Sion
Located in the canton of Valais, Switzerland, Sion is a town steeped in history, where castles, museums and a charming old town sit alongside familiar high street names like H&M and The Body Shop.
On paper, that mix could feel jarring, but somehow it works remarkably well. I could easily imagine living here, surrounded by mountains, with plenty of good coffee, endless sunshine and fresh alpine air.
The earliest evidence of human settlement in the Sion area dates back to 6200 BC. Today, the town is the capital of the Valais region and home to around 35,000 residents. It is also known as one of the driest and sunniest areas in Switzerland.
Chateau de Tourbillon
The walk up to the Chateau looks quite daunting with it's imposing ruins towering above you. In reality, it's no more difficult than any 'normal' alpine hike. The exposed nature of the trail makes it susceptible to any weather and a reasonable pair of trainers helps but, we saw people in flip flops too. Take a drink and a hat on a hot sunny day or a drink and an umbrella on a rainy day and enjoy
Basilique de Valère
Just across from the Chateau de Torbillon, lies an equally impressive Basilique. Built a little earlier than the Torbillon, both sites are listed as a 'Swiss heritage site of national interest'.
