Valais

The Valais (German: Wallis) is a long, L-shaped canton in the heart of the Swiss Alps, stretching from the Rhone Glacier in the east to Lake Geneva in the west. The Rhone River cuts through the bottom of the valley, and the main cities — Sion, Sierre, Visp, and Brig — line its banks. The canton is home to some of the highest peaks and largest glaciers in the Alps, including the Matterhorn and the Aletsch Glacier, creating a landscape of extraordinary vertical drama.

What makes the Valais remarkable is its diversity. Within a few kilometres, you can move from almost subtropical slopes where almond and pomegranate trees grow, to the highest glaciers in the Alps. The canton is divided linguistically: French is spoken in the western Lower and Central Valais (from Sierre to Lake Geneva), while German — in a distinctive Highest Alemannic dialect — dominates the eastern Upper Valais (from Visp upward). This bilingual character gives the Valais a unique cultural texture within Switzerland.

Tourism has deep roots here: British alpinists first climbed the Matterhorn in 1865, and the mountain resorts of Zermatt, Verbier, and Saas-Fee have been drawing visitors ever since. Today the Valais offers world-class skiing in winter, superb hiking and climbing in summer, and a wine and culinary tradition that rivals any in Switzerland.

Winter (December to March) is the Valais's busiest season, with skiers flocking to resorts like Zermatt, Verbier, Saas-Fee, and Crans-Montana. The high altitude of most resorts ensures good snow even when valley floors are dry. Christmas, February school holidays, and Easter are peak periods; January is often surprisingly quiet.

Summer (June to September) is ideal for hiking, climbing, and mountain biking, with warm valley temperatures (up to 35°C) and cooler conditions at altitude. Spring (April–May) brings wildflowers and snowmelt — the higher trails may still be closed. Autumn (September–October) is arguably the most beautiful season: the vineyards around Sierre and Martigny turn golden, the poet Rilke was so moved by the Valais in autumn that he chose to be buried near Raron.

The Valais is one of the driest and sunniest cantons in Switzerland, particularly in the eastern valleys around Visp and Brig. Western Valais is somewhat rainier. Note that Good Friday, Easter Monday, and Whit Monday are not public holidays here (unlike the rest of Switzerland), though many services still close.

The main railway line runs the length of the Rhone valley from Geneva to Brig, with trains twice an hour stopping at Saint-Maurice, Martigny, Sion, Sierre, Leuk, Visp, and Brig (Geneva to Brig: approximately 2 hours 40 minutes). The Lötschberg Base Tunnel connects Brig to Bern and Zurich. Mountain railways branch off to Zermatt (from Visp), Saas-Fee (bus from Visp), and Verbier (from Martigny to Le Châble).

PostAuto buses serve the side valleys — the Lötschental, the Saastal, the Val d'Anniviers, and others — where no trains run. Cars are not permitted in Zermatt and Saas-Fee; visitors must park at Täsch (for Zermatt) or Saas-Grund and take the train or bus. Distances along the valley are short: Sion to Visp is about 30 minutes by train, Martigny to Sion about 25 minutes.

Cable cars and funiculars are ubiquitous, connecting valley floors to mountain villages and ski areas. The Swiss Travel Pass covers most public transport in the canton, including some mountain railways.

