A jewel of unspoilt nature, the source of Saillon’s thermal waters is nicknamed the “Giant’s Head”.
From Saillon, follow the path, accessible in all seasons, along the river to the Salentze gorge. At the end of the path, have fun finding the face of the famous giant, carved into the wall at the entrance to the cave. Covered in moss, this head in profile, formed by petrification due to the highly mineralised waters of the spring, inspired the French painter Gustave Courbet for his painting “La Caverne des géants”. A real island of coolness, much appreciated in summer.
1h
70m
1.6km
Round trip
Very easy
Map of the route
Click on “find out more” for a full description of the route and how to get there.
Practical info
Parking nearby
Park your vehicle in one of the free car parks:
- Parking de la Salentze (blue zone, beware of fines if parking outside the zone)
- Place Farinet, at the foot of the village
- Bains de Saillon
Getting here by public transport
Take the 311 bus from Martigny CFF, Riddes CFF or Sion CFF stations to the Saillon St-Laurent stop. Click here for timetables.
Organise a guided tour
Discover the history of the giant’s head and the famous painter Courbet with a guide.
Saillon application
Download the Saillon app to access all the walks and track your position in real time.
At a glance
