This fabled region is a year-round favorite, with spectacular skiing in the winter and superb hiking in summer. It became part of the duchy of Burgundia Minor, which was held from the emperors by the house of Zähringen (which became extinct in 1218). Sion is the capital of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. 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. Canton of Valais Tourism: Best of Canton of Valais. The Vallis Poenina was won by the Romans after a great fight at Octodurus (now known as Martigny) in 57 BC and became part of the Gallo-Roman cultural sphere. In March 1476, after the victory of Grandson, they advanced and captured St Maurice, Évian, Thonon and Monthey. Hydroelectric power plants from the canton produce about a quarter of Swiss electricity. Other metal products and chemicals are produced around Visp and Sierre, including Swiss Diamond International aluminum cookware. About Canton of Valais. Valais is divided into 13 districts, with the district of Raron being further divided into two half-districts. A mix of the charming, modern, and tried and true. It became part of the duchy of Burgundia Minor, which was held from the emperors by the house of Zähringen (which became extinct in 1218). [3], About the middle of the 13th century, the large communities (Zenden or tithings) began to develop independence and grow in power. The longest land tunnel in the world, the Lötschberg Base Tunnel, is in operation since late 2007, connecting by rail the town of Frutigen in the Canton of Bern, with the town of Visp in canton Valais/Wallis. At the foot of the Swiss Alps lies Valais, "the valley." Tutte le soluzioni per "Citta Svizzera Nel Vallese" per cruciverba e parole crociate. The old train line still carries traffic particularly road traffic as freight, and has highly scenic sections in both cantons on either side of the old tunnel through the dividing ridgeline, yet is somewhat slower than the new route which has a much longer tunnel section. Many of the road passes are well known, such as the Grimsel Pass. This fabled region is a year-round favorite, with spectacular skiing in the winter and superb hiking in summer. Other ranges situated partially in Valais are the Chablais Alps, the Mont Blanc Massif, the Urner Alps and the Lepontine 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. As of 2017, 77% of total population is Roman Catholic, while only 6% are members of Swiss Reformed Church. Coordinate geografiche Nendaz: Latitudine: 46.1438, Longitudine: 7.31886 46° 8′ 38″ Nord, 7° 19′ 8″ Est Superficie Nendaz: 8.600 ettari 86,00 km²: Altitudine Nendaz: 1.607 m: Clima Nendaz: Clima polare (Classificazione dei climi di Köppen: ET) The western part of Valais (Central and Lower Valais) is French-speaking, while the eastern part (Upper Valais) is German-speaking. These conquered districts in the Lower Valais were always ruled as subject lands by the bishop and Zenden of the Upper Valais. 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. There are also a large number orchards in the area, and saffron is also gathered here. Only 114 people reported speaking Romansh. The Vallis Poenina was won by the Romans after a great fight at Octodurus (now known as Martigny) in 57 BC and became part of the Gallo-Roman cultural sphere. By the late 14th century, the counts of Savoy acquired the bishopric of Sion. The districts are listed here in geographical order: There are 143 municipalities in the canton (As of 2009[update]). Hoteliers were at the base of the development of Valais Tourism. The Matterhorn, the Great St. Bernard Pass and Zermatt are the stars of the area, but glaciers, lakes, mountain paths, castle-churches and a wealth of resorts also beckon. Other metal products and chemicals are produced around Visp and Sierre, including Swiss Diamond International aluminum cookware. The canton of Valais is widely known for the Matterhorn and resort towns such as Crans-Montana, Saas Fee, Verbier and Zermatt. During the Raron affair rebellion in 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. Fifty of the mountains exceed 4,000 m with the highest, Monte Rosa, reaching 4,634 metres (15,203 ft), and there are numerous glaciers including several of the largest in the Alps, such as the Grand Aletsch, Fiescher, and the Gorner Glaciers. From 888 onwards the lands were part of the kingdom of Jurane Burgundy. Con vallese: Popolazione alpina del Vallese. Photo: Belappetit, CC0. They had to give up the last three districts in 1477, but won them again in 1536. Other ranges situated partially in Valais are the Chablais Alps, the Mont Blanc Massif, the Urner Alps and the Lepontine Alps. At the outbreak of the Burgundian War in 1475 the bishop of Sion and the Zenden made a treaty with Bern. In 1845, Valais joined the Catholic separate league (Sonderbund) which led to what is called the Sonderbund War. The resorts on 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. A small airport is located at Sion, but the main routes of transport are rail and road. It is composed of 13 districts (hence the 13 stars on the flag) and its capital is Sion. Wine and fruit brandies, e.g. 