• Sion — the cantonal capital, dominated by two dramatic hilltop castles (Valère and Tourbillon), with a lively old town and Roman roots.
• Zermatt — the iconic car-free village at the foot of the Matterhorn, with world-class skiing and spectacular Alpine views.
• Brig-Glis — the largest town in the Upper Valais, home to the magnificent Stockalper Castle, the former residence of a wealthy 17th-century merchant.
• Sierre — a sunny town in the heart of the Valais wine region, known for its vineyards and access to Crans-Montana.
• Martigny — an industrial town at the bend of the Rhone valley with a rich Roman heritage and the Fondation Pierre Gianadda art museum.
• Monthey — the gateway to the Portes du Soleil ski area, with a charming old centre and access to the Val d'Illiez.
• Verbier — a glamorous ski resort with access to the 4 Vallées, one of the largest interconnected ski areas in Europe.
• Saas-Fee — a car-free glacier village known for year-round skiing and some of the best snowboarding in the Alps.
• Crans-Montana — an upscale mountain resort above Sierre with panoramic views, golf courses, and high-end shopping.
• Leukerbad — a mountain village famous for its thermal baths, Europe's largest alpine thermal spa complex.
• Saint-Maurice — a historic town at the narrowest point of the valley, home to one of the oldest Catholic monasteries in the world (founded in 515 AD).
• Visp — the main transport hub of the Upper Valais, connecting the Brig and Zermatt rail lines.
• Champéry — a traditional village in the Val d'Illiez, part of the Portes du Soleil ski area with excellent summer hiking.
• Grimentz — a beautifully preserved stone village in the Val d'Anniviers, with dark wooden chaits and ancient cellars.
• Zinal — a quiet alpine village at the end of the Val d'Anniviers, surrounded by four-thousand-metre peaks.
• Evolène — a village in the Val d'Hérens known for its traditional Herens cattle, folk culture, and spectacular mountain scenery.
• Fiesch — a village at the edge of the Goms valley and starting point for cable-car rides to the Eggishorn, with views of the Aletsch Glacier.
• Binn — a remote valley village known for its rare minerals and pristine alpine landscape.
• Val d'Illiez — a valley connecting Monthey to Champéry, part of the Portes du Soleil and a gateway to the Dents du Midi.
• Riederalp — a car-free village on a sunny plateau, with panoramic views of the Aletsch Glacier.
• Bettmeralp — a car-free mountain village with direct access to the Aletsch Glacier and the UNESCO Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch site.

The Valais has one of the richest culinary traditions in Switzerland. The canton is renowned for its wines — particularly Fendant (a white made from the Chasselas grape), Humagne Rouge, Petite Arvine, and Cornalin — produced in the sunny vineyards between Sion and Leuk. Many wineries offer tastings and cellar visits.

Signature dishes include raclette (the Valais claims its invention), fondue, and dried meats — particularly viande séchée du Valais, a protected cured beef. Valaisanne specialties also include croûtes au fromage (cheese on toast), dried ham, and Herens beef. In the mountain restaurants, dishes are hearty and cheese-heavy.

The alpine pastures produce exceptional cheeses, honey, and dried fruits. Farm shops (Hofläden) throughout the canton sell local produce directly. Dining ranges from Michelin-starred restaurants in Verbier and Crans-Montana to rustic Beizli (taverns) in the villages. Vegetarian options are cheese-heavy but plentiful; vegan dining is more limited outside the larger resorts.

The Valais has a strong folk tradition rooted in its Catholic heritage. Carnival (Fasnacht) is celebrated across the canton with processions, masked figures, and music — particularly lively in Brig and the German-speaking valleys. The Herens cattle fighting competitions (in spring and autumn) are a unique Valais spectacle, where cows battle for herd dominance.

The Verbier Festival (July–August) is one of the world's leading classical music festivals, attracting top international performers. The JazzAscona and Montreux Jazz Festival (in neighbouring cantons) draw visitors from the Valais. In Sion, the Fête de la Musique and various wine festivals (particularly the Fête des Vendanges in autumn) celebrate local culture.

Traditional crafts include woodcarving, embroidery, and the production of Alpkäse (mountain cheese) on summer pastures. The Valaisan dialect — both French and German varieties — is a source of deep local pride, and village festivals often feature folk music, yodelling, and traditional dance.

• Ride the Glacier Express through the Valais — this famous panoramic train crosses the canton from Brig to Zermatt and beyond, offering spectacular views of the Rhone valley and Alpine peaks.
• Hike to the Aletsch Glacier — walk to viewpoints above Europe's longest glacier (23 km), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, accessible from Riederalp, Bettmeralp, or Fiesch.
• Ski the Matterhorn — experience one of the world's most iconic ski resorts, with runs from the Klein Matterhorn (3,883 m) and year-round glacier skiing.
• Visit the Stockalper Castle in Brig — explore the largest private Baroque building in Switzerland, built by the merchant Kaspar Stockalper in the 17th century.
• Bathe in the thermal baths of Leukerbad — soak in Europe's largest alpine thermal complex, with pools set against dramatic cliff faces in a narrow mountain valley.