the dry mountain slopes. Between Leuk and Sierre an unruly part of the Rhone, and the Pfynwald, a nature reserve on a huge mound of glacier detritus; a motorway will be built here by 2020.
After one last look at the Stockalper Palace, we leave the cosy and traditional town of Brig with its rich history. Soon the birds fly fearlessly around our heads, darting from bushes and nearby cornfields. The noises from the road, railway and industry are barely noticeable from the other side of the Rhone, perfectly «soundproofed» by the trees and river. Unassuming from the outside but spectacular on the inside, Brigerbad is the largest open-air thermal spa in the Alps: probably not the worst way to soothe aching muscles…
The route continues comfortably through Lalden and Baltschieder. Lucky visitors will be able to see a farmer shearing his sheep. The typical black-nosed sheep are sheared twice a year, as their long hair makes them very sensitive to heat. Lovers of German literature will be most delighted to reach the next destination. Known as the «Rilke village», Raron is a beautiful place that has been lovingly spruced up. The world-famous poet Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) settled in Valais in 1921 and chose Raron’s castle hill as his final resting place.
Then suddenly, vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see. The Valais Wine Trail begins in Leuk and covers 83 kilometres all the way to Martigny. Just after Leuk is also where the Pfynwald Nature Park begins. Switzerland’s largest pine forest, a patchwork of extreme drought and idyllic alluvial landscapes, forms a unique habitat for 470 plant varieties and 130 species of breeding birds. Here, the cycle path on the wide main road runs slightly uphill once again. Despite the noise of an occasional truck, passing cyclists can still take in a healthy dose of the «Pfynwald atmosphere» between Leuk and Sierre. The Rhone Route is also dotted with gravel pits and quarries for them to admire. No wonder, as Valais seems positively surrounded by rock and stone. The route soon reaches Sierre, once dubbed «the town of a hundred hills» by the Romans. The wine capital of Valais also forms the language border between French-speaking Lower Valais and German-speaking Upper Valais.
The route continues comfortably through Lalden and Baltschieder. Lucky visitors will be able to see a farmer shearing his sheep. The typical black-nosed sheep are sheared twice a year, as their long hair makes them very sensitive to heat. Lovers of German literature will be most delighted to reach the next destination. Known as the «Rilke village», Raron is a beautiful place that has been lovingly spruced up. The world-famous poet Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) settled in Valais in 1921 and chose Raron’s castle hill as his final resting place.
Then suddenly, vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see. The Valais Wine Trail begins in Leuk and covers 83 kilometres all the way to Martigny. Just after Leuk is also where the Pfynwald Nature Park begins. Switzerland’s largest pine forest, a patchwork of extreme drought and idyllic alluvial landscapes, forms a unique habitat for 470 plant varieties and 130 species of breeding birds. Here, the cycle path on the wide main road runs slightly uphill once again. Despite the noise of an occasional truck, passing cyclists can still take in a healthy dose of the «Pfynwald atmosphere» between Leuk and Sierre. The Rhone Route is also dotted with gravel pits and quarries for them to admire. No wonder, as Valais seems positively surrounded by rock and stone. The route soon reaches Sierre, once dubbed «the town of a hundred hills» by the Romans. The wine capital of Valais also forms the language border between French-speaking Lower Valais and German-speaking Upper Valais.
The main valley in the Valais widens, sun warms the dry mountain slopes. Between Leuk and Sierre an unruly part of the Rhone, and the Pfynwald, a nature reserve on a huge mound of glacier detritus; a motorway will be built here by 2020.
After one last look at the Stockalper Palace, we leave the cosy and traditional town of Brig with its rich history. Soon the birds fly fearlessly around our heads, darting from bushes and nearby cornfields. The noises from the road, railway and industry are barely noticeable from the other side of the Rhone, perfectly «soundproofed» by the trees and river. Unassuming from the outside but spectacular on the inside, Brigerbad is the largest open-air thermal spa in the Alps: probably not the worst way to soothe aching muscles…
The route continues comfortably through Lalden and Baltschieder. Lucky visitors will be able to see a farmer shearing his sheep. The typical black-nosed sheep are sheared twice a year, as their long hair makes them very sensitive to heat. Lovers of German literature will be most delighted to reach the next destination. Known as the «Rilke village», Raron is a beautiful place that has been lovingly spruced up. The world-famous poet Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) settled in Valais in 1921 and chose Raron’s castle hill as his final resting place.
Then suddenly, vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see. The Valais Wine Trail begins in Leuk and covers 83 kilometres all the way to Martigny. Just after Leuk is also where the Pfynwald Nature Park begins. Switzerland’s largest pine forest, a patchwork of extreme drought and idyllic alluvial landscapes, forms a unique habitat for 470 plant varieties and 130 species of breeding birds. Here, the cycle path on the wide main road runs slightly uphill once again. Despite the noise of an occasional truck, passing cyclists can still take in a healthy dose of the «Pfynwald atmosphere» between Leuk and Sierre. The Rhone Route is also dotted with gravel pits and quarries for them to admire. No wonder, as Valais seems positively surrounded by rock and stone. The route soon reaches Sierre, once dubbed «the town of a hundred hills» by the Romans. The wine capital of Valais also forms the language border between French-speaking Lower Valais and German-speaking Upper Valais.
The route continues comfortably through Lalden and Baltschieder. Lucky visitors will be able to see a farmer shearing his sheep. The typical black-nosed sheep are sheared twice a year, as their long hair makes them very sensitive to heat. Lovers of German literature will be most delighted to reach the next destination. Known as the «Rilke village», Raron is a beautiful place that has been lovingly spruced up. The world-famous poet Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) settled in Valais in 1921 and chose Raron’s castle hill as his final resting place.
Then suddenly, vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see. The Valais Wine Trail begins in Leuk and covers 83 kilometres all the way to Martigny. Just after Leuk is also where the Pfynwald Nature Park begins. Switzerland’s largest pine forest, a patchwork of extreme drought and idyllic alluvial landscapes, forms a unique habitat for 470 plant varieties and 130 species of breeding birds. Here, the cycle path on the wide main road runs slightly uphill once again. Despite the noise of an occasional truck, passing cyclists can still take in a healthy dose of the «Pfynwald atmosphere» between Leuk and Sierre. The Rhone Route is also dotted with gravel pits and quarries for them to admire. No wonder, as Valais seems positively surrounded by rock and stone. The route soon reaches Sierre, once dubbed «the town of a hundred hills» by the Romans. The wine capital of Valais also forms the language border between French-speaking Lower Valais and German-speaking Upper Valais.
Length
42 km
Roads and trails
Asphalted: 35 km
Natural surface: 7 km
Natural surface: 7 km
Ascent | Descent
170 m | 320 m
Fitness level
easy
Arrival | return travel
Hints
Hint
Beware: in good weather a strong wind blows up the valley in the afternoon in the Valais.
More …
Hint
Beware: motorway construction through the Pfynwald between Leuk and Sierre starting in 2015. Possible diversions, dusty temporary roads, sections blocked or no signalization.
17
Bypass Pfynwald
Rail, bus, boat recommendation
Leuk–Sierre/Siders
Leuk–Sierre/Siders
or
Sierre/Siders–Leuk
Sierre/Siders–Leuk
Reason: Dangerous stretch, main road, metres in height saved Sierre/Siders–Leuk approx. 100m.
SBB Timetable
Hints
Biking in swiss parks
Between Susten and Sierre lies the Pfynwald, the heart of the Pfyn-Finges Nature Park. A huge pine forest occupies the valley floor through which the wild Rhone flows. The park stretches from the vineyards to the summit of the Weisshorn (4500 m).
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