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.[3]. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. La Galerie du Chocolat - Chocolaterie de Verbier. The area is very important for the economy. In March 1476, after the victory of Grandson, they advanced and captured St Maurice, Évian, Thonon and Monthey. In the treaty of Thonon in 1569, Monthey, Val-d'llliez and Le Bouveret were permanently annexed to Valais. The districts are listed here in geographical order: There are 143 municipalities in the canton (As of 2009[update]). There are many side valleys branching off the main valley. Many of them, such as César Ritz, spent time and money to satisfy a clientele from around the world. Visit … Brig Brig, officially Brig-Glis, is a municipality of 13,000 people in Valais in Switzerland. In 1375–76, Zenden forces crushed the army of the house of La Tour-Chatillon, and in 1388 utterly defeated the forces of the bishop, the count and his nobles at Visp. In the treaty of Thonon in 1569, Monthey, Val-d'llliez and Le Bouveret were permanently annexed to Valais. Create a Trip to save and organize all of your travel ideas, and see them on a map. The main valley is bounded by the Bernese Alps in the north and the Pennine Alps in the south. The Matterhorn, the Great St. Bernard Pass and Zermatt are the stars of the area, but glaciers, lakes, mountain paths, castle-churches and a wealth of resorts also beckon. Navigazione: Soluzioni successive per: Smunto per le sofferenze; Lo è un prato asperso di rugiada; Terrecotte da costruzione; Il Pinkerton poliziotto americano; Lo è un avvenimento che rimarrà nella … The bishop remained in power until 1798 when Napoleon's troops invaded Valais and declared a Revolutionary République du Valais (March 16) which was swiftly incorporated (May 1) into the Helvetic Republic until 1802 when it became the separate Rhodanic Republic. The Zenden resisted his attempts to gather both spiritual and secular power in the valley. In November of the same year they seized all Lower or Savoyard Valais up to Martigny. The resorts in the Goms (district) are slightly less known, yet also receive attention during the summer hiking season and the winter ski season. To the north the canton is bounded by the Swiss cantons of Vaud and Bern; the cantons of Uri and Ticino lie to its east. [3], Valais formed part of the kingdom of Transjurane Burgundy, which fell to the Holy Roman Empire in 1032. Because of the tourism there are many mountain railways and cable cars in the mountains. To the north the canton is bounded by the Swiss cantons of Vaud and Bern; the cantons of Uri and Ticino lie to its east. The wide, glacial Rhône valley dominates the area. The canton of Valais lies in the southwest of Switzerland. The largest towns are the capital Sion (Sitten), Monthey, Sierre, Martigny and Brig-Glis. Photo: Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble, CC BY 2.0. 99,000 Swiss Federal troops under General Henri Dufour were faced by 79,000 Separatists, but in the end Valais chose not to fight. Wine and fruit brandies, e.g. 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. Valais is divided into 13 districts, with the district of Raron being further divided into two half-districts. There are a lot of factories, the most important are the subsidiaries of Novartis and Syngenta, in Monthey. The lands from Lake Geneva to the town of St-Maurice are located in the Chablais. In 1375–76, Zenden forces crushed the army of the house of La Tour-Chatillon, and in 1388 utterly defeated the forces of the bishop, the count and his nobles at Visp. The Old Swiss Confederacy from 1291 to the sixteenth century, Vineyards in the Rhône Valley. The scenic rail route across the Furka Pass originates in the canton of Valais. The bishop remained in power until 1798 when Napoleon's troops invaded Valais and declared a Revolutionary République du Valais (March 16) which was swiftly incorporated (May 1) into the Helvetic Republic until 1802 when it became the separate Rhodanic Republic. These conquered districts in the Lower Valais were always ruled as subject lands by the bishop and Zenden of the Upper Valais. Places to see, ways to wander, and signature experiences. 