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INTRODUCTION
Hé! WELCOME. NEED A GUIDE?
– VINCENT COURTINE –
Sierre Tourisme
FROM WORDS TO ACTION
I have to be brief and to the point. Find the right words. Somehow manage, in a few seconds, to stir your emotions and make you feel the human warmth that characterises us. Us, the people of Valais. Us, the people of Sierre. In short, to inspire in you an overwhelming longing to come and discover our little hidden gems. I'll give it a go.
We are a people devoted to the good things in life, to our region and our roots. A people with a strong sense of identity, often sensitive, always proud, sometimes provoking, definitely bons vivants.
What awaits you when you visit our region? An invigorating mix of emotions and surprises to make you… take your time. Dare to become infatuated.
You can explore the natural beauty of our surroundings. Allow the ever-present sun to embrace you with its warming rays. Savour our delicious local products. Feast your eyes on soul-stirring alpine landscapes. Succumb to the allure of a wine with an unfamiliar name. Quite simply, enjoy some unique experiences.
But that's enough fine words, enough virtual contact. It's time for the real thing. So come... taste... enjoy. It's all here for your pleasure. We'd love to meet you face to face and say "Santé! Welcome to Sierre!"
This brochure is intended to be informative and easy to use. It introduces the main features of our region, using a magazine format.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS…
In this brochure, we wanted to give some of the local personalities who contribute to the life of our region the opportunity to say what they like most, what draws them to this particular part of the world, and to share something of their love of it with you.
SO, We'Re GOOD FRIeNDS ALReADY?
No, not just yet! In the French version of this brochure, we've used the more polite vous form, out of respect. But we're sure it's only a matter of time before tu will seem perfectly natural.
IT'S GOOD, BUT I'D LIKe MORe
There are two more brochures that complement this magazine. One covers accommodation and places to eat and drink, and one details the main events, with their dates.
ReAD THeSe 3 TIPS
A number = a partner
This helps you find them more easily on the map on pages 98-99.
Look it up
Use the alphabetic list of subjects to help you find what you want.
Symbols
These are used to help you find basic information quickly.
What if I'm phoning from outside Switzerland?
Dial +41, then the Swiss number without the first 0.
OUR ReGION IN FIGUReS
– THEY SAY THAT THE SUN IS OUR KING –
16 DaYS
when the maximum temperature is at least 30°C
2093 hours
of sunshine per year
68 DaYS
when the maximum temperature is at least 25°C
300 DaYS
of sunshine per year
VALAIS IN FIGUReS
Valais joined the Swiss Confederation
253,040
Central Valais and Bas-Valais
82,656
Haut-Valais
75.4%
French-speaking
24.6%
German-speaking
4634m
highest point (Pointe Dufour)
47
peaks over 4000m high
372m
lowest point (Lake Geneva)
42
dams
WHaT LaNGUaGE DO We SPeAK?
Switzerland is both unusual and fortunate in having 4 official languages which are, in order of the number of speakers, German, French, Italian and Romansch.
What's more, Sierre lies exactly on the linguistic boundary between French-speaking western Valais and the German-speaking eastern part. This boundary is marked by the Raspille, a small stream running between Sierre and Salgesch.
So don't be surprised when you see that several places have two names. For example, Sierre is Siders in German, and Salgesch is Salquenen in French.
Despite this linguistic division, you shouldn't have any problems in communicating because many people can speak more than one language. However, just in case you need it, this little dictionary gives you a few basic phrases:
Bonjour |
Guten Tag |
Hello |
Bonsoir |
Guten Abend |
Good evening |
Salut |
Hallo |
Hi |
Merci |
Danke |
Thank you |
S’il vous plaît? |
Bitte |
Please |
Au revoir |
Auf Wiedersehen |
Goodbye |
Comment allez-vous? |
Wie geht es Ihnen? |
How are you? |
Bonne nuit |
Gute Nacht |
Good night |
Combien cela coûte-t-il? |
Wie viel kostet das? |
How much does it cost? |
Excusez-moi, pardon |
Entschuldigung |
Excuse me, sorry |
Je ne parle pas français |
Ich spreche kein Französisch |
I don’t speak French |
HOW IS OUR ReGION REaCHED?
