From the village of Saillon, climb to an altitude of 1000 metres to discover the old cipolin marble quarry. You’ll be amazed by its history, global importance and natural beauty.
Discovered in 1832, Saillon marble gained international renown from 1873 onwards for its cipolin variety, ivory veined with green and purple. The Garnier Opera House in Paris, the British Museum in London and the US Custom House in New York are just some of the buildings around the world that have used it.
3h
473m
8.7 km
Return trip
Advanced
Map of the route
Click on “find out more” for a full description of the route and how to get there.
Practical info
Parking your vehicle
Park your vehicle in one of the free car parks:
- Pont de Cleusette, at the foot of the ascent to the quarry.
- Place des Moilles, a 15-minute walk from the ascent to the quarry.
- Place Farinet, a 20-minute walk from the ascent to the quarry.
Getting here by public transport
Take the 311 bus from Martigny CFF, Riddes CFF or Sion CFF stations to the Saillon les Moilles stop. Walk 15 minutes to the Cleusette bridge, where the ascent begins. Click here for timetables.
Picnic along the way
There are benches and a low picnic table in front of the quarry.
Organise a guided tour
Take a guided tour of the quarry and discover a place full of history.
Saillon app
Download the Saillon app to access the route, track your position in real time and listen to the explanatory videos produced by the Friends of Marble: