Things to see and do Sierra

This patrician residence was begun in the ^17th century by Jean-François de Courten. Formerly the Château de la Cour, the building became the Hôtel Château Bellevue in 1888. The hotel welcomed illustrious visitors such as the writer Rainer Maria Rilke and the German philosopher Rudolf Kassner, who stayed at the hotel for seventeen years. In 1964, the city of Sierre purchased the building and the Hôtel Château Bellevue became the present-day town hall. The interior is of great elegance, with magnificent painted ceilings and murals.

This lake actually gathers two small ones. They can be found by taking the road from Chippis to Sion. The larger lake, where swimming is recommended, is dominated by the hill of the same name and the 14th century convent which has been home to a congregation of Bernardine nuns since 1935. It is a very pleasant place to come and cool off in summer. It is also a paradise for children who come to have fun. The smaller lake is suitable for walking and remains wilder.

For all your practical and organisational questions, the Sierre Tourist Office is an ally for visiting the region.

The Château de Villa wine library is the place to be for wine lovers. It invites you to discover, in a friendly and exclusive setting, a choice of 550 of the best wines from over 100 Valais cellars, some rare bottles and fruit brandies from Valais orchards. Take advantage of the expert advice of the bartenders trained for wine tasting and go on a wine discovery tour, decorated with a magnificent wine press and entire walls of bottles.

The forest of Finges, pine forest and alluvial zone of 1 000 ha is recognised at European level for the richness of its fauna and flora.

This 16th-century manor house houses a museum of the Old Valais and of vine and wine, with interesting collections of traditional and ancient objects such as winegrowers' tools. Other rooms display paintings. But more earthly pleasures are also on offer thanks to the restaurant which serves opulent raclettes accompanied by the famous Valais wines which, after a visit to the museum, will no longer hold any secrets for you.

The magnificent 18th-century Courten house houses the Rainer Maria Rilke Foundation and Museum. Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) was an Austrian writer who lived the last four years of his life in Sierre, where he died of leukaemia after coming here to treat it. A permanent exhibition traces the writer's years in the Valais: 1921-1926. It shows his written works (Elegies of Duino, Sonnets to Orpheus, poems, letters...) and the friends he made during these years.

The doors of St. Catherine's Church are just waiting to be pushed open to discover the beautiful baroque architectural ensemble. It is one of the oldest religious buildings in the city. This 17th century building was restored and modified in the 20th century, first in 1920-1921 and then in 1994. It was badly damaged by the earthquake of 1946. Inside, the stained glass windows are particularly well arranged, the small ones at the bottom and the large ones at the top. The high organ is magnificently displayed in its woodwork setting.