BY CaR
Via the A9 motorway also known in French as the Autoroute du Rhône, taking either exit 28 (Sierre-Ouest) or exit 29 (Sierre-Est).
Via mountain passes open all the year round
Col de la Forclaz, Pas de Morgins, Simplon Pass or the Great St Bernard road tunnel.
Via mountain passes open in the summer only
Grimsel Pass, Furka Pass, Nufenen Pass or the Great St Bernard Pass.
For further information:
www.tcs.ch or 0900 57 12 34 (in French or German only, CHF 0.86/min)
BY TRaIN
Via tunnels on routes offering motorail services:
Lötschberg (Goppenstein-Kandersteg), Furka (Oberwald-Realp) or Simplon (Brig-Iselle).
- From Switzerland: direct links from all major towns and cities.
- From outside Switzerland: direct connections with the European rail network.
BY aIR
Links via the following airports
Basel-Mulhouse, Bern-Belp, Zürich-Kloten, Geneva-Cointrin and Milan-Malpensa.
Charter and private flights
from the airport at Sion.
Sierre has 768 parking spaces, of which 568 are under cover, at the following car parks: Gare-Sud (218), Forum (65), Beaulieu (109), Europe (176), Plaine Bellevue (200, not under cover).
These car parks are free for the first hour, and on Saturdays between 07:30 and 19:00.
SIERRE IS THe CeNTRe OF THe WORLD,
BECaUSE WE aRE
264km from Basel
169km from Bern
37km from Brig
139km from Fribourg
175km from Geneva
109km from Lausanne
277km from Lucerne
199km from Lugano
44km from Martigny
229km from Milan
55km from Saas-Fee
17km from Sion
58km from Zermatt
290km from Zürich
AND 149,600,000 KM FROM THe SUN!
HOW DO PeOPLe TRaVEL?
Because we've only got one planet and we have to look after it, because even the smallest action affects our environment, and because wildlife is our most valuable asset, we recommend sustainable travel and the use of public transport.
ON FOOT
If you look at the map on pages 98-99, you'll see that everything is very close. If possible, walk to your destination.
BY BUS
Local bus company Bus Sierrois runs an efficient and inexpensive travel network. Ask for the map and timetables at the Tourist Office.
BY BIKe
From the Sierre area, you can access 2 official, waymarked cycle routes. The easier of the two is the Rhône Route (Cycling in Switzerland - No. 1), a quiet path that runs along the river through the Valais canton, between the Rhône glacier and Lake Geneva.
If you want a route where the gradient varies a little more, the Chemin du Vignoble (Cycling in Switzerland - No. 72) from Martigny to Leuk will give you some outstanding panoramic views over the vineyards of Valais.
www.suissemobile.ch
BY PUBLIC TRaNSPORT
With our partners, travelling is easy.
- Taxi Sierrois: 0900 39 60 00 - CHF 0.60/min
AN UNBeATABLe OFFeR
If you don't have a car and are staying in Valais for a few days, then you need an Easy Card.
A 2-, 3- or 5-day Easy Card gives you free travel by public transport services over an 1'100-kilometre network (see map below) that extends from Lake Geneva in the west to the Lötschental valley in the east. And that's not all – the Easy Card gives you a 50% discount on lots of activities and ski lift services as well.
On sale at the Tourist Office.
DaY TRaVeLPaSSeS
Save money by using the SBB travel-passes available from the Tourist Office.
We sell one-day travelpasses that offer un-limited travel on all public transport services for one day throughout Switzerland.
www.sierretourisme.ch/cff
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