18-24 November 2019 --- > IV week of Italian cuisine in the world 2019 The @[570513166420232:274:Restaurant "Trattorie d'Italia"] will participate in this event on Tuesday, November 2019, 19 from 18 pm In our restaurant will be organizing an evening in collaborations of the @[293069997548532:274:Consolato Generale d'Italia Ginevra] and … There is no major city located in the canton. Independence was restored in 1813, and on August 4, 1815 Valais finally entered the Swiss confederation as a canton. The canton of Valais lies in the southwest of Switzerland. The scenic rail route across the Furka Pass originates in the canton of Valais. The Romans called the upper Rhône valley Vallis Poenina. Cars may be loaded onto the trains as freight. This is to better allay car traffic in the highly scenic Kandertal, and also to provide faster transport through the Bernese Alps from the populous Mittelland in the north to the southern canton of Valais. ... Città e cantone della Svizzera; Il capoluogo del Cantone di Vaud; Un cantone storico della Svizzera; Il Cantone con Davos; Un cantone al centro della Svizzera. Visit L'Hospice du Grand St. Bernard to see the animals who helped the monks rescue travelers or the Fondation Pierre Gianadda, Roman ruins that now house modern art. The Rhône drains almost the entire canton and flows in the main valley from east to west down to Martigny, then in a right angle north to its mouth in Lake Geneva. In the town of Collombey-Muraz, there is an oil refinery. 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. Fifty of the mountains exceed 4,000 m with the highest, Monte Rosa, reaching 4,634 metres (15,203 ft), and there are numerous glaciers including several of the largest in the Alps, such as the Grand Aletsch, Fiescher, and the Gorner Glaciers. 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. 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 the lords of Raron, those of La Tour-Châtillon, and the counts of Visp. By the late 14th century, the counts of Savoy acquired the bishopric of Sion. Following the violence of the Raron affair, the canton was the location of the Valais witch trials between 1428 and 1447 in which at least 367 men and women were put to death. The Rhône drains almost the entire canton and flows in the main valley from east to west down to Martigny, then in a right angle north to its mouth in Lake Geneva. Europe's tallest gravity dam is located at Grande Dixence in the canton. The phenomenon later spread to other parts of the continent. "Williamine" production and tourism are some of the main industries of the canton. [7], The canton is sparsely populated. In the same century the upper part of the valley was colonized by Germans from Hasli(de) in the Canton of Bern. Valais has a long touristic tradition. In November of the same year they seized all Lower or Savoyard Valais up to Martigny. [6], The western part of Valais (Central and Lower Valais) is French-speaking, while the eastern part (Upper Valais) is German-speaking. The locals became German speaking, though many Romance local names still remain. The canton of Valais (UK: / ˈ v æ l eɪ / VAL-ay, US: / v æ ˈ l eɪ / val-AY, French: ; German: (Kanton) Wallis ; Italian: (Canton) Vallese [valˈleːze, -eːse]) 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. Lucerne, Uri and Unterwalden supported the Upper Valais rebels, while Bern supported the noble Raron family. On March 12, 1529, Valais became an associate member (Zugewandter Ort) of the Swiss Confederation. The canton is simultaneously one of the driest … To its south lies Italy (Aosta Valley and Piedmont), to the southwest France (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes). The area is very important for the economy. Valais formed part of the kingdom of Transjurane Burgundy, which fell to the Holy Roman Empire in 1032. Its population (as of 31 December 2019) is 345,525. Coordinate geografiche Randogne: Latitudine: 46.3297, Longitudine: 7.49942 46° 19′ 47″ Nord, 7° 29′ 58″ Est Superficie Randogne: 1.688 ettari 16,88 km²: Altitudine Randogne: 1.220 m: Clima Randogne: Clima polare (Classificazione dei climi di Köppen: ET) A small airport is located at Sion, but the main routes of transport are rail and road. The uprising was successful in driving out the Rarons, and almost brought the Confederation to civil war.[4]. The name Zenden or tithings probably came from a very ancient division of the bishop's manors for administrative and judicial purposes. At the head of the Mattertal valley lies Zermatt, a pretty tourist village dominated by views of the Matterhorn (4,478 m). The west part and the most industrial region of the canton is called Chablais. According to a tradition which 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. There are three major rail tunnels at the Simplon (Simplon Tunnel), Lötschberg (Lötschberg Tunnel) and Furka (Furkatunnel) and a road tunnel at the Great St Bernard. 