20 Facts About Valais

Valais is situated in the southwestern part of the country.

Valais essentially coincides with the valley of the Rhone from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, essentially separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps, the two largest mountain ranges of the canton.

In 1529, Valais became an associate member of the Swiss Confederation.

In 1815, Valais finally entered the Swiss Confederation as a canton.

Valais formed part of the kingdom of Transjurane Burgundy, which fell to the Holy Roman Empire in 1032.

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The count-bishops then struggled to defend their area against the Zahringer and then the dukes of Savoy, so that the medieval history of Valais is inextricably linked with that of the diocese of Sion.

The department was occupied by Austrian troops in late 1813, and on 4 August 1815 Valais finally entered the Swiss Confederation as a canton.

In 1845, Valais joined the Catholic separatist league which led to what is called the Sonderbund War.

Valais is the third largest canton of Switzerland by area.

Valais is separated from the Swiss Plateau to the north by the Bernese Alps and from the Po plains to the south by the Valais Alps, respectively north and south of the Rhone.

Valais is one of the three large southern cantons lying partially in the Po basin, therefore south of the Alps, along with Ticino and the Grisons.

Valais is the highest canton in terms of absolute, relative, and mean elevation.

Valais is often described as "semi-arid", although it is not in the climatic sense of the term.

Valais is divided into 13 districts, with the district of Raron being further divided into two half-districts.

Western part of Valais is French-speaking, while the eastern part is German-speaking.

Only natural low-elevation access to Valais is via the banks of Lake Geneva, which have several railways and highways leading towards Martigny, Sion, and the rest of the canton.

The winding mountain roads of Valais are very popular with drivers, bikers, and cyclists for their spectacular scenery and are the highlights of competitions such as Tour de Suisse and the Rallye International du Valais.

In Valais are two ports on Lake Geneva served by the CGN: St Gingolph and Le Bouveret.

Size and particular geographical situation of the canton within the Alps helped Valais develop a culture that is distinct from that of the cantons of the Swiss Plateau and the northern Alpine foothills.

Valais has several castles of historical importance, frequently built-in formerly strategic locations: Tourbillon Castle, Saint-Maurice Castle, Stockalper Palace, La Batiaz Castle, Majorie Castle, the episcopal Leuk Castle etc.