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Special interest sites in the Valais
Alpine Gardens
Schynige Platte, Wilderswil,
near Interlaken. This, the first botanical
garden in the alps, is world renowned and has over 500
plants from the southern alps. It is reached by a wonderful
rack and pinion railway and offers perhaps the finest
views of the great Bernese Oberland peaks of the Eiger,
Moench and Jungfrau - www.alpengarten.ch
La Rambertia, Rochers
- de Naye, above Montreux, contains over 600
plants and more than a 1000 different flower varieties.
It is reached via the cogtrain at Montreux and is situated
at 2000m -
www.myswitzerland.com
then search for la rambertia.
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The
Aletsch Alpine Garden and Conservation Centre have
a fascinating history, intimately connected with the Mountbatten
family. The restored villa houses the conservation centre
and the lovely garden has more than 300 plants including the
whole range of flora from the Aletsch area.
www.pronatura.ch/aletsch/en/history
www.pronatura.ch/aletsch/en/center/alpine-garden.html
For two excellent websites on rockgardens - www.backyardgardener.com/index2.html and www.gardeningknowhow.com/urban/rock-garden-in-the-city.htm.
Ancient irrigation channels (French
- Bisses, German - Suonen)
These are to be found around a number
of the resorts but eight at Nendaz are especially famous.
Bisses were used to draw the water off mountain streams and
irrigate areas sometimes many miles away to improve the pastures
of the very dry upper Valais - www.sionpassion.ch/bisse.html.
Vineyards
The slopes above Lake Geneva and those of the upper Rhone are the great wine producing areas of Switzerland and they account for 40% of its total yield.
Visperterminen - this village has the highest vineyard in Europe and for all those interested in viticulture it should not be missed -
www.valaistourism.ch/pdf_doc/Wine_e.doc,
www.provins.ch/en/entreprise/viticult.
Castles
Château de Chillon, Veytaux, near Montreux,
is one of the best preserved medieval castles in Europe and
is in a superb setting on Lake Geneva - www.myswitzerland.com then type in Chateau Chillon.
Château de Coppet
Originally the residence of Madame de Staël and of great historical importance, the castle was built by her father, a Genevois and finance minister to Louis XVI. During her ownership after her fathers death, the castle received many famous and cultured visitors, such as Lord Byron. It remains in the ownership of the same family to this day.
www.myswitzerland.com then type in Chateau Coppet.
Château de Prangins, near Nyon.
This fine building, also the recipient of famous guests such
as Voltaire and Joseph Bonaparte, with its splendid park,
is now the National Museum of French speaking Switzerland
- www.myswitzerland.com then type in chateau prangins.
Stockalpers Castle, Brig.
Built by a great 17C entrepreneur, this is one of the finest
castles in Switzerland. An outstanding baroque garden has
recently been created in the grounds - www.myswitzerland.com
then search for Brig
etc.
Les Marecottes Zoo, Gorge du Trient, a splendid outdoor swimming pool and the link with Chamonix and Mont Blanc.
Details of the alpine zoo, the splendid gorges etc. are excellently
described on the website. The swimming pool is to be found
under our sporting section - www.valaistourism.ch/en/destinations.cfm?id=35666
Durnand Gorge, Martigny.
Nature in all its thunderous, breathtaking magnificence.
www.myswitzerland.com
then search for durnand.
The Goms (upper end of Rhone Valley).
From here one climbs to obtain fantastic views of the Aletsch Glacier, the gigantic ice-sheet and at 23km the longest ice flow in the alps. This area, which includes an ancient pine forest, is a Unesco World Nature and Heritage Site. Also to be seen here at Riederalp is the already mentioned former home of Edwina Mountbatten, with its lovely alpine garden. Finally the hamlet of Niederwald is justly famed for being the birthplace of Cesar Ritz, creator of the great hotel chain.
www.switzerlandisyours.com.
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Europe’s
highest railways and cableway
Jungfraujoch, in the shadow of the
mighty Jungfrau, boasts Europe’s highest railway
station, at 3454m/11,330ft
Gornergratbahn - this is the highest
open-air cog railway in Europe, ending at 3089m,with
its base station in Zermatt.
The Kleinmatterhorn cablecar, with
its top station at 12,740ft; this is not only Europe’s
highest cableway but also the vantage point for an unsurpassed
panoramic view of the Alpine giants, including Mont
Blanc.
Passes
Grand St Bernard Pass
Travelling east and then south from Martigny, you enter
the Val d`Entremont which leads to the Great St Bernard
and beyond it Italy. On the route down you can explore
the Val Ferret, a wild and acclaimed birdwatching area.
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As you approach the
pass you see the motor tunnel and beside its entry point a
tiny winding road. At the top of this lies the pass summit
with its famous hospice, still run by monks, and the original
breeding centre for the wonderful St Bernard dog. They continue
to be bred here and you can buy one too!
www.switzerlandisyours.com/e/guide/valais/grandstbernard.html
then click on valais, history.
www.myswitzerland.com/en.cfm/destinations
then click on valais etc.
The Simplon Pass
Napoleon built this road over the alps. Until June of this
year when the new Lötschberg tunnel was completed this was
the longest railway tunnel in the world. The medieval village
over the pass but still in Switzerland is well worth visiting
- www.switzerland.isyours.com/e/guide/valais/simplon.html
The Furka Pass
Full steam ahead on the Pass! -www.furka-bergstrecke.ch/eng, www.switzerlandisyours.com
then search for furka pass
Dams
There are a number of dams with large reservoirs to be seen in the upper Valais. The most important of these is the Barrage de la Grande Dixence, the worlds highest gravity dam, in the Val d`Heremence.
www.grande-dixence.ch/en/histoire_culture/pionniers.php
Saffron flower and the worlds costliest spice
A charming village, overlooking the infant Rhône, called
Mund, is the only place north of the alps where the lovely
flower, from which saffron is extracted, flourishes - www.myswitzerland.com
then search for mund etc.
Europe's largest underground lake
This is located at St. Leonard between Sion and Sierre. Guided tours last 30 minutes.
http://www.villars.ch/en/navpage.cfm?category=SummerVG&subcat=ExcursionsSVG&id=49785.
Villages and towns of Valais and beyond
Celigny - Richard Burtons idyllic last home and resting place
Morges - charming little harbour town on Lake Geneva.
Tolochenaz - for the Audrey Hepburn museum and the little town where she lived for many years.
St Sulpice - a village famous for its Romanesque church.
Vevey - an unassuming but delightful lakeside town which also houses the World HQ of the Nestlé company.
Montreux - full of smart shops and even smarter hotels!
St Maurice - the abbey church is the oldest surviving abbey north of the alps (515AD)
Martigny - the Fondation Pierre Gianadda, a very fine art gallery, is the major attraction.
Sion - this, the capital of the Valais and the oldest town in Switzerland, has some charming old buildings and a castle on a rocky hill at either end of the town.
Sierre - another attractive little Rhône town with vineyards all around and the sunniest region of Switzerland.
Brig (with the Stockalperschloss) and Visp - these are two small towns further east, both of which have historic centres.
Chamonix, France - at the foot of Mont Blanc and with splendid views of the massif. This great mountaineering ,skiing and long established resort is Zermatt’s only serious rival.
Aosta, Italy - a medieval, originally Roman town, especially worth visiting on market day.
The old villages of the Val d`Herens such as Evolene, Arolla and Les Hauderes, as well, of course, as the Val d`Anniviers.
www.switzerlandisyours.com/e/guide/lake_geneva/index.html
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