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94-555: The Wildstrubel lies approximately halfway between Lenk (BE; 9 km), Sierre (VS; 12 km) and Adelboden (BE; 10 km), its summit being in the municipalities of Lenk and Leukerbad. The nearest settlement is the Oberried section of Lenk, at the head of the Simmental. Other notable towns and resorts around the massif are Crans-Montana , Aminona , Leukerbad and Inden . The highest place that can be reached without effort

188-635: A Semi-Plate issuant from the Chief from which are flowing towards base seven streams of the same and Gules a Sword and a Distaff both of the second in Saltire. The seven streams represent the Siebenbrunnen falls or seven sources of the Simme river. Lenk has a population (as of December 2020 ) of 2,314. As of 2011 , 14.5% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last year (2010–2011)

282-515: A more complete list). All these lakes are used for hydroelectricity production, but they are also popular for their scenic views over the Alps. Due to the high mountains surrounding the plains of the Rhône, the climate of central Valais is particularly dry, much drier than in the rest of Switzerland . While locations at high elevations are highly exposed to rainfall and snowfall, average rainfall per year

376-532: A road network, with elevations ranging from that of Lake Geneva at Le Bouveret to that of the Nufenen Pass , the highest paved road in Valais. The A9, the only motorway, serves the valley up to Sierre , the extension towards Brig being currently under construction. All inhabited side valleys are accessible to motorized transport since the 1960s; the high-elevation reservoirs built during those years, notably

470-482: A total of 1,584 people employed in the municipality. Of these, there were 350 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 121 businesses involved in this sector. 264 people were employed in the secondary sector and there were 43 businesses in this sector. 970 people were employed in the tertiary sector , with 129 businesses in this sector. There were 1,267 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which females made up 42.9% of

564-426: A total of 44.82 km (17.31 sq mi) or 36.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while 28.32 km (10.93 sq mi) or 23.0% is forested. The rest of the municipality is 2.4 km (0.93 sq mi) or 2.0% is settled (buildings or roads), 1.12 km (0.43 sq mi) or 0.9% is either rivers or lakes and 46.38 km (17.91 sq mi) or 37.7% is unproductive land. During

658-411: A total of 876 apartments (35.0% of the total) were permanently occupied, while 1,514 apartments (60.5%) were seasonally occupied and 111 apartments (4.4%) were empty. The vacancy rate for the municipality, in 2010 , was 0.3%. In 2011, single family homes made up 29.6% of the total housing in the municipality. The historical population is given in the following chart: In the 2011 federal election

752-484: A year-round destination, renowned for its wild landscapes and numerous tourist facilities. In winter, skiing and other snow-related sports are the most popular activities. In summer, hiking and trekking are particularly popular. Climbing and mountaineering can be practised year-round, with the highest mountains of western Europe surrounding Valais. Many of the huts owned by the Swiss Alpine Club are located in

846-478: Is French-speaking, while the eastern part (Upper Valais) is German-speaking. The language border crosses the Rhône between the towns of Sierre and Salgesch and follows the mountain ridge including Bella Tola , Weisshorn , and Dent Blanche . At the 2000 census, 62.8% of the population of Valais spoke French or Arpitan , 28.4% spoke German or Walser German , 2.2% spoke Italian and 6.6% spoke other languages. Only 114 people reported speaking Romansh . The canton

940-658: Is a municipality in the Obersimmental-Saanen administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland . Lenk is first mentioned in 1370 as An der Leng . The oldest traces of a settlement in the area come from neolithic artifacts that have been found scattered around the municipality. During the Bronze Age Burgbühl and Bürstehubel were both fortified. Under the Romans the area

1034-583: Is a five star hotel called the Lenkerhof. Valais Valais ( UK : / ˈ v æ l eɪ / VAL -ay , US : / v æ ˈ l eɪ / val- AY ; French: [valɛ] ), more formally, the Canton of Valais , is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation . It is composed of thirteen districts and its capital and largest city is Sion . Valais

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1128-405: Is a large aluminium processing plant. Other metal products and chemicals are produced around Visp and Sierre , including Swiss Diamond International aluminum cookware. Valais has a long touristic tradition. Hoteliers were at the base of the development of Valais Tourism. Many of them, such as César Ritz , spent time and money to satisfy a clientele from around the world. The canton is nowadays

