Switzerland Guide
Valais
The Valais (Wallis in German; Vallese in Italian; 
www.valaistourism.ch ) is a diverse swathe of country occupying the valley of the River Rhône, from its source in the glaciers of the central Alps to its inflow to Lake Geneva. Fully twenty percent of the canton is covered by glaciers, and yet the region has the driest climate, with the lowest rainfall and the most sunshine, of the whole country. The artificial irrigation system set in place by the valley dwellers in the Middle Ages – a vast network of channels, called bisses in French and Suonen in Swiss-German – still weaves a cat's cradle over the foothills of the high mountains, supplemented these days by half-a-dozen of the tallest and highest-altitude dams in the world.
The Valais is still a wild and little-known place outside the trio of famous resorts bred by the mountains: Zermatt, Verbier and Crans-Montana. Few outsiders bother to penetrate the deep rural side valleys either side of the single road and rail line that run along the valley floor – though those who do make the effort find plenty of long-distance hiking and adventure sports of all kinds. The only town of any size is the cantonal capital Sion, with a low-key, easy-going atmosphere and a handful of sights.
Highlights
1 Fondation Pierre Gianadda, Martigny Outstanding art gallery in this little-visited crossroads town.
2 Verbier One of the Alps' top mountain resorts, offering marvellously scenic skiing and walking.
3 Sion Characterful valley-floor town, with a fine old quarter and twin castles.
4 Sierre Lovely wine town on the Rhône, sunny and unpretentious.
5 Crans Montana High-glitz resort, with shopping and skiing in the limelight.
6 Zermatt Switzerland's most famous mountain resort offers a vast array of skiing and boarding, plus great summer walks – all watched over by the giant Matterhorn.
7 Saas-Fee Beautiful village set in an amphitheatre of glaciers, ideal for sunny summer walks and gentle skiing and boarding.
8 The Goms Unsung, rarely visited high country: remote, tranquil and sublime.