Key sites in the Valais region

Sion, the capital of the Valais, has 35,000 inhabitants. As you stroll through the old town, medieval craftsmen and artists seem to play hide-and-seek in the winding streets. As you climb up to the castles above, the romanticism of the place sometimes gives way to the fear of finding yourself face to face with a soldier who used to patrol it. Fortunately, the numerous terraces and the shopping area are conducive to joyful discoveries... Can you find the Rue de la Soif?

On Fridays, the city is beautiful and lively, around its famous market. Indeed, nearly 200 exhibitors will welcome you with good humour. Don't make any plans for the afternoon: the Fendant you will have tasted during the aperitif (and which does not quench your thirst...) will give you plenty of ideas. Farniente is one of them.

More info HERE

Meet the legendary avalanche dog, the Saint Bernard. As early as the 17th century, these dogs accompanied the monks to the hospice at the top of the Great St. Bernard Pass, to guard and defend them up there, if necessary. The Saint Bernard was also greatly in demand for guiding or searching for people lost in the snow or fog. Today, the Barry Foundation includes the kennel and the museum. Here you can meet man's best friend and also take part in various workshops.

The Great Saint Bernard Pass is also an essential stopover between Switzerland and Italy, and a favourite crossroads for holidaymakers on their way to or from Italy. "Culminating at an altitude of 2,473 metres, the Great St Bernard Pass separates the Great St Bernard Valley from the Val d'Aosta and the Val d'Entremont. The third highest road pass in Switzerland, this majestic natural site in the Pennine Alps is located in the commune of Bourg-Saint-Pierre, in the canton of Valais. The road is closed in winter but the Hospice is always open to welcome hikers on snowshoes or skis" (www.saint-bernard.ch).

In summer and winter alike, it is possible to hike in this somewhat lost paradise to regain strength and vitality through a variety of hiking ideas. However, it is important to note that winter hikes must be accompanied by a guide, as the risk of avalanches is very frequent.

Details of the hikes HERE

A favourite of Roger Federer, Zermatt (at the foot of the Matterhorn) is another must for lovers of mountains, nature and...Toblerone.

Zermatt has the particularity of having as a symbol one of the most famous mountains in the world, and also a very appreciated positioning around the zero car. Indeed, the resort does not welcome any car except the famous electric taxis, also big stars of the resort.

Its ski area includes 54 chairlifts and lifts and 360 km of pistes. In summer, autumn or winter, hiking in the high and medium mountains is very popular.
If you want to see the Matterhorn from all angles, Zermatt is the place to be. "The cogwheel railway takes you from Zermatt to the Gornergrat at 3089 metres. From here you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Matterhorn, the glaciers and the Monte Rosa massif.

Europe's highest cable car takes you up to 3883 m and offers a fascinating panorama of the Matterhorn (4478 m) and the Swiss, Italian and French Alps. 15 metres below the surface of the glacier, you can admire the ice palace. Six lifts and a cable car serve the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, the highest summer ski area in the Alps on the Theodule Glacier». (www.myswitzerland.com). This charming village can only be reached by train from Täsch, which is what makes this resort so authentic and unique. It is appreciated by sports enthusiasts, the curious, families, walkers and groups. 

More info HERE

40 minutes from Anzère, in Martigny, you will find the Fondation Gianadda. A cultural place where you will discover temporary and permanent exhibitions, the automobile museum and concerts.  This Foundation is now world famous, "nearly 10 million visitors have already admired works from private collections and major museums around the world, including exhibitions of Klee, Goya, Rodin, Giacometti, Schiele, Lautrec, Moore, Modigliani, Claudel, Chagall, Braque, Degas, de Staël, Manet, Dufy, Miró, Gauguin, Bonnard, Kandinsky, Van Gogh, Picasso, Van Dongen, Morisot, Signac, Anker, Balthus, Erni, Renoir, Matisse, Zao Wou-Ki,... " (www.gianadda.ch).

Plan on a good day (rainy day?) to fully enjoy the visit.

Discover the authenticity of the Valais in Evolène and more precisely in the Val d'Hérens.

Discover the traditions of the Evolène carnival which lasts several weeks, the real raclette served by Raymonde in traditional clothes, the fights of queens cows, the via ferrata for the most courageous, and simply the terraces with an unobstructed view on the Dent Blanche.

Find all the events in this typical (or atypical) region of the Valais HERE

This glacier is the longest in the Alps with a length of 20km. It will take your breath away, its volume and length make it an extraordinary spectacle. The power of nature is personified in an incredible form.

You can reach the glacier from Bettmeralp, the Great Aletsch Glacier is the longest stream in the Alps at 20km long and weighs 10 billion tonnes with a surface area of 79 square kilometres. "If the ice giant were to melt, every citizen on earth could be supplied with one litre of water per day for 3.5 years" (www.aletscharena.com). "The great Aletsch glacier is the heart and flagship attraction of the UNESCO Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch World Heritage Site. The region was included in the list of the world's most precious and beautiful landscapes in 2001. It is one of 13 World Heritage Sites in Switzerland and at the same time one of the few regions in the Alpine region with little human influence" (www.aletscharena.com)

Access and mobility HERE

The largest underground lake in Europe is located only 15 km from Anzère, in Saint-Léonard. You can enjoy a guided tour in French, English or German to discover the mysteries of this great geological phenomenon. Discovered in 1943, the underground lake suddenly sank after the major earthquake of 1946. This lowering allowed the lake to be navigated from 1949 onwards. The lake is now a well-known tourist attraction, as are the famous vineyards that overlook it. A treasure of rock and earth, Saint-Léonard is a small municipality which today is home to great natural treasures.

Visits are by reservation only. More information HERE