1222-637: Is a metre-gauge railway owned by the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn , which ultimately leads to Disentis and Chur , from Zermatt via Visp and Brig . The main railway goes through the Furka Base Tunnel in the extreme east of the canton, with the older Furka Summit Tunnel being popular for its highly scenic sections as well. The Glacier Express directly connects Zermatt with St. Moritz , using both Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn and Rhaetian Railway network. The canton comprehends

1316-544: Is also a major site of European prehistory. In particular, are the dolmens of Le Petit-Chasseur , a group of large collective burials dating back to the 3rd millennium BC. Bridges are also an important element of the Valais-built landscape. Due to its mountainous terrain which requires crossing many natural obstacles, the canton has several bridges, old or modern, often daring, including the Gueuroz Bridge which

1410-582: Is called the Sonderbund War . Under General Henri Dufour , 99,000 Swiss Federal troops were faced by 79,000 Separatists, but in the end, Valais chose not to fight. The beginning of the modern history of Valais essentially coincides with the exploration of the High Alps , the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865 marking the end of the golden age of alpinism . The boom of tourism followed in

1504-456: Is followed by three years of obligatory lower Secondary school where the students are separated according to ability and aptitude. Following the lower Secondary students may attend additional schooling or they may enter an apprenticeship . During the 2011–12 school year, there were a total of 203 students attending classes in Lenk. There were 2 kindergarten classes with a total of 26 students in

1598-661: Is from the Pointe de la Plaine Morte station, but before the 500 metre-scramble to the top, nearly all the Plaine Morte Glacier must be crossed. Another access is from the Gemmi Pass (aerial tramway from Leukerbad), via the Lämmeren Hut ( SAC ), from where the ascent is made on the slopes of the much more crevassed Wildstrubel Glacier. The only glacier-free path is from Lenk, but it is also the longest ascent as

1692-558: Is given in the following table: Wines and fruit brandies , such as Poire Williams , are some of the main production of the canton. This form of agriculture is often irrigated through the use of small open-air wooden canals , called bisses in French and Suonen in German , that transport water from the glaciers above. They also constitute popular hiking routes because of their low declivity. Vineyards are grown on terraces, typically on

1786-559: Is in a town of scarcely 2000. It is home to a ski resort, which operates on both sides of the valley in which it is located. Lenk is connected by rail to the town of Zweisimmen . In 2010, the Swiss College of Hospitality Management (SHML), Switzerland's first Boutique Hotel Management College will open in Lenk. Courses are taught in English and include several undergraduate as well as a post-graduate and MBA degrees. There also

1880-561: Is only about 600  mm in Sion, corresponding to 50% of that of Lucerne (north of the Alps) and 30% of that of Locarno (south of the Alps). Officially, the driest location in Valais and Switzerland is Stalden , with 545  mm of rainfall per year. Valais is often described as "semi-arid", although it is not in the climatic sense of the term. Therefore, in some areas, such as Les Follatères , are found plants that are uncommon or absent in

1974-499: Is situated in the southwestern part of the country. It borders the cantons of Vaud and Bern to the north, the cantons of Uri and Ticino to the east, as well as Italy to the south and France to the west. It is one of the three large southern Alpine cantons, along with Ticino and the Grisons , which encompass a vast diversity of ecosystems. It is a bilingual canton, French and German being its two official languages. Traditionally,

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2068-462: Is sparsely populated. Its population (as of 31 December 2020) is 348,503. As of 2007 , the population included 57,061 foreigners, or about 19.1% of the total population. The largest towns are the capital Sion ( Sitten ), Monthey , Sierre , Martigny and Brig-Glis . There is no major city located in the canton. As of 2017, 77% of total population was Roman Catholic , while only 6% were members of Swiss Reformed Church . The historical population

2162-589: Is the Pointe de la Plaine Morte station (2,882 m), which is connected to Cran-Montana and within 5 km from the summit. As for the other mountains on the crest of the Bernese Alps, the slopes of the Wildstrubel experience different types of climate depending on their location: the northern slopes are cooler and wetter while the southern slopes are drier and warmer. Forests are found up to 1,900 metres on

2256-616: Is the only large valley. East of Brig is the valley of Goms , the highest section of the Rhône Valley. The Rhône itself flows in the main valley from east to west from the Rhône Glacier down to Martigny, then at a right angle north to its mouth in Lake Geneva. After the town of Saint-Maurice , the eastern banks of the river belong to the canton of Vaud , although the western banks remain in Valais, down to Le Bouveret , on

2350-543: Is the only truly large lake in the canton, although only a small fraction of it (about 10  km ) is in Valais, the plain of the Rhône comprehending only small lakes. There are however numerous sizable lakes in the high Alps, mostly artificial. The largest is Lac des Dix , closely followed by the Lac d'Emosson . Other large high-elevation lakes are Lac de Mauvoisin , Mattmarksee , lac de Salanfe , Lac de Moiry and Lac de Tseuzier (see list of mountain lakes of Switzerland for

2444-626: Is unproductive vegetation, 23.4% is too rocky for vegetation and 8.5% of the land is covered by glaciers. It lies in the Simmental valley of the Bernese Oberland . Lenk lies 80 km (50 mi) from Bern and 100 km (62 mi) from Montreux . Lenk is the highest municipality in Simmental. The municipal area includes many mountains, the highest of which is the Wildstrubel (3,243 m (10,640 ft)). Somewhat below

2538-571: Is via the banks of Lake Geneva , which have several railways and highways leading towards Martigny , Sion , and the rest of the canton. The major axis is on the north side of the lake and passes via Lausanne and Vevey in the canton of Vaud . From there runs the A9 motorway and the Simplon Railway , ultimately leading to Italy via the Simplon Pass and Simplon Tunnel respectively. On

2632-493: The Canton of Bern . The locals became German-speaking , though many Romance local names remain. In 1354 the liberties of several of the seven Zenden ( Sion , Sierre , Leuk , Raron , Visp , Brig and Conches ) were confirmed by the Emperor Charles IV . By the late 14th century, the counts of Savoy acquired the bishopric of Sion. The Zenden resisted his attempts to gather both spiritual and secular power in

2726-549: The Grande Dixence , necessitating paved roads as well. As in most other cantons, localities are essentially served by PostBus Switzerland , which also operates numerous tourist lines on the Alpine passes and to the high-elevation lakes. Martigny, Sion, Sierre and Brig are hubs of public transportation. The winding mountain roads of Valais are very popular with drivers, bikers, and cyclists for their spectacular scenery and are

2820-839: The Great St. Bernard (Italy), and the Forclaz and the Morgins (France). Also notable are the historical and pedestrian passes of the Sanetsch , Rawil , Gemmi , and the Lötschberg , connecting Valais with the Swiss Plateau, through the Bernese Oberland . The Lötschberg, together with the Simplon, is one of the main north–south axes of Switzerland. The historical Lötschberg Railway opened in 1913. It connects directly Brig to

2914-873: The Martigny–Châtelard Railway (serving the Trient Valley ) and the Visp-Zermatt railway . Above Zermatt , the Gornergrat Railway and the Klein Matterhorn cable car are respectively the highest open-air railway and highest public transport in Europe. The Valais has two ports on Lake Geneva served by the CGN : St. Gingolph and Le Bouveret . The largest airport is located at Sion. The size and particular geographical situation of

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3008-954: The Matterhorn and the Jungfrau , for a complete list, see list of mountains of Valais . Located there are numerous glaciers including several of the largest in the Alps, such as the Aletsch Glacier and the Gorner Glacier . Other ranges situated partially in Valais are the Chablais Alps , the Mont Blanc Massif , the Uri Alps , the Gotthard Massif , and the Lepontine Alps . Lake Geneva

3102-681: The Raron affair rebellion from 1414 to 1420, some cantons of the Swiss Confederation took sides in the conflict. Lucerne , Uri and Unterwalden supported the Upper Valais rebels, while Bern supported the noble Raron family. The uprising was successful in driving out the Rarons and almost brought the Confederation to civil war. Following the Raron affair, the canton was the location of

3196-479: The Rhône basin, more precisely in the wide Alpine Rhône Valley, above Lake Geneva . The main settlements are all along the Rhône or in its proximity, the largest city being Sion , followed by Martigny , Monthey , Sierre , and Brig-Glis . The canton is traditionally divided into three regions: Lower Valais (French: Bas-Valais ), Central Valais (French: Valais central ), and Upper Valais (German: Oberwallis ), with

3290-520: The Valais witch trials between 1428 and 1447 in which at least 367 men and women were put to death. This event marks one of the earliest witch scares in late medieval Europe. The phenomenon later spread to other parts of the continent. With the election of Walther II. Supersaxo von der Fluhe (from Conches ) as bishop in 1457, the German-speaking part of the valley finally attained supremacy. At

3384-539: The Holy Roman Empire. The count-bishops then struggled to defend their area against the Zähringer and then the dukes of Savoy , so that the medieval history of Valais is inextricably linked with that of the diocese of Sion. The Dukes of Savoy, however, succeeded in winning most of the land west of Sion (Lower Valais), while in the upper part of the valley (Upper Valais) there were many feudal lords, such as

