Valais - 79 Attractions You Must Visit

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About Valais

The canton of Valais is considered as one of the driest regions of Switzerland. The famous scenic rail route across the Furka Pass originates from this canton. It also includes one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Swiss mountains called Matterhorn.

Types of Attractions in Valais

Activities Around

List of Attractions in Valais

Gemmi Pass

Gemmi Pass

Mountain Passes

Gemmi Pass is a high mountain pass across the Bernese Alps connecting Leukerbad in the canton of Valais with Kandersteg in the canton of Bern. The pass itself lies within the canton of Valais, at a height of 2,270 meters above sea level. The main trail reaches 2,322 meters. The pass is mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes story The Final Problem. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson cross the pass on their way to Meiringen, where Sherlock Holmes has his famous meeting with Professor Moriarty at the Reic

Gorner Glacier

Gorner Glacier

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

The Gorner Glacier viewpoint offers a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the second largest glacial system in the Alps. The tributaries of the Gorner Glacier; the Grenz, Monte Rosa, Zwillings, and Schwarze glaciers, spill down the slopes of these peaks, combining with the Gorner Glacier to form an imposing glacial river flowing in motionless waves down the Gorner Valley. The hike to the viewpoint, starting at Riffelberg, is filled with scenic delights.

Gornergrat

Gornergrat

Mountain Peaks

The Gornergrat is a rocky ridge of the Pennine Alps, overlooking the Gorner Glacier south-east of Zermatt in Switzerland. It can be reached from Zermatt by the Gornergrat rack railway, the highest open-air railway in Europe. Between the Gornergrat railway station and the summit is the Kulm Hotel. In the late 1960s, two astronomical observatories were installed in the two towers of the Kulmhotel Gornergrat. The project “Stellarium Gornergrat” is hosted in the Gornergrat South Observatory.

Grand Combin

Grand Combin

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

The Grand Combin is a mountain massif in the western Pennine Alps in the canton of Valais. With its 4,314 metres highest summit, the Combin de Grafeneire, it is one of the highest peaks in the Alps and the second most prominent of the Pennine Alps. The Grand Combin is also a large glaciated massif consisting of several summits, among which three are above 4000 metres, Combin de Valsorey 4,183 m, Combin de la Tsessette 4,134 m. The highest part of the massif is wholly in Switzerland, although the

Grande Dixence dam

The world's highest gravity dam which was Situated at the head of the Val des Dix. The dam is 200 meters wide at its base. At the top, it «slims down» to just 15 meters. The Grande Dixence dam is open to the public from mid-June to the end of September. The dam is a visitor attraction and also the starting point for mountain hikes. Guided tours with slide shows and films take place in the interior of the dam. A cable car carries visitors up from the car park and bus terminus to the top of the Di

Great St Bernard Pass

Great St Bernard Pass

Mountain Passes

Great Saint Bernard Pass, Italian Colle del Gran San Bernardo, French Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard, one of the highest of the Alpine frontier passes, at 8,100 feet. It lies on the Italian-Swiss border east of the Mont Blanc group in the southwestern Pennine Alps. The pass connects Martigny-Ville, Switzerland, in the Rhône River valley, with Aosta, Italy. The alpine crossing was a significant stretch of the pilgrim routes between north and south.

Grimsel Pass

Grimsel Pass

Mountain Passes

The Grimsel Pass links the Hasli Valley in the Bernese Oberland with Goms in Valais. The pass road runs through a wild, sparsely grown mountainous region marked by granite rocks, reservoir lakes, and power plants. A paved road follows the pass, running 38 kilometers from Gletsch to Meiringen. The road is normally closed between October and May, due to the high snowfall on the pass.

Grünsee

Grünsee

Lake/ River/ Ponds

The Grünsee is the perfect spot to stop and relax along a walk – for a picnic and swim while enjoying views of the Matterhorn. The water of the Grünsee is indeed green, but rather cold as it is fed by the surrounding mountain springs. It is quite remote and is only accessible by foot. There is a small hamlet nearby of the same name.

Hotel Gornergrat Kulm

Hotel Gornergrat Kulm

Iconic Buildings

The Gornergrat Kulm Hotel is a hotel and observatory located on the Gornergrat, at 3,120 meters above sea level. It can be reached from Zermatt via the Gornergrat railway, the terminus station is located 100 meters away. The hotel includes an observatory, two restaurants and a small shopping mall. The KOSMA telescope was installed in the southern tower while the Gornergrat Infrared Telescope was installed in the northern tower.

