Valais
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{{Infobox Canton
|local_names=Canton du Valais <br> Kanton Wallis|short_name=Valais
|flag_img_path=Flag of Canton of Valais.svg
|coa_img_path=Valais-coat of arms.svg
|locatormap_img_path=Swiss_Canton_Map_VS.png
|cantonalmap_img_path=Karte_Kanton_Wallis.png
|capital=[[Sion, Switzerland|Sion]]
|area=5224|area_rank=3rd|area_scale=9
|population=294,608|population_rank=9th|population_asof=2006
|population_density=56
|since=1815
|abbr=VS
|languages=[[French language|French]], [[German language|German]]
|executive=Conseil d'Etat, Staatsrat|executive_members=5
|legislative=[[Grand Conseil]], [[Grosser Rat]]|parliament_members=130
|highest=Dufourspitze|highest_m=4634|lowest=[[Lake Geneva]]|lowest_m=372
|municipalities_number=160
|districts_designation=districts, Bezirke|districts_number=13
|coord={{coor title dm|46|14|N|7|36|E|region:CH-VS_type:adm1st}}
|}}
The '''Valais''' ([[German language|German]]: {{Audio|De-Wallis.ogg|''Wallis''}}) is one of the 26 [[cantons of Switzerland]] in the southwestern part of [[Switzerland|the country]], around the valley of the [[Rhône]] from its headwaters to [[Lake Geneva]], separating the [[Pennine Alps]] from the [[Bernese Alps]]. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley. Paradoxically it is also one of most well-watered parts, having large amounts of snow and rain up on the highest peaks found in Switzerland. It is perhaps best known for the [[Cervino]]/[[Matterhorn]] mountain.
==Geography==
[[image:Mischabelgruppe.jpg|left|thumb|200px|the [[Mischabel]] Group: Dom, Täschhorn, and Alphubel]]
The canton of Valais lies in the southwest of Switzerland. To its south lies [[Italy]], to the southwest [[France]]. To the north the canton is bounded by the Swiss cantons of [[Vaud]] and [[Canton of Bern|Bern]]; the cantons of [[Canton of Uri|Uri]] and [[Ticino]] lie to its east.
The wide, glacial [[Rhône River|Rhône]] 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 lies [[Zermatt]], a pretty tourist village dominated by views of the [[Matterhorn]] (4 478 m). Fifty of the mountains exceed 4 000 m with the highest, [[Monte Rosa]], reaching to 4 638 m (15,217ft), and there are numerous [[glacier]]s.
The Rhône drains the main valley from east to west up to [[Martigny, Switzerland|Martigny]], then in a right angle north to its mouth in the [[Lake Geneva]]. After the small town of [[Saint-Maurice, Valais|Saint-Maurice]], the northern banks of the river belong to the canton of [[Vaud]]. The main valley is bound by the [[Bernese Alps]] in the north and the [[Pennine Alps]] in the south. Only about half of the total area is considered productive.
===Valleys===
{{see|Valleys of the Alps}}
*North of the [[Rhône]]
**[[Fieschertal]]
**[[Lötschental]]
**Dalatal ([[Leukerbad]])
*South of the Rhône:
**[[Binntal]]
**[[Manztal]]
**[[Saastal]]
**[[Mattertal]]
**[[Turtmanntal]]
**[[Val d'Anniviers]]
**[[Val d'Hérens]]
**[[Val d'Hérémence]]
**[[Val de Vendaz]]
**[[Val de Bagnes]]
**[[Val d'Entremont]]
**[[Val Ferret]]
**[[Val d'Illiez]]
==History==
[[image:Sion notre dame.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Notre Dame de Valère]] above the cantonal capital [[Sion, Switzerland|Sion]]]]
The Romans called the area ''Vallis Poenina'' (''"Upper Rhône Valley"''). From 888 onwards the lands were part of the kingdom of [[Burgundians|Jurane Burgundy]].
:''Main article: [[Bishop of Sion|Bishops of Sion]]''.
King [[Rudolph III of Burgundy]] gave the lands to the [[Bishop of Sion]] in 999, making him Count of the Valais. The count-bishops then struggled to defend their area against the dukes of [[Savoy]], so that the medieval history of the Valais is inextricably linked with that of the diocese of Sion.