3478-557: The Lower Valais were ruled as subject lands by the bishop and the Tithings of the Upper Valais until 1798. On 12 March 1529, Valais became an associate member ( Zugewandter Ort ) of the Swiss Confederation . In the early 17th century, the aristocratic governors of the districts in the Upper Valais pressured the prince-bishop of Sion to abdicate secular power, which was achieved temporarily in 1613 and then permanently in 1634, when

3572-574: The Po plains to the south by the Valais Alps , respectively north and south of the Rhône. Valais is also one of the three large southern cantons lying partially in the Po basin, therefore south of the Alps, along with Ticino and the Grisons . However, contrary to those two cantons, very few settlements are on the south side of the Alps, and they are all well above the plains. The largest regions not drained by

3666-542: The Rhône are the Simplon Valley (Po basin) and two uninhabited areas north of the Sanetsch and the Gemmi Pass ( Rhine basin). Valais is the highest canton in terms of absolute, relative, and mean elevation . Therefore, its topography is extremely rugged, with the notable exception of the wide, glacial, Rhône valley. The latter valley dominates the geography of the canton. Many side valleys are branching off

3760-615: The Romans after the Battle of Octodurus (now known as Martigny ) in 57 BC and became part of the Gallo-Roman cultural sphere. According to a tradition that can be traced back to the middle of the 8th century, the Theban legion was martyred at Agaunum (now Saint Maurice ) about 285 or 302. From 888 onwards the lands were part of the kingdom of Jurane Burgundy . Valais formed part of

3854-463: The Swiss Plateau across the Bernese Alps , via Spiez in the canton of Bern, through the high-elevation Lötschberg Tunnel . In 2007, the importance of that axis was further increased with the opening of the low-elevation Lötschberg Base Tunnel , the first high-speed railway connecting Valais to Bern, following essentially the same route, but at the level of the plains. The Lötschberg Base Tunnel

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3948-794: The Wildstrubel, by the Siebenbrunnen ("seven fountains") comes the Simme River, which gives Simmental (" Simme Valley") its name. A number of creeks flow into the Simme, and the Iffig Creek, the Iffigfall (its waterfall), and the Iffigsee (its lake) are attractions for hikers. Other mountains nearby include the Wildhorn (3248 m) and Niesehorn (2776 m), commonly reached via trekking routes that begin in Lenk. The large municipality includes

4042-584: The austerity of ancestral mores, its customs, its naive legends, its rustic costumes, everything that today constitutes its character and originality. Many monuments dot the Valais landscape. The best known are the Valère Basilica , where the oldest organ in the world still playable is found, and the territorial Abbey of Saint-Maurice , which dates from the 6th century. Valais has several castles of historical importance, frequently built in formerly strategic locations: Tourbillon Castle , Saint-Maurice Castle , Stockalper Palace , La Bâtiaz Castle , Majorie Castle ,

4136-619: The average local and cantonal tax rate on a married resident, with two children, of Lenk making 150,000 CHF was 13.2%, while an unmarried resident's rate was 19.4%. For comparison, the average rate for the entire canton in the same year, was 14.2% and 22.0%, while the nationwide average was 12.3% and 21.1% respectively. In 2009 there were a total of 989 tax payers in the municipality. Of that total, 248 made over 75,000 CHF per year. There were 11 people who made between 15,000 and 20,000 per year. The greatest number of workers, 266, made between 50,000 and 75,000 CHF per year. The average income of

4230-403: The canton is 5,224 square kilometres (2,017 sq mi) and only about half of the total area is considered productive. Valais shares borders with four other cantons: to the north are the cantons of Vaud and Bern and to the east are the cantons of Uri and Ticino . The canton shares international borders as well: to the south are the Italian regions of Aosta Valley and Piedmont and to

4324-457: The canton is divided into Lower, Central, and Upper Valais, the latter region constituting the German-speaking minority. Valais is essentially coextensive with the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva , separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps , the two largest mountain ranges of the canton. A major wine region, the canton is simultaneously one of the driest regions of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley and among

4418-447: The canton within the Alps helped Valais develop a culture that is distinct from that of the cantons of the Swiss Plateau and the northern Alpine foothills. As a bilingual canton, Valais itself includes some cultural diversity as well. The most common denominator is a strong mountain culture, symbolized by the archetypal tenacious and austere mountain dweller facing the difficult conditions and dangers of nature. The people of Valais, from

