Switzerland

Holidays by Destination Europe Switzerland The Valais 

Valais Tourism

Largely made up of the valley of the Rhone, stretching from its glacier source to Lake Geneva, the region borders France south of the lake, and then Italy.

A thoroughly mountainous area, it includes the country's 10 highest peaks and 20% of its territory is covered by glaciers. It also boasts the country's lowest rainfall.

To the northwest in the Alpes Vaudoises are the family ski resorts of Villars (particularly popular with families), Les Diablerets and Leysin, which in summer attract those looking for real peace and quiet.

The western part of the canton is the Valais Romand, where the capital of Sion is an interesting old town, including a Tour des Sorciers (sorcerers'), part of the town's medieval fortifications. The nearby Val d'Heremence includes one of the highest altitude dams in the world. The Val d'Herens offers a potentially more interesting glimpse of traditional rural life. It also includes the geological formation called the Pyramides d'Euseigne, pointed rocks protected from erosion by hard rock caps, now pointed needles pointed with a boulder on the tip. Another geological formation, at St Leonard between Sion and Sierre, is one of the largest underground lakes in Europe.

The uninspired resort of Verbier, also un the west, is known above all for adventure sports, and Crans-Montana east of Sion, boasts one of the world's most scenic tournament golf courses.

Zermatt down a valley running south, offers fine views of the Matterhorn, probably the most memorable of Switzerland's mountains, making it crowded year-round - even though car free. From Zermatt a cable car to Klein Matterhorn takes visitors to Europe's highest cable station and Europe's highest skiing. Alternatively the Gornergrat cog railway will take visitors up the mountain, with views over the Monte Rosa Massif.

In the neighbouring valley is Saas Fee, without a railway route in, but equally surrounded by plenty of mountains.

Going over the Great St Bernard Pass, the oldest in the Alps, there is a small museum in summer of its history and dangers. There are still traces of the Roman road beside the current one.

Happyland at Granges-Sierre describes itself as Switzerland's biggest theme park with roller coaster, toboggan ride, electric boats, flying boats, motorised vehicles for children and more.

If your children want to see a bullfight, this might be the place to do it. Cowfighting is a Valais tradition, stemming from village meetings to see which cow was best suited to lead the herds to summer Alpine pastures. There is reported never any bloodiness and the winner is the cow which has intimidated its opponents most effectively.