Valais
The Valais lies in the South-West of Switzerland, stretching for 150 km along the narrow ribbon of the Rhône Valley between Lake Geneva and the Rhône Glacier. The wide range of holiday destinations in Valais reflects the diversity of its landscape, of its flora and fauna and of its culture. The repertoire is endless and includes fashionable sports resorts, a water paradise for children, courses to make golfers' dreams come true, oases of well-being and a Mecca for winter hikers. Most resorts are located above 1500 m which guarantees snow debth during the entire winter season. The mountain tops are highest here: Fifty of the mountains exceed 4000 m with the highest, Monte Rosa, reaching to 4638 m. There are numerous glaciers from among which the largest in the Alps is the Aletsch glacier, part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch.
Saas-Fee
Thanks to its rustic chalets, Saas-Fee – often also termed the «Pearl of the Alps» – has retained much of its traditional charm. In car-free Saas-Fee, private vehicles can be left in the car park at the entrance to the village. This holiday resort lies at an altitude of 1800 metres at the foot of the 4545 m high Dom, and has become one of the most popular Meccas for snowboarders in Europe. The underground Metro Alpin funicular railway leads right up onto the 3500 m Mittelallalin. A great hiking paradise during the summer and autumn months.
Zermatt
Zermatt is one of Switzerland's most famous holiday resorts and a centre of attraction for many international guests. 38 four-thousand-metre peaks, dominated by the world-renowned Matterhorn, the world's most-photographed summit, rise to the heavens around the village. In spite of its high profile, Zermatt retains the charm of a Swiss mountain village. Electric vehicles and horse-drawn cabs and sledges are the principal means of transportation in this car-free town. Zermatt is the starting point of the Glacier Express which operates
throughout the year, offers a panoramic journey through the high Alps
in the heart of Switzerland and has St. Moritz in the Grisons as its
terminus.
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| Attractions | |
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| Matterhorn Eagle Cup, Golf tournament, Zermatt | |
This golf tournament is not held on a normal golf course, but in the open mountain countryside without fairways or greens in the Gornergrat area between Rotenboden and Riffelberg, at 2800 - 2500 m above sea-level. |
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| Ice Pavillon Allain, Saas-Fee | |
Allalin ice pavilion – the secrets of the glacier are vented for visitors within the permanent ice. |
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| 4th Nostalgic Culinary/Pleasure Mile, Saas-Fee | 04.09.2010 - 06.09.2010 |
On the 13th September 2009 the 4th Nostalgic Culinary/Pleasure Mile takes place in the glacier village. The event that by now has already become tradition, enthuses young and old likewise. Thereby not only tradition will be cultivated but you can also find a huge range of culinary specialties. Dressed with the skirts of your grandmother or the trousers of your great-grandfather the mile of pleasure will let you be a part of the times long ago. In the village there will be a long table where the hoteliers and restaurateurs of Saas-Fee/Saastal will serve you menus of the old times and special vines of the region. Festive activities take place in the marquee at the village square until late in the evening. |
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| Omega European Masters - Golf, Crans Montana | 02.09.2010 - 05.09.2010 |
Just as much as the spectators, the players appreciate the September rendez-vous; for them, going to the Valais means something authentic, alpine, almost bucolic, something quite different from other destinations. Although fully concentrating on their game, the professionals none the less display a certain relaxed style which cannot be discerned in them during the rest of the season. Golf at an altitude of 1'500 metres is a whiff of air, both liteally and figuratively! Certainly one of the most beautiful places in the world! |
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| Gornergrat - Zermatt | |
At the Gornergrat, discover a natural alpine paradise, amid aromatic stone pine and larch forests. Across vastalpine meadows in summer full of flowers, and in winter covered with deeply snow-capped glaciers, lies the famous Gornergrat. Giving all a perfect view of the highest point in Switzerland, The Dufour-Spitze, this idyllic mountain village is one of the biggest resorts in Switzerland. |
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| Hotels in the region | |
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Golfhotel Saaserhof, Saas-Fee
In the heart of a spectacular mountain panorama and next to the ski-runs and lifts is located the friendly and active first-class Golfhotel Saaserhof. |
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Hotel Bellerive, Zermatt
Your box seat in the most spectacular mountain scenery, with a view of fascinating Matterhorn. Welcome to the Bellerive located in the heart of Zermatt. |