4512-399: The canton. In 1529, Valais became an associate member of the Swiss Confederation . After having resisted the Protestant Reformation and remained faithful to the Roman Catholic Church , it became a republic under the guidance of the prince-bishop of Sion in 1628. In 1815, Valais finally entered the Swiss Confederation as a canton. In 1878, the Simplon Railway connected most of Valais with

4606-425: The canton. Valais counts more than 120 winter and summer destinations, including: The Matterhorn near Zermatt is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Swiss mountains, as is its sister valley immediately east Saas Fee . Other parts of the mountains of the canton further west are popular as well, such as the more French-speaking resorts near Verbier and the Evolene and Arolla region. The resorts on

4700-406: The cities of the Swiss Plateau . The canton was further opened up by the Lötschberg Railway in 1913. The canton is also officially referred to by its long name République et canton du Valais (French) or Republik und Kanton Wallis (German). This translates into Republic and Canton of Valais . The Romans called the upper Rhône valley Vallis Poenina . The Vallis Poenina was conquered by

4794-399: The cooperative farms ( Bäuerten ) of Aegerten and Brand as well as the villages of Lenk, Gutenbrunnen, Ober- and Pöschenried. On 31 December 2009 Amtsbezirk Obersimmental, the municipality's former district, was dissolved. On the following day, 1 January 2010, it joined the newly created Verwaltungskreis Obersimmental-Saanen. The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Per fess Vert

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4888-405: The country became the federal Republic of the Seven Tithings under the rule of a Landeshauptmann . The republic in its original form existed until 1798, when the districts of the Lower Valais, until then ruled as subjects, successfully revolted against the Seven Tithings and achieved equal status within the republic. During the French invasion of the Swiss Confederacy in the same year, Valais

4982-485: The end of the paved road lies at 1,105 metres, or 2,139 metres below the summit. The mountain has three summits, all of similar height and located on the cantonal border, although within the Rhine basin. These three summits, strung out along a 3.5-km ridge, make a convenient traverse. The third or fourth recorded ascent was by Leslie Stephen and Thomas W. Hinchliff with guide Melchior Anderegg on 11 September 1858. Lenk Lenk im Simmental (or simply Lenk )

5076-485: The episcopal Leuk Castle etc. Amongst religious buildings are several churches that present quality architecture, in particular, those due to the architect Ulrich Ruffiner (16th century) who left many buildings between Sion and the Goms valley : Saint-Théodule church in Sion, the church of Raron and church of Ernen . In the valley of Goms, are also several notable baroque churches. Contemporary religious architecture has also given rise to interesting buildings, such as

5170-407: The highlights of competitions such as Tour de Suisse and the Rallye International du Valais . For a list of high-elevation paved roads, see list of highest paved roads in Switzerland . Because of tourism, there are many railways and cable cars in the mountains. Railways serving side valleys are the Aigle–Ollon–Monthey–Champéry railway , the Martigny–Orsières Railway (notably serving Verbier ),

5264-403: The kingdom of Transjurane Burgundy, which fell to the Holy Roman Empire in 1032. It became part of the duchy of Burgundia Minor, which was held by the emperors by the house of Zähringen (which became extinct in 1218). In 999, King Rudolph III of Burgundy gave all temporal rights and privileges to the Bishop of Sion , who was later styled praefect and count of Valais and is still a prince of

5358-404: The lands of the modern municipality. The municipality split from the neighboring St. Stephan in 1504–1505. In 1522 it achieved its sovereignty in the canton of Bern . The village church was built in 1505. The church became a parish church in 1513. In 1528, the city of Bern accepted the new faith of the Protestant Reformation . Lenk, along with much of the Oberland , initially resisted

5452-403: The late 19th century. In 1878, the Simplon Railway connected Brig , the last town before the Simplon Pass , from Lausanne and Geneva and other major cities of the Swiss Plateau . Valais is the third largest canton of Switzerland by area. It is also one of its westernmost and southernmost cantons while being adjacent to central Switzerland. With a few exceptions, it lies almost entirely in

5546-419: The linguistic border of the canton being at Pfynwald, between the two latter regions. While the more populous Lower and Central Valais are French-speaking , Upper Valais is German-speaking . The Rhône Valley is a central Alpine valley, i.e. it lies well within the Alps and is shut off from both northern and southern plains. Valais is separated from the Swiss Plateau to the north by the Bernese Alps and from

