The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the south-western part of the country, in the Pennine Alps around the valley of the Rhone River from its springs to Lake Geneva.

Valais is predominantly French-speaking (60% of the population), with a German-speaking Upper Valais (30%). The German-language name of the canton is Wallis.

• Capital: Sion (Sitten)
• Area: 5'225 km²
• Population: 275'000 (2000)
• 90% Roman-catholic

The wide, glacial Rhone valley dominates the area, there are many side valleys which branch off the main valley. These vary from narrow and remote to reasonably populous and popular. At the head of the Mattertal valley is Zermatt, a pretty tourist village dominated by views of the Matterhorn 4477 m. Many of the mountains exceed 3500m high and there are numerous glaciers.

Wine production and tourism are some of the main industries of the canton. European Graduate School, focusing primarly on media and communications, is located in this canton.

Table of contents

1 Valleys 2 Cities and villages 3 External links

Valleys

Location of the canton

• North of the Rhone River
  • Fieschertal
  • Lötschental
  • Dalatal (Leukerbad)
• South of the Rhone River:
  • Binntal
  • Saastal
  • Mattertal
  • Val d'Anniviers
  • Val d'Herens
  • Val de Bagnes
  • Val d'Entremont
  • Val d'Illiez

Cities and villages

• Brig
• Sion
• Sierre
• Martigny
• Crans-Montana
• Leukerbad
• Saas-Fee
• Verbier
• Zermatt

External links

• Tourist office
• Photo database
• Cantonal government (in French and German)
• Official Statistics