Regions Switzerland: Canton Vale

Canton Valais (Valais, Wallis, Vallese, WWW.Valaistourism.ch) lies on the southwest of Switzerland. In fact, it stretches over the majestic mountain areas along the Rhone River Valley, from its very source in the Glaciers of the Central Alps to the Lake Geneva. Almost 20% of the canton is occupied by glaciers, and yet the region has the most dry climate in the country, with the lowest level of precipitation and the largest number of sunny days. These same factors led to the fact that the Icestari people with great difficulty landscaped these edges to their needs. Artificial irrigation systems of the periods of the Middle Ages still meet here everywhere, and the extensive network of channels (Bisses in French and Suisonn in Swiss German) is still stretching under the foothills, supplemented by half-life later dam, and all of them are among the highest and high-altitude world!

Despite the well-deserved glory of their beautiful mountain resorts, the shaft is still quite wild and little known to our tourists. Zermatt, Verbier and Crane Montana know, perhaps, throughout the planet, but the beauty of the secluded valleys of the proclon rarely come across foreign tourists. But with a slight effort, you can easily find many interesting settlements, secluded mountain chalets and farms, pedestrian trail, and just excellent opportunities for any kinds of adventure tourism.

The upper part of the Rhone Valley, stretching from Brig to alpine passages in the eastern Vale, known as GOM (WWW.Goms.ch). In winter, this quiet province is covered with a thick layer of snow and turns into an ideal area for skiing. And in the summer you can drive along the main autotrass on the wrapper past the thick pine forests, wide meadows and picturesque villages with their traditional chalet or just get to any train from Brig and get acquainted with these amazing places where the time as if stopped.

8 km north-east of the brig under the town Melel (Morel), from which the network of cableways is running on both sides. To the north-west, the lifts lead to the station Ryderalp (Riederalp, 2100 m) and further to the peaks Hoflu (2227 m) and Mosflu (2235 m). Just north in parallel several lines of ropes through the village Betten (Betten) and then on the ridge all the same ridge Betmerhorn (2872 m). Both of these resorts are within the untouched Aletschwald array (Aletschwald) – one of the most high-mountainous pine forests in Europe, which in turn shares the glacier Alech (Aletsch, Grossser-Alechglecher), entered into the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List as the largest Alps Glacier. Skating here is perhaps 7 months a year at least, and on the glacier itself – year-round, although the cast in the most interesting places will have to carry out the helicopter. In the summer there are excellent conditions for hiking – Tourist offices in Riderall (WWW.Riederalp.CH) and Betramelpe (www.Bettmeralp.CH) can provide all the necessary information about trails and shelters.

Another 2 km above the valley lies the town Fish (FIESCH) – Starting point Almost a dozen lifts leading to the northern ridge all the same Betmerhorn, to the passage Elzeilukka and a lot – Rote-kumme. From here, as it is believed, the most beautiful panorama of the glacier opens, and a lot of good tracks. However, taking into account the stronger slopes of the north (from Furgangen through Belwald to Richen) and east, around Mühlev and Ernene, here you can find quite a few and other places for skiing.

Above the Fish Ron turns into an ordinary mountain stream, which is not surprising – it is the stock from the Grocer-Alechglecher glaciers and Fisherglecher turns this river to the main water artery of the region. Therefore, higher in the flow and villages are becoming less and landscape more than rural. There are actively developing agriculture and active types of recreation – the purest mountains only contribute to this, but there is nothing more to look at and large. Except, perhaps, can be considered only a picturesque village Münster (M&# 252; Nster) 13 km north of the Fish, famous for its traditional chalets in a typical local style and the striking white church in the center. Made in a baroque style with lined with wooden panels ceiling of the cylindrical arch and interior in red tones, it is the last fragment of a medieval monastery, which once stood here.

You can also visit the natural park between colorful villages Ernen (Ernen), Binn (BINN) and Grengiolis (Grengiols) South Fish, as well as Niederwald village (Niederwald, 8 km north of Fish) – Motherland of the Creator "Empire Hotels Ritz" – Cesar Ritsa. Well, fans of active recreation will find here a lot of wonderful hiking, equestrian and climbing routes.