Valais

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 and borders the cantons of Vaud, Bern, Uri, and Ticino, as well as Italy to the south and France to the west.

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

Valais is famous for its beautiful landscapes, including parts of the Pennine Alps and the Bernese Alps. It is home to some of the highest peaks in Switzerland, such as Monte Rosa and the Finsteraarhorn. The canton is also well-known for its tourism, with popular resorts like Crans-Montana, Saas Fee, Verbier, and Zermatt. The Matterhorn mountain near Zermatt is an iconic symbol of Valais.

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 refer to it simply as "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, called Vallis Poenina, was conquered by the Romans after the Battle of Octodurus in 57 BC and became part of the Gallo-Roman culture. Later, it was part of the kingdom of Jurane Burgundy.

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

In the 1400s, Valais became part of the Swiss Confederation. By the 1600s, it was ruled by local leaders. In 1815, Valais officially joined Switzerland as a canton. The late 1800s brought many visitors as people began exploring the High Alps, with the first climb of the Matterhorn in 1865. This led to the growth of tourism, and in 1878, the Simplon Railway was built, connecting Valais to other Swiss cities.

Geography

See also: Geography of Switzerland

Valais is the third largest canton in Switzerland by area. It is located in the southwestern part of the country and lies mostly in the wide Alpine Rhône Valley, above Lake Geneva. The main settlements are along the Rhône River, with the largest city being Sion, followed by Martigny, Monthey, Sierre, and Brig-Glis.

The Rhône Valley is surrounded by high mountains, making the landscape very rugged. The valley is bounded by the Bernese Alps to the north and the Valais Alps to the south, which include some of the highest peaks in the country, such as Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn. Many glaciers, like the Aletsch Glacier, are also found in this area. Due to the surrounding mountains, the climate 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 tourist destinations 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, with the district of Raron further divided into two half-districts. The districts are:

Upper Valais:

• Goms with capital Münster-Geschinen
• Östlich Raron (half-district) with capital Mörel-Filet
• Brig with capital Brig-Glis
• Visp with capital Visp
• Westlich Raron (half-district) 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, and it has its own way of choosing leaders. People in Valais vote in federal elections to decide who will represent them in the country's government. Different groups, or parties, take turns winning these votes, showing the diverse opinions of the people living there. Some parties might not appear on the ballot in certain years, depending on the election.

Economy

Valais has a rich 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 also raise cattle and grow apricots, with saffron gathered in Mund. The area is known for its cheese and dried meat.

The canton is home to 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 even 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 completed, 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, with scenic routes that are popular for races like the Tour de Suisse. 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 unique culture shaped by its location in the Alps. As a place where two languages are spoken, the canton has a rich and varied heritage. The strong mountain culture is a key part of Valais life, with traditions that show respect for the challenging natural surroundings.

The canton is full of important monuments. Famous sites include the Valère Basilica, home to the world's oldest playable organ, and the Abbey of Saint-Maurice, which dates back to the 6th century. 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 provided food and shelter for 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 various ingredients.