Three good reasons to discover Valais

Le Valais is a Swiss canton where nature reveals all its splendor through breathtaking panoramas, majestic mountains and green valleys. This alpine land offers a mosaic of landscapes where every corner is an invitation to contemplation. There are a multitude of reasons to discover this magnificent canton.

Whether admiring the snow-capped peaks from the Gornergrat, exploring picturesque villages with traditional wooden buildings, or wandering through terraced vineyards, the Valais amazes at every moment. Here, history blends with nature to create a deeply authentic experience, where the past still lives in the century-old raccards and where the culture of the vine shapes exceptional wines. The villages, nestled in the heart of the mountains, exude a timeless charm, while hikers and lovers of the great outdoors find their happiness on the trails offering spectacular views of sparkling glaciers.

Valais is not just a destination, it is a journey to the heart of the Switzerland authentic, where every moment spent is a celebration of beauty, heritage and the Alpine art of living. Among these moments, three of them put Valais on the list of Alpine regions to visit.

The breathtaking panoramas of the Valais Alps

Valais, a true mountain setting, is a region where every turn reveals breathtaking landscapes, mixing snow-capped peaks, green valleys and picturesque villages. The beauty of the landscapes is the first of the three reasons to visit Valais.

Among the most beautiful viewpoints, the Gornergrat stands out as a must-see. Accessible by cogwheel train from Zermatt, it offers a breathtaking panorama of the Matterhorn, this emblematic peak which dominates the region from its 4 meters. From there, you can admire the majesty of Monte Rosa and the Gorner glacier, a grandiose glacial spectacle where silence reigns supreme.

A little further west, in the Val d'Hérémence, the Lac des Dix, whose banks can be followed by a hike from the Grande Dixence dam, offers a breathtaking view of one of the highest dams in the world, with its deep blue waters contrasting with the surrounding rock faces.

In a side valley of the Val d'Anniviers, upstream of Grimentz, the Moiry viewpoint, near the lake of the same name, is another gem. Accessible by car or on foot, this place reveals a striking landscape and one can easily imagine the Moiry glacier throwing itself into the turquoise waters of the lake before it retreats to its current location. The surrounding mountains are reflected in the water, creating a scene of both raw and peaceful beauty.

Further south, the summit of Mont Fort, accessible via the ski lifts from Verbier, offers a 360-degree view of the most famous peaks in the Alps, including Mont Blanc and the Grand Combin. In the heart of the Alps and the Valais glaciers, this summit at over 3300 meters above sea level is to be visited in good weather to fully enjoy the view.

Finally, the Aletsch Belvedere, accessible from Riederalp, overlooks the largest glacier in the Alps, the aletsch glacierThis UNESCO World Heritage Site offers breathtaking views of this immense ribbon of ice that stretches over 23 kilometers.

These viewpoints, each one unique in its kind, are windows onto the beauty of Valais, a region where the mountains tell ancient stories and where each landscape is a work of art shaped by time and the elements.

Visitors, whether they are fans of photography, hiking or simply contemplation, will find panoramas that will remain engraved in their memory, witnesses to the majesty of the Swiss Alps.

Wooden constructions

In Valais, wooden constructions are much more than just buildings, they are the reflection of a centuries-old tradition and a unique know-how that is passed down from generation to generation. This is why we have made it a second good reason to visit Valais.

Wood, mainly larch and spruce, is the preferred material for building raccards, granaries, and mazots, emblematic structures of the Valais landscape. Larch, with its natural resistance to bad weather and its ability to harden over time, is often used for facades and roofs, while spruce, which is lighter, is preferred for internal structures.

The raccards, these granaries raised on stilts, were once used to store cereals and protect the harvest from rodents and humidity. They are recognizable by their slate roofs and their stilts often topped with flat stones called "mushrooms" - because of their shape - which prevent mice from accessing them.

The mazots, smaller and often decorated with carved motifs, served as small dwellings or safes for the families' precious possessions: preserves, linen, dishes. The treasures of mountain peasants always have an immediate use in practical life.

Each valley in Valais, from the Val d'Hérens to the Conches valley, has its own architectural particularities.

For example, in the Val d'Anniviers, the mazots are often larger and also served as shelters for animals during the winter. To admire these traditional constructions, Grimentz is one of the most picturesque villages. With its houses and wooden granaries blackened by the sun, it is a real open-air museum where each alleyway tells a story.

