WThe canton of Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland, situated in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is simultaneously one of the driest regions of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley and among the wettest, having large amounts of snow and rain up on the highest peaks found in Switzerland. The canton of Valais is widely known for the Matterhorn and resort towns such as Crans-Montana, Saas Fee, Verbier and Zermatt. It is composed of 13 districts and its capital is Sion.
WThe coat of arms of the Swiss canton of Valais is in red and white, divided vertically with thirteen five-pointed stars in opposite colours . The stars represent the thirteen districts. It was introduced in 1815, when the Valais was detached from the French Department of Simplon to join the Swiss Confederacy.
WMartigny is the capital of the district of Martigny in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It lies at an elevation of 471 meters (1,545 ft), and its population is approximately 15000 inhabitants. It is a junction of roads joining Italy, France and Switzerland. One road links it over the Great St. Bernard Pass to Aosta (Italy), and the other over the col de la Forclaz to Chamonix (France). In winter, Martigny is known for its numerous nearby Alp ski resorts such as Verbier.
WThe Great St Bernard Hospice, named after Bernard of Menthon, is a hospice or hostel for travelers in southwestern Switzerland. At an elevation of 2,469 m (8,100 ft) at the Great St Bernard Pass in the Pennine Alps, the border with Italy is only a few hundred metres to the south.
WThe Raron affair was a 15th-century rebellion in the Valais against the power of a local noble family, the Raron family. The rebellion brought several cantons of the Swiss Confederation into conflict with each other and threatened a civil war in the Confederation. While Bern was initially successful, they were eventually forced to surrender most of their gains.
WVon Raron was an influential noble family in the Valais in the late medieval period.
WThe République des Sept-Dizains was a state in the Upper Valais, in what is now the Swiss canton of Valais, during the Early Modern period.
WThe Rhodanic Republic, also known as the Republic of Valais or Vallais, was a sister republic that existed in the French-speaking part of Switzerland during the Napoleonic wars. It was called after the Latin name for the River Rhône, Rhodanus.
WMatthäus Schiner was a bishop of Sion, Cardinal and diplomat. He was a military commander in several battles in northern Italy.
WSimplon was a department of the French First Empire. It was named after the Simplon Pass. It was formed in 1810, when the Rhodanic Republic was annexed by the French Republic. Its territory corresponded with that of the present-day Swiss canton of Valais.
WSupersaxo is the surname of a number of unrelated families of the Upper Valais. It is a latinized locational surname, from Latin super "above" and saxo (ablative) "rock"; as such it is a direct translation of German auf der Fluh
WSaint Theodore of Octodurum is the first known bishop of Octodurum, Alpes Poeninae province. He is the patron saint of Valais and of the Walser. His feast day is 16 or 26 August.