Valais

Cantons of Switzerland

Valais, also known as the Canton of Valais or Wallis, is one of the 26 cantons that make up the Swiss Confederation. Its capital and largest city is Sion.

Valais is located in the southwestern part of Switzerland. It borders the cantons of Vaud, Bern, Uri, and Ticino, as well as Italy to the south and France to the west.

Geography

Valais is one of the three large southern Alpine cantons, along with Ticino and Grisons. The canton is bilingual, with French and German as its official languages. It is divided into Lower, Central, and Upper Valais. The last region is the German-speaking area.

Valais is famous for its beautiful landscapes. It includes parts of the Pennine Alps and the Bernese Alps. The canton has some of the highest peaks in Switzerland, such as Monte Rosa and the Finsteraarhorn.

Tourism

Valais is well-known for tourism. Popular resorts include Crans-Montana, Saas Fee, Verbier, and Zermatt. The Matterhorn mountain near Zermatt is an iconic symbol of Valais.

History

Valais has a rich history. It became associated with the Swiss Confederation in 1529 and joined as a full canton in 1815. The Simplon Railway in 1878 and the Lötschberg Railway in 1913 helped connect Valais to the rest of Switzerland.

Name

The canton is also officially called République et canton du Valais in French or Republik und Kanton Wallis in German. This means "Republic and Canton of Valais." People often call it simply "the Valais" in French and German.

History

Main article: History of Valais

Further information: Prince-bishopric of Sion and Alpes Poeninae

The upper Rhône valley was called Vallis Poenina. The Romans took it over after the Battle of Octodurus in 57 BC. It became part of the Gallo-Roman culture. Later, it was part of the kingdom of Jurane Burgundy.

Valais was in the kingdom of Transjurane Burgundy. This kingdom joined the Holy Roman Empire in 1032. In 999, King Rudolph III of Burgundy gave power to the Bishop of Sion. Over time, local areas became more independent. By the late 1300s, the region split into French-speaking lower areas and German-speaking upper areas.

In the 1400s, Valais joined the Swiss Confederation. By the 1600s, local leaders ruled it. In 1815, Valais became an official part of Switzerland. In the late 1800s, more people visited the High Alps. The first climb of the Matterhorn happened in 1865. This started tourism. In 1878, the Simplon Railway was built to connect Valais to other Swiss cities.

Geography

See also: Geography of Switzerland

Valais is the third largest area in Switzerland. It is in the southwest part of the country and lies in the wide Alpine Rhône Valley, above Lake Geneva. The main towns are along the Rhône River. The largest town is Sion, followed by Martigny, Monthey, Sierre, and Brig-Glis.

The Rhône Valley is surrounded by high mountains, making the land rough. The valley is bounded by the Bernese Alps to the north and the Valais Alps to the south. These mountains include some of the highest peaks in the country, such as Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn. Many glaciers, like the Aletsch Glacier, are also in this area. Because of the mountains, the weather in central Valais is quite dry compared to other parts of Switzerland. The canton is known for its beautiful towns and villages in the high Alps, which are popular with visitors in both summer and winter.

Political subdivisions

Main article: Subdivisions of the canton of Valais

Districts

Main article: Municipalities of the canton of Valais

Valais is divided into 13 districts. The district of Raron is split into two smaller parts. The districts are:

Upper Valais:

• Goms with capital Münster-Geschinen
• Östlich Raron (smaller part) with capital Mörel-Filet
• Brig with capital Brig-Glis
• Visp with capital Visp
• Westlich Raron (smaller part) with capital Raron
• Leuk with capital Leuk

Central Valais:

• Sierre with capital Sierre
• Hérens with capital Vex
• Sion with capital Sion
• Conthey with capital Conthey

Lower Valais:

• Entremont with capital Sembrancher
• Martigny with capital Martigny
• Saint-Maurice with capital Saint-Maurice
• Monthey with capital Monthey

Demographics

The western part of Valais speaks French, while the eastern part speaks German. The language change happens between the towns of Sierre and Salgesch, following the mountains like Bella Tola, Weisshorn, and Dent Blanche. In the year 2000, most people spoke French or Arpitan, with many also speaking German or Walser German.

Valais has about 348,503 people. Many towns include the capital Sion (Sitten), Monthey, Sierre, Martigny and Brig-Glis. Most people follow the Roman Catholic religion, while fewer belong to the Swiss Reformed Church.

Politics

Valais is one of the cantons in Switzerland. It has its own way of choosing leaders. People in Valais vote in federal elections to pick their representatives in the government. Different groups, or parties, take turns winning these votes. This shows the many opinions of the people there. Some parties might not be on the ballot in certain years, depending on the election.

Economy

Valais has a strong economy based on farming, factories, and tourism. The canton is famous for its wines and fruit brandies, like Poire Williams, grown on terraces overlooking the Rhône Valley. Farmers raise cattle and grow apricots, with saffron gathered in Mund. The area is known for its cheese and dried meat.

The canton has important factories and power plants. Europe’s tallest gravity dam is at Grande Dixence, and hydroelectric plants provide much of Switzerland’s electricity. Factories make chemicals, metals, and aluminum cookware. Tourism is very important, with skiing in winter and hiking and climbing all year. Popular spots include Zermatt with the Matterhorn, Saas-Fee, and Verbier, attracting visitors from around the world.

Transport

Valais has several ways to travel, including roads and railways. The main road and railway routes run along the north side of Lake Geneva, connecting to cities like Lausanne and Vevey in the nearby canton of Vaud. From there, the A9 motorway and the Simplon Railway go through the Simplon Pass and Simplon Tunnel, linking Valais to Italy.

The canton is also linked to other parts of Europe through mountain passes such as the Grimsel, Furka, Nufenen, Simplon, and Great St. Bernard. The Lötschberg Railway, which opened in 1913, connects Brig to the Swiss Plateau through the Bernese Alps. In 2007, the Lötschberg Base Tunnel was finished, making travel between Valais and Bern faster. This tunnel was once the longest land tunnel in the world.

Valais has many roads for cars, bikes, and motorcycles. There are also special buses and many small railways and cable cars that help people reach beautiful mountain spots. Two ports on Lake Geneva, St. Gingolph and Le Bouveret, are served by boats. The closest big airport is Geneva Airport, which is about 160 kilometres west of Sion.

Culture

See also: List of cultural property of national significance in Switzerland: Valais

Valais has a special culture shaped by its place in the Alps. The canton is where two languages are spoken, giving it a rich and varied heritage. The strong mountain culture is important in Valais, with traditions that show respect for the tough natural surroundings.

The canton has many important monuments. Famous sites include the Valère Basilica, home to one of the world's oldest playable organs, and the Abbey of Saint-Maurice, which dates back many years. There are also many castles, such as Tourbillon Castle and Stockalper Palace, and beautiful churches designed by architect Ulrich Ruffiner. Two important hospices, the Great St. Bernard Hospice and the Simplon Hospice, once gave food and shelter to travelers. Museums like the Gianadda Foundation in Martigny attract many visitors.

Valais is also known for its traditional foods. Popular local products include wines like Fendant and Pinot Noir, cheeses such as raclette, and dishes like fondue. Other traditional foods include dried meat, rye bread, and Cholera, a pastry filled with different ingredients.