Klein Matterhorn

Klein Matterhorn

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

The Klein Matterhorn is a peak of the Pennine Alps, overlooking Zermatt in the Swiss canton of Valais. At 3,883 metres above sea level, it is the highest place in Europe that can be reached by aerial tramway or gondola lift, as well as by any other means of transport. The Klein Matterhorn is part of the Breithorn massif and overlooks on its south side the almost equally high flat glacier named Breithorn Plateau, just north of the international border with Italy. The name "Klein Matterhorn" is a

Lac d'Emosson

The Lac d’Emosson reservoir, altitude 1930 metres, was created at the beginning of the 1920s by the construction of a 78 m-high gravity dam built by the SBB with the aim of covering the company’s power requirements. In 1974 this was extended with a 180 m-high arch dam, increasing the lake volume from 40 to 227 million m3 of water. The Lac d’Emosson was created to cover SBB power requirements. The lake is reached by three unusual railways. Dinosaur footprints, some 250 million years old are found

Lac de Derborence

Lac de Derborence

Lake/ River/ Ponds

Mountain Peaks

Lac de Derborence is a mountain lake in the municipality of Conthey, Valais, Switzerland, located near the hamlet of Derborence. It was formed after rockfalls on 24 September 1714 and 23 June 1749. In 1749, an estimated 50 million m3 of rocks blocked the course of the Derbonne river and led to the formation of the lake.

Lac de Moiry

Lac de Moiry is a reservoir in the municipality of Grimentz, Switzerland. The lake has a surface area of 1.40 km² and an elevation of 2,249 m. The maximum depth is 120 m. The dam is 148 m high and was completed in 1958. One of the architectural wonders in this area and it attracts a lot of tourists here.

Les Crosets (Portes du Soleil)

Les Crosets is a tourist resort located in the Val d'Illiez, in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. The economy of Crosets is based on tourism. The alpine skiing and snowboarding in winter and hikers and mountain biking enthusiasts in summer provide income to the resort. It is possible to reach on foot, summer and winter, the Pointe des Mossettes at 2277 meters. It also has a renowned snowpark in the field of freeskiing. During winter 2012/2013, it will host a round of the Swiss Freeski tour 1.

Lötschberg Base Tunnel north

The Lötschberg Tunnel is a 14.612 km long railway tunnel on the Lötschberg Line, which connects Spiez and Brig at the northern end of the Simplon Tunnel cutting through the Bernese Alps of Switzerland. Its ends are at the towns of Kandersteg in the canton of Berne and Goppenstein in the canton of Valais. The top elevation of the tunnel is 1,240 m above sea level, this is the highest point of the main Swiss railway network.

Lötschental

Lötschental

Outdoors- Other

The Lötschental is the largest valley on the northern side of the Rhône valley in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It lies in the Bernese Alps, with the Lonza running down the length of the valley from its source within the Langgletscher. It is surrounded by 3,000 meter high mountains. One of the beautiful places located in the area and also a good trekking area too.

Lyskamm

Lyskamm

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

Lyskamm, also known as Silberbast is a mountain in the Pennine Alps lying on the border between Switzerland and Italy. It consists of a five-kilometer-long ridge with two distinct peaks. The mountain has gained a reputation for seriousness because of the many cornices lying on the ridge and the frequent avalanches, thus leading to its nickname the Menschenfresser One of the risky trekking destinations in Switzerland and the climate is also very cool.

Marian Kozuchowski

Marian Kozuchowski

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

The Matter Valley is located in southwestern Switzerland, south of the Rhone valley in the canton of Valais. The village of Zermatt is the most important settlement of the valley, which is surrounded by many four-thousanders, including the Matterhorn. Since the end of the nineteenth century, the upper end of the valley is connected by rail from Visp. If the main road connects Zermatt from Visp, it cannot be used between Täsch and Zermatt, the latter being completely car-free.

Matterhorn

Matterhorn

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

The Matterhorn Region or canton of “Valais” is located in Southwestern Switzerland and is home to the most famous mountain in the world. The mountain overlooks the Swiss town of Zermatt, in the canton of Valais. It remained unclimbed after most of the other great Alpine peaks had been attained and became the subject of an international competition for the summit. It is estimated that over 500 alpinists have died on the Matterhorn, making it one of the deadliest peaks in the world.

Matterhorn Glacier

Matterhorn Glacier

Mountain Peaks

Cable Car Stations

The Matterhorn Glacier is a glacier of the Pennine Alps, also the highest cable car station in Europe, with its new restaurant, The views of the highest mountains in Italy, France, and Switzerland are breathtaking. The ski area on the Theodul Glacier is open 365 days a year. The glacier lies within the basin of the Zmutt Glacier.

Map of attractions in Valais

Comments

For more information about Valais, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canton_of_Valais