The twin towns of Sion-Sierre are in the heart of the Valais, surrounded by scenic mountains and vineyards. During the summer, walking or boating on the local canals are the main pastimes whilst in the winter, skiing and snowboarding are popular on the nearby mountain slopes. The area is littered with the ruined remains of former castles. The church of Notre Dame de Valère is a well known landmark in this area. The historic old town of Sion is one of Switzerland's main hubs with its many museums and historic architecture. The thermal baths date back to Roman times and the baroque Town Hall is well worth visiting.
The town of Sion has created its own Walk of Discovery to show visitors the 7,000 years of history. The walk takes tourists to 14 points of interest, each marked with signs on the footpath. It runs for 2.3 km (1.5 miles) and takes approximately 75 minutes.
Sion was founded in the 4th century and was a major political and spiritual centre in the region. It has many museums which have some interesting exhibits showing the historical heritage of the town.
In the winter, the area around Sion-Sierre is popular with skiers and snowboarders. The nearby towns of Crans Montana, Verbier and Anzère are all well-known resorts for their ski slopes during the winter season.
The Bisse de Clavau are the irrigation channels which bring water to the vineyards of Sion. A guided tour allows visitors to see the wine terraces and dry stone walls which were built over 150 years ago to support the vines. There are several small wineries in the area which are open to the public for tours and tastings.
This small nature park was created to protect the many rare species of flora and fauna found in the alluvial forest, ponds and grassland of this area. The River Rhone, with its gravel islands, runs through the park.
This museum in Veyras was founded in the historic Pancrace de Courten house to celebrate the Prague-born poet, Rainer Maria Rilke,who lived in the town from 1921-1926. Letters, manuscripts and many volumes of his work are on display.
Summers in Valais are warm and sunny with average temperatures reaching 26°C (79°F). It is known as the most sun-blessed town in Switzerland. Winters are generally below freezing with plenty of snowfall.
The closest major airport is Sion airport (SIR) which is just a short drive from your Sion-Sierre holiday home. Cointrin International Airport (GVA) in Geneva is 110 km (70 miles) away and Zurich International Airport (ZRH) is 151km (90 miles) away.