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Canton of Switzerland
Photo: Tobias Alt, Tobi 87, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Valais (German: Wallis) is exactly that: a long, narrow, L-shaped valley in the Swiss Alps. The main cities in this region are along the river Rhone which cuts through the bottom of the valley, between its source at the Rhone glacier in the east and its temporary destination of Lake Geneva in the west. The main tourist destinations lie in the lesser populated side valleys to the north or the south or on plateaus above the main valley.
The nearest international airport is either Geneva for the western part of Valais or Zurich for the eastern part. Direct trains depart from both airports for Brig.
Read in the guideThe Valais is quite a big region; the drive from Gletsch at the Eastern edge, to Saint-Gingolph at the shore of Lake Geneva is more than 170 kilometres.
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Caselle Torinese (TO) · International · TRN
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Part of the enormous Portes du Soleil ski area.
An industrial town at the bend of the valley with a rich history dating back to Roman times
Located at the narrowest part of the valley, this city houses one of the oldest Catholic monasteries in the world.
Fancy ski resort with access to the 4 Vallées ski area
The political centre and capital of the Valais.
An upscale mountain resort above Sierre.
Town in the valley with a rich history and known for its wine.
The biggest town of Swiss-German speaking Valais. Famous for the Stockalper castle, the former residence of a rich merchant.
A quaint village at the edge of the Goms valley and starting point for tours to the nearby Eggishorn.
Mountain resort famous for its thermal baths.
Riederalp and Bettmeralp are two car-free villages in the German-speaking part of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. They are a few kilometres from each other at 1,900 metres.
Ski resort, possibly the best place in the world to snowboard.
The second major town and the most important transport hub in the Upper Valais.
Village at the foot of the Matterhorn. It has a very extensive ski resort and features glaciers and great views.}}
Lötschental is in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It is one of the most beautiful valleys in Switzerland.
Zermatt is one of the most famous mountain resorts in Switzerland, and attracts people from around the world. Located in the German-speaking part of Valais, its most popular sight is the iconic Matterhorn, one of Switzerland's most famous mountains.
Portes du Soleil is the name for a massive international ski area that straddles the French and Swiss borders.
a protected area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site shared between the Valais and the Bernese Highlands
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