The Abbey of Saint-Maurice has shaped the town since 515. It has maintained continuous religious activity, and its foundation is considered the oldest monastic foundation in the Western Christian world still in active use. Its 1,500th anniversary was celebrated in 2015. Saint-Maurice is also an official Swiss stop on the Via Francigena pilgrimage route between Canterbury and Rome. The town therefore brings together an important religious site and a route that stretches across much of Europe.
The Abbey and Religious Sites
With an audio guide, visitors can explore the basilica, the archaeological site of the former churches and the treasures of the treasury. An ancient baptistery is located in the cloister. The basilica is the ninth church to have been built on this site. Together, these sites offer insight into the abbey’s long history, whose traces extend beyond a single building.
Chapels beyond the abbey also tell the story of the area’s religious history. The Chapelle de Notre-Dame du Scex is cut into the cliff and lies 90 metres above Saint-Maurice. The climb to the sanctuary involves about 500 steps. The Chapelle de Vérolliez marks the traditional site of the martyrdom of Saint Maurice and his companions from the Theban Legion around the year 300. The present-day building of the Église Saint-Sigismond dates from 1715.
Roman Traces and Cultural History
The oldest part of Saint-Maurice extends along the Grand-Rue. This main thoroughfare, dating back to Roman times, is now reserved for pedestrians. The archaeological heritage of Acaunum, associated with Saint-Maurice, includes Roman remains, late-antique walls from the late 4th century and informative inscriptions. Finds also include traces of a Bronze Age settlement; a Roman-era town is also attested. Acaunum had a customs post where a 2.5 per cent duty was levied on imports and exports.
A historical exhibition at the Château de St-Maurice tells the story of seven centuries of the castle’s history. The Château has also been transformed into an exhibition venue for drawing and illustrated narrative forms, including illustration, animation, press cartoons and comics. At Fort de Cindey, visitors can explore artillery, garrison quarters and ammunition stores in underground tunnels. The two sites offer different ways to engage with history: the castle and exhibitions in one, and military installations inside the mountain in the other.
Cliff, RhĂ´ne and Trails
Saint-Maurice lies on the banks of the Rhône at the foot of a cliff, between Lake Geneva and the Alpine peaks. The Bois-Noir has nature trails and a Vita fitness trail. The area includes a Scots pine heath forest considered one of the oldest in Switzerland, as well as one of the last remaining wild stretches of the Rhône. Alongside the chapels and the town’s history, the forest and river landscape are also highlights to discover.
A hike to the Plateau de Vérossaz starts and ends in Saint-Maurice, follows the cliff above the town and is 9.02 kilometres long; the stated duration is about three hours. On 25 August 2026, the route was marked as “Fermé” (closed). Check current conditions before setting out. The Chemin de la Poya between Saint-Maurice and Vérossaz fully reopened on 1 August 2026; any remaining work was not expected to hinder pedestrian access. Check this dated trail notice locally before your visit as well.
The Toblerone Trail leads from Saint-Maurice to the heights of Lavey. Its route follows former anti-tank barriers, the Courset stream, the forest and the Promenade du RhĂ´ne. If you would rather cycle, Route du RhĂ´ne 1 offers a longer connection: it runs from Andermatt via Saint-Maurice to Geneva and covers 350 kilometres in eight stages.
Visiting the Town and Practical Information
The digital experience route Balade anecdotique et ludique leads visitors through the old town with puzzles and challenges. The Théâtre du Martolet regularly hosts public performances in music, theatre, singing, dance and variety. For a combination of history and wine, the Veni, Vidi, Bibi experience pairs a guided tour of the town centre with a wine tasting in the abbey bell tower. Check dates and availability for this experience in advance.
Saint-Maurice railway station has 73 P+Rail parking spaces and a covered bicycle park with 26 spaces. As station facilities may change, check the latest information with SBB. Alongside practical travel arrangements, you can consider which aspect of the area interests you most: abbey history, Roman traces, cliffside trails or the RhĂ´ne landscape.
Discover more destinations: Salvan, Finhaut, Vernayaz, Saint-Maurice Vs, Vérossaz, Dorénaz, Mex Vs, Massongex.
For the main travel overview: Valais.