5640-439: The lords of Raron, those of La Tour-Châtillon, and the counts of Visp. About the middle of the 13th century, the large communities (Zenden or tithings ) began to develop independence and grow in power. The name Zenden or tithings probably came from a very ancient division of the bishop's manors for administrative and judicial purposes. In the same century the upper part of the valley was colonized by Germans from Hasli ( de ) in

5734-403: The main valley, often perpendicularly. These vary from narrow and remote to reasonably populous. On the south side of the Rhône, in the Valais Alps, some of the largest side valleys are (from east to west): the Mattertal (including the Saastal), the Val d'Anniviers , the Val d'Hérens , the Val de Bagnes and the Val d'Entremont . On the north of the Rhône, in the Bernese Alps, the Lötschental

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5828-483: The mid 19th century tourists began to come to Lenk to see the natural attractions and to bathe in the mineral springs. A medicinal spa opened in 1843 and gradually expanded into a grand hotel by 1900. In 1969 the old hotel was replaced with a new spa and indoor pool. Today tourism is the main industry in Lenk. A number of second homes and vacation chalets were built outside the old village center. Lenk has an area of 122.96 km (47.48 sq mi). As of 2012,

5922-431: The most industrial region of the canton is called Chablais . The area is very important for the economy. The lands from Lake Geneva to the town of St-Maurice are located in the Chablais. There are a lot of factories, the most important are the subsidiaries of Novartis and Syngenta , in Monthey . In the town of Collombey-Muraz , there is an oil refinery . The Lonza Group has large factories in Visp. Near Visp there

6016-441: The most popular party was the Swiss People's Party (SVP) which received 48.3% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP) (16%), the Social Democratic Party (SP) (9.3%) and the FDP.The Liberals (8.8%). In the federal election, a total of 904 votes were cast, and the voter turnout was 48.7%. As of  2011 , Lenk had an unemployment rate of 1.65%. As of 2008 , there were

6110-402: The mountains and dairy farming in the plains. The canton is notable for its cheese and dried meat production. The Hérens cattle are also used in organised cow fights. Europe's tallest gravity dam is located at Grande Dixence in the canton, closely followed by the Mauvoisin Dam . Hydroelectric power plants from the canton produce about a quarter of Swiss electricity. The west part and

6204-401: The municipality and 203 workers who commuted away. The municipality is a net importer of workers, with about 1.3 workers entering the municipality for every one leaving. A total of 1,064 workers (79.9% of the 1,332 total workers in the municipality) both lived and worked in Lenk. Of the working population, 6.1% used public transportation to get to work, and 44.6% used a private car. In 2011

6298-429: The municipality. Of the kindergarten students, 7.7% were permanent or temporary residents of Switzerland (not citizens) and 3.8% have a different mother language than the classroom language. The municipality had 6 primary classes and 112 students. Of the primary students, 10.7% were permanent or temporary residents of Switzerland (not citizens) and 9.8% have a different mother language than the classroom language. During

6392-450: The new faith but was forced to accept it in the same year. In the following year, Lenk had to protect itself against the Catholic Valais . The conflicts over religion closed the Rawil Pass into Valais for a time. However, the Pass remained an important trade route until the construction of the Lötschberg railway line in 1913. In 1878 much of the village was destroyed in a fire. The parish church rebuilt three years later in 1881. In

6486-466: The north side and up to 2,100 metres on the south side. Glaciers also reach lower locations on the north side. Vineyards are also very common on the Valais side, especially below 1000 metres, but completely absent on the Bernese side, where alpine pastures dominate the landscape, as in many other areas of the Bernese Oberland . Although not a technical climb, the ascent of the Wildstrubel involves either long ascents or glacier crossings. The shortest access

6580-416: The north side of the main Rhône valley are popular, looking out southwards towards the Peninne Alps and still part of the southern slope of the Bernese Alps, such as the family-oriented resort of Crans-Montana . The resorts in the Goms (district) are slightly less known, yet also receive attention during the summer hiking season and the winter ski season. The only natural low-elevation access to Valais

6674-530: The outbreak of the Burgundian Wars in 1475, the bishop of Sion and the Zenden made a treaty with Bern. In November of the same year, they seized all Lower or Savoyard Valais up to Martigny. In March 1476, after the victory of Grandson , they advanced and captured St Maurice, Évian , Thonon and Monthey . They had to give up the last three districts in 1477 but won them again in 1536. In the treaty of Thonon in 1569, Monthey, Val-d'llliez, and Le Bouveret were permanently annexed to Valais. These conquered districts in

