Sion
Sion is the capital of the Valais canton in south-western Switzerland, set in the middle of the Rhône valley and surrounded by high Alpine peaks. It is an urban, historic town rather than a rural region, dominated by the Rhône river and dotted with hills crowned by medieval castles. With over 7,000 years of history, Sion is one of the oldest towns in Switzerland and boasts a remarkably well-preserved medieval old town with narrow streets, shops, restaurants and terraces. The city is culturally vibrant, home to cantonal museums of art, history and nature, a lively music and performing-arts scene, and the largest weekly market in French-speaking Switzerland. The surrounding region of Sion comprises twelve municipalities, including mountain resorts such as Anzère, Crans-Montana and the 4 Vallées, making the city a central hub for exploring the Valais.
Summer activities
Sion is a hub for outdoor activities in the Valais. Hiking is one of the most popular pursuits, with over 8,000 kilometres of marked trails leading to high peaks, larch forests, nature reserves, bisses (historic irrigation canals) and vineyard trails. The city is an ideal starting point for cycling: families can ride safely along the Rhône river on the Route du Rhône, while experienced cyclists and mountain bikers can explore side valleys such as the Val d'Hérens, Derborence and the Sanetsch pass, or reach resorts like Anzère and Nendaz. Leisure offers include the Domaine des Iles with its adventure park, climbing wall and picnic areas, an 18-hole golf course, the Alaïa Bay surf park, swimming pools and the largest underground lake in Europe.
Winter activities
Sion is surrounded by major winter sports resorts of the Valais. The 4 Vallées area offers a large skiing, hiking and biking domain with an exceptional view from the Mont-Fort at 3,330 metres, while Anzère, just 20 minutes from Sion, is a sunny family mountain resort, and Crans-Montana is an internationally renowned resort overlooking the Alps and the Rhône valley. In the city itself, a snow garden offers skiing in town, and the Tourbillon ice rink is available to the public.
Culture and entertainment
Sion is a culturally vibrant city. The capital of the Valais is important in terms of music, with an impressive number, diversity and quality of musical events all year round, alongside visual, theatrical and choreographic arts. The old town houses the three cantonal museums of Valais (art, history and nature) in historic buildings around the hills of Valère and Tourbillon, as well as the Maison de la Nature and the Fellini Foundation for Cinema. In summer the old town's streets transform into a concert and performance hall, and the city hosts the largest weekly market in French-speaking Switzerland, including the annual Grand Marché de Pâques.