The Valais resisted the [[Protestant Reformation]], remaining faithful to the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. On [[March 12]], [[1529]], Valais became an associate member (''Zugewandter Ort'') of the [[Swiss Confederation]]. In 1628 the Valais became technically a republic, the ''République des Sept Dizains / Republik der Sieben Zehenden'' under the guidance of the prince-bishop of Sion and the ''bailli''. The bishop remained in power until 1798 when [[Napoleon]]'s troops invaded the Valais and declared a Revolutionary ''République du Valais'' (March 16) which was swiftly incorporated (May 1) into the [[Helvetic Republic]] until 1802 when it became the independent ''Rhodanic Republic''. In 1810 the Rhodanic Republic was annexed by Napoleonic France as the ''[[Simplon (département)|département of Simplon]]''. Independence was restored in 1813 and on [[August 4]], [[1815]] the Valais finally entered the Swiss confederation as a canton. In 1845 the Valais joined the Catholic separatist league (''[[Sonderbund]]''), but chose not to fight the troops of the confederation in 1847 and submitted to the federal forces.
==Economy==
[[image:Wine grapes03.jpg|150px|thumb|left]][[image:Zermatt_summerski.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Summertime skiing in the Valais on the Theodul [[glacier]]]]
[[Wine]] production and [[tourism]] are some of the main industries of the canton. The [[Matterhorn]] near [[Zermatt]] is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Swiss mountains, as is its sister valley immediately east [[Saas Fee]]. Other parts of the mountains of the canton further west are popular as well, such as the more French-speaking resorts near [[Verbier]] and the [[Evolene]] and [[Arolla]] region. The resorts on the north side of the main Rhône river valley are popular, looking out southwards towards the [[Peninne Alps]] and still part of the southern slope of the [[Bernese Alps]], such as the family-oriented resort of [[Crans-Montana]]. The resorts in the [[Goms]] region are slightly less known, yet also receive attention during the summer hiking season and the winter [[Skiing|ski]] season.
Apart from tourism, [[agriculture]] is still important, particularly [[cattle]] breeding in the mountains and [[dairy farming]] in the plains. The [[wine]] industry of the canton is the largest in Switzerland. There are also a large number [[orchard]]s in the area, and [[saffron]] is also gathered here.
Europe's tallest [[gravity dam]] is located at [[Grande Dixence Dam|Grande Dixence]] in the canton. [[Hydroelectricity|Hydroelectric]] power plants from the canton produce about a quarter of Swiss electricity.
The west part and the most industrial region of the canton is called [[Chablais]]. The area is very important for the economy. The lands from the Valais part of Lake Geneva to the town of St-Maurice are located in the Chablais. There are a lot of factories, the most important are the subsidiaries of [[Novartis]] and [[Syngenta]], in [[Monthey]]. In the town of [[Collombey-Muraz]], there is an [[oil refinery]].
Near [[Visp]] there is a large [[aluminium]] processing plant. Other metal products and chemicals are produced around Visp and [[Sierre]].
Despite the thriving tourist industry, high level of infrastructure, and the many vineyards, canton Valais is still one of the poorest of the Swiss cantons, and not yet near the wealthier banking/financial cantons. A large portion of the canton's land and houses is now owned by foreigners.
The mountainous canton with a plethora of ski resorts was narrowly passed over in the bid for the [[2002 Winter Olympics]] and [[2006 Winter Olympics]].
==Transport==
[[image:valais.jpeg|thumb|left|View looking down on the broad [[Rhône]] valley running through the middle of the Valais]]A small airport is located at [[Sion, Switzerland|Sion]], but the main routes of transport are rail and road. Both networks are extensive and benefit from tourism. There are two major rail tunnels at the [[Simplon Pass|Simplon]] ([[Simplon Tunnel]]) and Lötschberg ([[Lötschberg Tunnel]]) and [[Great St Bernard Tunnel|a road tunnel]] at the Great St Bernard. Many of the road passes are well known, such as the Grimsel Pass. The longest land tunnel in the world, the [[Lötschberg Base Tunnel]], will soon be in operation, in late 2007 perhaps, connecting by rail the town of [[Frutigen]] in [[Canton of Berne|canton Bern]], with the town of [[Visp]] in canton Valais/Wallis. This is to better allay car traffic in the highly scenic [[Kandersteg|Kandertal]], and also to provide faster transport through the [[Bernese Alps]] from the populous Mittelland in the north to the southern canton of Valais. Cars may be loaded onto the trains as freight. The old train line will still likely have traffic though, as it has highly scenic sections in both cantons on either side of the old tunnel through the dividing ridgeline, yet is somewhat slower than the new route which has a much longer tunnel section.
Because of the tourism there are many mountain railways and cable cars in the mountains. The scenic rail route across the Furka Pass originates in the canton of Valais.
==Demographics==
[[Image:RiffelalpChapel.jpg|thumb|right|A chapel near [[Zermatt]]]]
[[image:Loetschental.jpg|thumb|right|A view of the Lötschental valley]] [[image:MonteRosaWestseite gesehenVomGornergrat.JPG|thumb|right|Monte Rosa Massif]][[image:Allalin.jpg|thumb|right|the Allalinhorn in August]]
[[image:Img0644.jpeg|thumb|right|Valais Welcome Sign]]
Valais is predominantly [[French language|French]]- and [[Arpitan]]-speaking. The eastern part of the canton [[Upper Valais]], however, speaks [[Walliser German]]. The French-speaking population makes up a little bit more than two thirds of the total population.