6768-506: The over 75,000 CHF group in Lenk was 113,484 CHF, while the average across all of Switzerland was 130,478 CHF. In 2011 a total of 1.3% of the population received direct financial assistance from the government. From the 2000 census , 1,794 or 76.8% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church , while 181 or 7.7% were Roman Catholic . Of the rest of the population, there were 57 members of an Orthodox church (or about 2.44% of

6862-438: The population has changed at a rate of 2.1%. Migration accounted for 1.5%, while births and deaths accounted for 0.2%. Most of the population (as of 2000 ) speaks German (2,201 or 94.2%) as their first language, Serbo-Croatian is the second most common (36 or 1.5%) and Portuguese is the third (27 or 1.2%). There are 14 people who speak French , 5 people who speak Italian and 5 people who speak Romansh . As of 2008 ,

6956-463: The population have completed non-mandatory upper secondary education , and 12.4% have completed additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule ). Of the 179 who had completed some form of tertiary schooling listed in the census, 73.2% were Swiss men, 17.9% were Swiss women, 6.7% were non-Swiss men. The Canton of Bern school system provides one year of non-obligatory Kindergarten , followed by six years of Primary school. This

7050-627: The population was 49.5% male and 50.5% female. The population was made up of 1,022 Swiss men (42.6% of the population) and 166 (6.9%) non-Swiss men. There were 1,078 Swiss women (44.9%) and 133 (5.5%) non-Swiss women. Of the population in the municipality, 1,177 or about 50.4% were born in Lenk and lived there in 2000. There were 613 or 26.2% who were born in the same canton, while 238 or 10.2% were born somewhere else in Switzerland, and 216 or 9.2% were born outside of Switzerland. As of 2011 , children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 18.4% of

7144-437: The population), and there were 108 individuals (or about 4.62% of the population) who belonged to another Christian church. There were 25 (or about 1.07% of the population) who were Muslim . There were 4 individuals who were Hindu . 95 (or about 4.07% of the population) belonged to no church, are agnostic or atheist , and 73 individuals (or about 3.12% of the population) did not answer the question. In Lenk about 52.1% of

7238-429: The population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 62.2% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 19.4%. As of 2000 , there were 953 people who were single and never married in the municipality. There were 1,157 married individuals, 161 widows or widowers and 66 individuals who are divorced. As of 2010 , there were 348 households that consist of only one person and 70 households with five or more people. In 2000 ,

7332-679: The rest of Switzerland, such as cactuses. On the lower south-facing slopes of the Bernese Alps, numerous vineyards are cultivated, between Fully and Leuk. Unlike in the rest of the country, irrigated agriculture is common in Valais. The canton is renowned for its numerous towns and villages in the high Alps. In the Mattertal and adjoining Saastal are Zermatt and Saas Fee . Other popular resorts are Verbier , Les Marécottes , Champéry , Grimentz , Zinal , Anzère , Crans-Montana , Evolène , Leukerbad and Fiesch . All of them are tourist destination in both summer and winter seasons. The area of

7426-566: The same year, 78 residents attended schools outside the municipality. Lenk is home to the Gemeindebibliothek Lenk (municipal library of Lenk). The library has (as of 2008 ) 4,698 books or other media, and loaned out 9,570 items in the same year. It was open a total of 304 days with average of 6 hours per week during that year. The municipality is dependent on tourism , especially for winter sports . Lenk has accommodations for about 5000 guests, include 800 hotel beds. This

7520-424: The same year, housing and buildings made up 1.1% and transportation infrastructure made up 0.7%. A total of 17.7% of the total land area is heavily forested and 3.6% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 7.9% is pasturage and 28.5% is used for alpine pastures. Of the water in the municipality, 0.2% is in lakes and 0.7% is in rivers and streams. Of the unproductive areas, 5.8%

7614-466: The same year, there were 3 lower secondary classes with a total of 65 students. There were 15.4% who were permanent or temporary residents of Switzerland (not citizens) and 15.4% have a different mother language than the classroom language. As of  2000 , there were a total of 265 students attending any school in the municipality. Of those, 253 both lived and attended school in the municipality, while 12 students came from another municipality. During

7708-546: The shores of Lake Geneva. The main valley is bounded by the Bernese Alps in the north and the Valais Alps in the south, both ranges including numerous over 4,000 metre-high mountains, which are the highest in the country. Notables mountains include Monte Rosa (highest), reaching 4,634 metres (15,203 ft), and the Finsteraarhorn (most prominent), reaching 4,274 metres (14,022 ft). Other iconic mountains are

