Sierre Castle (Château De Sierre)

Sierre is a town in the Valais, on the Rhône at the point where the valley's language changes from French, downstream, to German, upstream, and the town has two names, Sierre and Siders. It is known as one of the sunniest places in Switzerland, with a dry climate and vineyards on the slopes behind, and its old centre has a number of stately houses and small castles. The building most often meant by the name Sierre Castle is the Château de Villa, a house with fortified origins that stands in the old part of the town, close to the main street. It is better described as a manor house than a castle, and it shows the way in which noble families in the Valais turned their fortified dwellings into comfortable residences.

The building has its roots in the Middle Ages, but its present form dates mostly from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. An early wing and a polygonal tower were built for a local family, and later it came into the hands of the de Preux family, who enlarged it in the seventeenth century with a second wing and a decorated entrance portal. The architecture combines stone masonry, plastered walls and tiled roofs, and the staircase tower, a feature of many Valais manor houses, links the floors. The result is a compact, elegant building that reflects the move from military to domestic architecture as the region became more settled.

Today, the Château de Villa is used for cultural purposes. It houses a wine bar and cellar, where visitors can taste wines from the Valais, a natural fit in a town that sits in the middle of a wine-growing region, and it hosts exhibitions and events. This reflects the importance of wine in local life: the slopes around Sierre are terraced with vines, and the region produces white wines such as Fendant and Johannisberg, as well as red wines such as Pinot Noir and Syrah, along with rare local varieties. A visit to the castle can easily include a tasting, and the staff can advise on the wines and vineyards of the area.

Sierre has literary associations too. The poet Rainer Maria Rilke spent his last years in the area, living in the nearby Château de Muzot, a medieval tower in the village of Veyras, and the town has a foundation in his memory that organises events. A walk through Sierre can combine the manor house, other historic buildings, the town's lakes, and walks in the vineyards, along paths and old irrigation channels called bisses.

Visitors should check the opening times of the castle, since they vary by season and events, and there may be restrictions on access to parts of the building. The castle is reached on foot from the railway station in about ten minutes, and the old town is compact. It suits history readers, wine lovers and walkers. Allow an hour for the castle and a tasting, and more if you explore the town. Wear comfortable shoes, and note that many wine cellars require booking for tastings.