The village of Evolène, in the Val d'Herens, is also famous for its well-preserved raccards, which stand out against a backdrop of majestic mountains.

Elsewhere, at Saas-Fee, wood and stone blend harmoniously to create a village where modernity respects the heritage of the past. These wooden constructions are not only beautiful to look at, they are also a testament to the ingenuity of the Valaisans in the face of a sometimes hostile mountain environment.

They are designed to withstand harsh winters, while blending in perfectly with the natural landscape. When visiting these villages, you can also discover local museums that explain the construction techniques, the tools used and the customs related to these buildings.

The heritage house in Evolène, for example, offers exhibitions on the traditional architecture of Valais. History and culture lovers will be delighted to delve into this living past, where each wooden plank and each slate roof tell the story of the lives of those who built these mountains. Walks through these villages, with the scent of wood heated by the sun and the creaking of old boards under your feet, are an immersion in the authenticity of Valais, a region where wood is not only a building material, but also a symbol of alpine life.

The vine, the gold of Valais

Vine growing in Valais is much more than a tradition, it is a real institution that has shaped the landscapes and the hearts of the inhabitants for centuries.

Discovering the landscapes and tasting the wines produced there constitutes the third good reason to visit Valais.

With its terraced hillsides stretching as far as the eye can see along the Rhône, Valais is the largest wine-growing region in Switzerland, benefiting from generous sunshine and a dry climate ideal for vines. The history of the Valais viticulture dates back to Roman times, but it was in the Middle Ages that the monks really structured the vineyards, terracing the steep slopes to plant vines. Today, these dry stone walls are evidence of this titanic work, where each vine clings to the mountain like a treasure.

Le Splitting, made from the Chasselas grape variety, is undoubtedly the most emblematic white wine of the region, light and fruity, it goes wonderfully with local dishes such as raclette.

But Valais is also the kingdom of indigenous grape varieties such as Little Arvine, with aromas of citrus and rhubarb, or Cornalin, an intense and spicy red which tells the story of all the richness of this unique terroir.

The hillsides of Fully, Sierre and Salquenen are perfect places to photograph these terraced vineyards, especially at harvest time, when the leaves take on golden and purple hues under the autumn sun.

À Salquenen, the wine museum immerses you in the history and secrets of Valais winemaking, with tastings that awaken the taste buds.

Sierre, often nicknamed the “City of the Sun”, is surrounded by vineyards that produce some of the best wines in the canton, and it is also the starting point of the famous “Rando des Vins”, a route that winds through the vineyards, offering exceptional panoramas of the surrounding mountains.

The village of By boat, for its part, is famous for its natural and organic wines, a veritable open-air laboratory where winemakers experiment with environmentally friendly methods.

City Sion, with its four castles, including those of Tourbillon and Valère perched on their hills, is another jewel of the wine-growing Valais.

Every year, these Valais wines bring the Fête des Winegrowers in Vevey, nearly Lausanne which brings together wine and music lovers in a warm atmosphere, where we celebrate the fruit of the earth and the work of men.

Visiting these vineyards not only reveals exceptional wines, but also a culture and art of living deeply rooted in the Valais land. Whether strolling through the cobbled streets of wine villages, enjoying a glass of Johannisberg (a Sylvaner) on a sunny terrace, or walking the wine trails that offer breathtaking views of the Alps, growing vines in Valais is a sensory and emotional experience that leaves lasting memories.

Valais, with its spectacular landscapes and deep-rooted traditions, is a region where nature and culture come together to offer a unique experience. The breathtaking panoramas, from the heights of the Gornergrat to the Aletsch Glacier, are testimony to the majesty of the Swiss Alps.

The wooden buildings, with their raccards and mazots, tell the story of the men who have adapted to these mountains, while the terraced vineyards, which overlook the Rhône, reveal an exceptional viticulture.

Each village, each hillside, each wine trail is an invitation to discover a deeply rooted culture, where wood and vines are the symbols of a life in harmony with nature.

Whether you are passionate about history, a lover of good wines or simply a lover of alpine landscapes, Valais will seduce you with its authenticity and timeless beauty. The memories we bring back are made of these magical moments where we feel in perfect communion with a region that has preserved its soul while opening up to the world.

Valais is the promise of a memorable adventure, where each discovery is a treasure. We had to choose three reasons to come to Valais, but there are many more than that, and AlpAddict will reveal them to you as the articles progress.

Photo at the top of the page: Grindel1, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

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