Zermatt, in southern Switzerland’s Valais canton, is a mountain resort renowned for skiing, climbing and hiking. The town, at an elevation of around 1,600m, lies below the iconic, pyramid-shaped Matterhorn peak. Its main street, Bahnhofstrasse is lined with boutique shops, hotels and restaurants, and also has a lively après-ski scene. There are public outdoor rinks for ice-skating and curling.
Frida Lyngstad of the music group Abba lives in Zermatt with her partner, while Phil Collins is a chalet owner in the town. Renowned people who ski in Zermatt include Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman, Angela Merkel, Thierry Henry, and Robbie Williams.
Visp
The Valais is known as the sun terrace of Switzerland and Visp enjoys around 300 days of sunshine a year. Lying at the foot of Europe’s highest vineyard in the lowlands of Upper Valais, Visp is the starting point for holidays in an unforgettable natural and cultural setting.
Description
Visp is a shopping and leisure destination. Besides the farmers’ market (Pürumärt) held every Friday evening, the weekly and flea markets, the spring exhibitions at the Visp indoor ice rink, the car-free and attractive Bahnhofstrasse with a wide variety of shops and inviting garden terraces, and the “La Poste” cultural and conference centre with regular performances and events, visitors can also enjoy a tour of the pretty old town of Visp with its many historic buildings.
Winter
The tourist region in the heart of Upper Valais is also the perfect place during the cold season. Excellent winter sports are guaranteed: the ski resorts of Eischoll, Unterbäch, Bürchen/Törbel, Visperterminen and Gspon carry visitors up to heights of 2,500 metres above sea level, where they will find around 20 sports facilities. Skiers, carvers and snowboarders as well as cross-country skiers, winter hikers, snowshoe walkers and sun worshippers all get their money’s worth in these skiing areas.
Summer
Visp offers plenty of attractive leisure opportunities. The well preserved old town with its eventful history is one of Visp’s greatest assets, as is “La Poste”, a theatre that has offered a mixed programme of guest performances every season since November 1991, including concerts, opera, operetta, ballet, plays and musicals by visiting companies as well as local societies and organizations. The spectacular hike along the Visperi irrigation channel (Suone) is another inviting option.
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