The whole canton is thinly populated. The largest towns are the capital [[Sion, Switzerland|Sion]] (''Sitten''), [[Monthey]], [[Sierre]], [[Martigny]] and [[Brig]]. There is no major city located in the canton. Over 90% of the population is [[Roman Catholic]].
===Towns and villages===
*[[Anzère]]
*[[Bluche]]
*[[Brig, Switzerland|Brig]]
*[[Sion, Switzerland|Sion]]
*[[Sierre]]
*[[Monthey, Switzerland|Monthey]]
*[[Martigny, Switzerland|Martigny]]
*[[Crans-Montana]]
*[[Leukerbad]]
*[[Saas-Fee]]
*[[Verbier]]
*[[Visp]]
*[[Zermatt]]
==Municipalities==
The following are the [[municipalities of Switzerland|municipalities]] of the canton, by district.
{|
|----- valign="top" style="font-size:small"
|
===[[Brig (district)|Brig]]===
*[[Birgisch]]
*'''[[Brig, Switzerland|Brig-Glis]]'''
*[[Eggerberg]]
*[[Mund, Switzerland|Mund]]
*[[Naters]]
*[[Ried-Brig]]
*[[Simplon, Valais|Simplon]]
*[[Termen]]
*[[Zwischbergen]]
===[[Conthey (district)|Conthey]]===
*[[Ardon, Switzerland|Ardon]]
*[[Chamoson]]
*'''[[Conthey]]'''
*[[Nendaz]]
*[[Vétroz]]
===[[Entremont (district)|Entremont]]===
*[[Bagnes]]
*[[Bourg-Saint-Pierre]]
*[[Liddes]]
*[[Orsières]]
*'''[[Sembrancher]]'''
*[[Vollèges]]
===[[Goms (district)|Goms]]===
*[[Bellwald]]
*[[Binn]]
*[[Blitzingen]]
*[[Ernen]]
*[[Fiesch]]
*[[Fieschertal]]
*[[Grafschaft, Switzerland|Grafschaft]]
*[[Lax, Switzerland|Lax]]
*'''[[Münster-Geschinen]]'''
*[[Niederwald, Switzerland|Niederwald]]
*[[Obergesteln]]
*[[Oberwald, Valais|Oberwald]]
*[[Reckingen-Gluringen]]
*[[Ulrichen]]
===[[Hérens (district)|Hérens]]===
*[[Ayent]]
*[[Evolène]]
*[[Hérémence]]
*[[Les Agettes]]
*[[Mase, Switzerland|Mase]]
*[[Nax]]
*[[Saint-Martin, Valais|Saint-Martin]]
*[[Vernamiège]]
*'''[[Vex, Switzerland|Vex]]'''
|
===[[Leuk (district)|Leuk]]===
*[[Agarn]]
*[[Albinen]]
*[[Bratsch]]
*[[Ergisch]]
*[[Erschmatt]]
*[[Gampel]]
*[[Guttet-Feschel]]
*[[Inden, Switzerland|Inden]]
*'''[[Leuk]]'''
*[[Leukerbad]]
*[[Oberems]]
*[[Salgesch]]
*[[Turtmann]]
*[[Unterems]]
*[[Varen, Switzerland|Varen]]
===[[Martigny (district)|Martigny]]===
*[[Bovernier]]
*[[Charrat]]
*[[Fully]]
*[[Isérables]]
*[[Leytron]]
*'''[[Martigny, Switzerland|Martigny]]'''
*[[Martigny-Combe]]
*[[Riddes]]
*[[Saillon]]
*[[Saxon, Switzerland|Saxon]]
*[[Trient, Valais|Trient]]
===[[Monthey (district)|Monthey]]===
*[[Champéry]]
*[[Collombey-Muraz]]
*'''[[Monthey]]'''
*[[Port-Valais]]
*[[Saint-Gingolph|Saint-Gingolph]]
*[[Troistorrents]]
*[[Val D'Illiez]]
*[[Vionnaz]]
*[[Vouvry]]
===[[Raron (district)|Raron]]===
*[[Ausserberg]]
*[[Betten]]
*[[Bister, Switzerland|Bister]]
*[[Bitsch, Switzerland|Bitsch]]
*[[Blatten]]
*[[Bürchen]]
*[[Eischoll]]
*[[Ferden]]
*[[Filet, Switzerland|Filet]]
*[[Grengiols]]
*[[Hohtenn]]
*[[Kippel]]
*[[Martisberg]]
*[[Mörel]]
*[[Niedergesteln]]
*'''[[Raron]]'''
*[[Riederalp]]
*[[Steg]]
*[[Unterbäch]]
*[[Wiler]]
|