7802-739: The south side of Lake Geneva, from the French border, is only a highway and the historical Tonkin Railway , now operating in Valais only. The canton is surrounded by high mountains, but some major mountain passes connect it with the rest of Europe. The main road passes are the Grimsel (towards the canton of Bern and the Swiss Plateau ), the Furka (Uri), the Nufenen (Ticino), the Simplon and

7896-419: The south-facing slopes overlooking the Rhône Valley, where they have become an integral part of the landscape. The wine industry of the canton is the largest in Switzerland. There are also a large number orchards in the area, among which are apricot trees. The apricot has become the emblematic fruit of the canton. In Mund , saffron is also gathered. Agriculture in Valais also consists of cattle breeding in

7990-425: The tertiary sector; 136 or 17.3% were in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 30 or 3.8% were in the movement and storage of goods, 444 or 56.3% were in a hotel or restaurant, 10 or 1.3% were the insurance or financial industry, 36 or 4.6% were technical professionals or scientists, 22 or 2.8% were in education and 39 or 4.9% were in health care. In 2000 , there were 268 workers who commuted into

8084-472: The valley. In 1375–76, Zenden forces defeated the army of the house of La Tour-Chatillon, and in 1388 routed the forces of the bishop, the count, and his nobles at Visp. The German-speaking Zenden spread further into the valley. Starting in 1384 the Morge stream (a little below Sion) was recognized as the boundary between Savoyard, French-speaking Lower Valais and German-speaking episcopal Upper Valais. During

8178-476: The warlike races that originally inhabited it, are strong and vigorous; they were able, with their remarkable endurance, to make the most of natural resources, the possession of which today assures them an honorable place as much as they deserve among the other better-off peoples of ancient Helvetia. Through its economic development and its commendable progress in all areas of human activity, Valais, faithful to its traditions as well as to its faith, has managed to keep

8272-399: The west is the French region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes . Valais is divided into 13 districts, with the district of Raron being further divided into two half-districts. The districts are listed here in geographical order: Upper Valais: Central Valais: Lower Valais: There are 122 municipalities in the canton (as of January 2021). The western part of Valais (Central and Lower Valais)

8366-422: The wettest, having large amounts of snow and rain upon the highest peaks found in Switzerland, such as Monte Rosa and the Finsteraarhorn . Although a major hydroelectricity producer, Valais is essentially renowned for its tourism industry and its numerous Alpine resort towns, notably Crans-Montana , Saas Fee , Verbier , and Zermatt . Overlooking the latter town, the Matterhorn has become an iconic landmark of

8460-403: The workforce. In 2008 there were a total of 1,230 full-time equivalent jobs. The number of jobs in the primary sector was 201, of which 178 were in agriculture and 23 were in forestry or lumber production. The number of jobs in the secondary sector was 241 of which 86 or (35.7%) were in manufacturing and 150 (62.2%) were in construction. The number of jobs in the tertiary sector was 788. In

8554-659: The works of the Genevan architect Jean-Marie Ellenberger (1913-1988) in Sierre (Sainte-Croix church) or Verbier. In the civil architecture, two hospices, each located at one of the passes leading to Italy, formerly provided food for pilgrims who went to Rome and travelers in general: the Great St. Bernard Hospice and the Simplon Hospice . There are also interesting Roman remains, such as the amphitheater in Martigny. Sion

8648-777: Was incorporated into the Helvetic Republic until 1802 when it became the separate Rhodanic Republic . In 1810, the Rhodanic Republic was annexed by the First French Empire as the departement of Simplon . The department was occupied by Austrian troops in late 1813; on 4 August 1815, Valais finally entered the Swiss Confederation as a canton. In 1845, Valais joined the Catholic separatist league ( Sonderbund ) which led to what

8742-779: Was on along a major north–south road that passed over the Rawil and Kaltwasser Passes . They built a way station and a small shrine at the Iffigsee and a road and lime kiln at Iffigenalp. By the Middle Ages the Bronze Age fortifications were reoccupied and the area was split between the Herrschaft of Mannenberg and the estates of the Freiherr von Raron. The lands passed through several owners and by 1502 Bern ruled over

8836-490: Was the longest land tunnel in the world when opened, finally opening up Valais to northern Switzerland. The summit railway, through the historical tunnel, is still used for regional traffic and car transportation across the Lötschberg. The old train line is popular for its highly scenic sections in both cantons on either side of the old tunnel. Another railway axis connects Valais with central and eastern Switzerland. This

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