Sion

The bilingual town of Sion, or Sitten as it is called in German, is in the Valais and considered one of the sunniest places in Switzerland. Sion’s landmarks are vineyards and castles and the town is recognized from afar by the towering Tourbillon castle ruins and the Valeria fortress. The main town in the Valais is one of the oldest towns in Switzerland, a commercial centre and a key traffic hub with a small international airport. It is also steeped in history, which can be delved into in several museums. The Valeria castle church houses one of the world’s oldest playable organs, dating from the late 14th or early 15th century. Sion lies in an extensive wine growing region where the dry climate has made it necessary to cut channels into the mountain slopes to water the vineyards and fields. Hiking alongside these "suonen” or “bisses” as they are called, is a particularly special experience. The town has the largest bus station in Switzerland with countless connections into a host of side valleys and is thus the ideal starting point for excursions in both summer and winter.