===[[Saint-Maurice (district)|Saint-Maurice]]===
*[[Collonges, Switzerland|Collonges]]
*[[Dorénaz]]
*[[Evionnaz]]
*[[Finhaut]]
*[[Massongex]]
*[[Mex, Valais|Mex]]
*[[Salvan, Switzerland|Salvan]]
*'''[[Saint-Maurice-en-Valais|Saint-Maurice]]''' (Roman ''[[Agaunum]]'')
*[[Vernayaz]]
*[[Vérossaz]]
===[[Sierre (district)|Sierre]]===
*[[Ayer, Switzerland|Ayer]]
*[[Chalais, Switzerland|Chalais]]
*[[Chandolin]]
*[[Chermignon]]
*[[Chippis]]
*[[Grimentz]]
*[[Grône]]
*[[Icogne]]
*[[Lens, Valais|Lens]]
*[[Miège]]
*[[Mollens, Valais|Mollens]]
*[[Montana-Vermala]]
*[[Randogne]]
*'''[[Sierre]]'''
*[[Saint-Jean, Switzerland|Saint-Jean]]
*[[Saint-Léonard|Saint-Léonard]]
*[[Saint-Luc, Valais|Saint-Luc]]
*[[Venthône]]
*[[Veyras, Switzerland|Veyras]]
*[[Vissoie]]
===[[Sion (district)|Sion]]===
*[[Arbaz]]
*[[Grimisuat]]
*[[Salins, Switzerland|Salins]]
*[[Savièse]]
*'''[[Sion, Switzerland|Sion]]'''
*[[Veysonnaz]]
===[[Visp (district)|Visp]]===
*[[Baltschieder]]
*[[Eisten]]
*[[Embd]]
*[[Grächen]]
*[[Lalden]]
*[[Randa, Switzerland|Randa]]
*[[Saas Almagell]]
*[[Saas-Balen]]
*[[Saas-Fee]]
*[[Saas-Grund]]
*[[Sankt-Niklaus]]
*[[Stalden]]
*[[Staldenried]]
*[[Täsch]]
*[[Törbel]]
*'''[[Visp]]'''
*[[Visperterminen]]
*[[Zeneggen]]
*[[Zermatt]]
|}
==See also==
*[[Swiss Alps]]
*''[[Le Nouvelliste (Valais)|Le Nouvelliste]]'', daily
*[[Sion, Switzerland]] - Capital of the canton.
*[[French language]]
*[[German language]]
*[[Franco-Provençal language]]
==External links==
{{commonscat}}
*[http://www.vs.ch Cantonal government] {{fr icon}} {{de icon}}
*[http://www.matterhornstate.com Tourist office]
*[http://home.valaisinfo.ch/photo/search.asp Photo database]
*[http://www.valaisexpo.com Internetplatform for holidays in valais, switzerland]
*[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/regionalportraets/wallis/blank/kennzahlen.html Official statistics]
*[http://www.markstravelnotes.com/europe/western_europe/switzerland/canton_valais/food_and_drink/wine/ On Valais Wine]
{{Switzerland}}
{{Client states of the Great French War|state=collapsed}}
[[Category:Valais| ]]
[[Category:Cantons of Switzerland]]
[[Category:Cantons of the Helvetic Republic]]
[[Category:Wine regions of Switzerland]]
[[Category:Arpitany]]
[[als:Kanton Wallis]]
[[ar:كانتون فاليز]]
[[an:Cantón d'o Valais]]
[[frp:Canton du Valês]]
[[ca:Valais]]
[[cs:Valais]]
[[da:Wallis]]
[[de:Kanton Wallis]]
[[et:Valais' kanton]]
[[es:Cantón del Valais]]
[[eo:Kantono Valezo]]
[[eu:Valais Kantoia]]
[[fr:Canton du Valais]]
[[id:Kanton Valais]]
[[it:Canton Vallese]]
[[he:ואלה]]
[[la:Valesia]]
[[nl:Wallis (kanton)]]
[[ja:ヴァレー州]]
[[no:Wallis]]
[[nn:Valais]]
[[oc:Canton de Valés]]
[[pl:Valais]]
[[pt:Valais (cantão)]]
[[ro:Cantonul Valais]]
[[rm:Chantun Vallais]]
[[ru:Вале (кантон)]]
[[sq:Kanton Wallis]]
[[simple:Valais]]
[[fi:Valais]]
[[sv:Valais]]
[[vec:Canton Vałexe]]
[[zh:瓦莱州]]