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. The 26 cantons of Switzerland (German: Kanton, French: canton, Italian: cantone, Romansh: chantun) are the member states of the Swiss Confederation.The nucleus of the Swiss Confederacy in the form of the first three confederate allies used to be referred to as the Waldstätte.Two important periods in the development of the Old Swiss Confederacy are summarized by the terms Acht Orte ("Eight Cantons"; … The canton of Valais (UK: /ˈvæleɪ/ VAL-ay, US: /væˈleɪ/ val-AY, French: [valɛ] (listen); German: (Kanton) Wallis [ˈvalɪs] (listen); Italian: (Canton) Vallese [vaˈlːeːze, -eːse]) 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. Valais resisted the Protestant Reformation, remaining faithful to the Roman Catholic Church. These vary from narrow and remote to reasonably populous and popular. This event marks one of the earliest witch scares in late medieval Europe. The phenomenon later spread to other parts of the continent. Can't-miss spots to dine, drink, and feast. Independence was restored in 1813,[5] and on August 4, 1815 Valais finally entered the Swiss confederation as a canton. 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. 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 the Holy Roman Empire. The canton of Valais is widely known for the Matterhorn and resort towns such as Crans-Montana, Saas Fee, Verbier and Zermatt. The resorts on 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 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. more, Canton of Valais Tourism: Best of Canton of Valais. Valais resisted the Protestant Reformation, remaining faithful to the Roman Catholic Church. Zermatt Zermatt is one of the most famous mountain resorts in Switzerland. Only 114 people reported speaking Romansh. There are three major rail tunnels at the Simplon (Simplon Tunnel), Lötschberg (Lötschberg Tunnel) and Furka (Furkatunnel) and a road tunnel at the Great St Bernard. There are also a large number orchards in the area, and saffron is also gathered here. The wide, glacial Rhône valley dominates the area. The canton of Valais (UK: /ˈvæleɪ/ VAL-ay, US: /væˈleɪ/ val-AY, French: [valɛ] (listen); German: (Kanton) Wallis [ˈvalɪs] (listen); Italian: (Canton) Vallese [vaˈlːeːze, -eːse]) 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. "Williamine" production and tourism are some of the main industries of the canton. According to a tradition which 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. At the foot of the Swiss Alps lies Valais, "the valley." The locals became German speaking, though many Romance local names still remain. The Zenden resisted his attempts to gather both spiritual and secular power in the valley. Martigny Martigny is a town in the French-speaking part of Valais. 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 the lords of Raron, those of La Tour-Châtillon, and the counts of Visp. After the small town of Saint-Maurice, the north-eastern banks of the river belong to the canton of Vaud. As of 2007[update], the population included 57,061 foreigners, or about 19.1% of the total population. Europe's tallest gravity dam is located at Grande Dixence in the canton. Valais has a long touristic tradition. 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. Valais is the largest wine region in Switzerland, Official information from Valais/Wallis Promotion, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Canton_of_Valais&oldid=983354040. About the middle of the 13th century, the large communities (Zenden or tithings) began to develop independence and grow in power. The canton is simultaneously one of the driest … In 1628 Valais became a republic, the République des Sept Dizains/Republik der Sieben Zehenden, under the guidance of the prince-bishop of Sion and the bailli. There is no major city located in the canton. In 1845, Valais joined the Catholic separate league (Sonderbund) which led to what is called the Sonderbund War. 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. Many of them, such as César Ritz, spent time and money to satisfy a clientele from around the world. This is to better allay car traffic in the highly scenic Kandertal, and also to provide faster transport through the Bernese Alps from the populous Mittelland in the north to the southern canton of Valais. There are a lot of factories, the most important are the subsidiaries of Novartis and Syngenta, in Monthey. The main valley is bounded by the Bernese Alps in the north and the Pennine Alps in the south. In 1810 the Rhodanic Republic was annexed by Napoleonic France as the département of Simplon. Many of the road passes are well known, such as the Grimsel Pass. The lands from Lake Geneva to the town of St-Maurice are located in the Chablais. [8] The largest towns are the capital Sion (Sitten), Monthey, Sierre, Martigny and Brig-Glis. The old train line still carries traffic particularly road traffic as freight, and has highly scenic sections in both cantons on either side of the old tunnel through the dividing ridgeline, yet is somewhat slower than the new route which has a much longer tunnel section. This event marks one of the earliest witch scares in late medieval Europe. Poster of the event in the comment ⬇️ Dear good morning customers! Arealstatistik Land Cover - Kantone und Grossregionen nach 6 Hauptbereichen, "Ständige und nichtständige Wohnbevölkerung nach institutionellen Gliederungen, Geburtsort und Staatsangehörigkeit", "Liste officielle des communes de la Suisse - 01.01.2008", "Ständige Wohnbevölkerung nach Staatsangehörigkeit, Geschlecht und Kantonen", "Kirchenmitgliedschaft in der römisch-katholischen und evangelisch-reformierten Kirche nach Kantonen (2017)", Nationalratswahlen: Stärke der Parteien nach Kantonen (Schweiz = 100%), Official information from Valais/Wallis Promotion, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Canton_of_Valais&oldid=983354040, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 13 October 2020, at 19:24. In the same century the upper part of the valley was colonized by Germans from Hasli(de) in the Canton of Bern. They had to give up the last three districts in 1477, but won them again in 1536. Photo: Wikimedia, CC0. However two areas are located on the south side of the Alps and are drained by the Po: the valley south of the Simplon Pass and the small area south of the Great St. Bernard Pass. 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 the Holy Roman Empire. With the election of Walther von Supersax of Conches as bishop in 1457, the German-speaking part of the valley finally won the supremacy. On March 12, 1529, Valais became an associate member (Zugewandter Ort) of the Swiss Confederation.[3]. Both networks are extensive and benefit from tourism. Only about half of the total area is considered productive. The German-speaking Zenden spread further into the valley. Following the violence of the Raron affair, the canton was the location of the Valais witch trials between 1428 and 1447 in which at least 367 men and women were put to death. Agriculture is important, particularly cattle breeding in the mountains and dairy farming in the plains. Photo: … In the town of Collombey-Muraz, there is an oil refinery. However two areas are located on the south side of the Alps and are drained by the Po: the valley south of the Simplon Pass and the small area south of the Great St. Bernard Pass. The wine industry of the canton is the largest in Switzerland. During the Raron affair rebellion in 1414 to 1420, some cantons of the Swiss Confederation took sides in the conflict. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. La parola più votata ha 4 lettere e inizia con S After the small town of Saint-Maurice, the north-eastern banks of the river belong to the canton of Vaud. Because of the tourism there are many mountain railways and cable cars in the mountains. 99,000 Swiss Federal troops under General Henri Dufour were faced by 79,000 Separatists, but in the end Valais chose not to fight. Both networks are extensive and benefit from tourism. From 888 onwards the lands were part of the kingdom of Jurane Burgundy. Hydroelectric power plants from the canton produce about a quarter of Swiss electricity. With the election of Walther von Supersax of Conches as bishop in 1457, the German-speaking part of the valley finally won the supremacy. The longest land tunnel in the world, the Lötschberg Base Tunnel, is in operation since late 2007, connecting by rail the town of Frutigen in the Canton of Bern, with the town of Visp in canton Valais/Wallis. [2] As of 2007[update], the population included 57,061 foreigners, or about 19.1% of the total population. The canton is sparsely populated. These vary from narrow and remote to reasonably populous and popular. 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. In 1810 the Rhodanic Republic was annexed by Napoleonic France as the département of Simplon. Its population (as of 31 December 2019) is 345,525. 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. The wine industry of the canton is the largest in Switzerland. Only about half of the total area is considered productive. The canton of Valais (UK: / ˈ v æ l eɪ / VAL-ay, US: / v æ ˈ l eɪ / val-AY, French: ; German: (Kanton) Wallis ; Italian: (Canton) Vallese [vaˈlːeːze, -eːse]) 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. As of 2017, 77% of total population is Roman Catholic, while only 6% are members of Swiss Reformed Church.[9]. Near Visp there is a large aluminium processing plant. Agriculture is important, particularly cattle breeding in the mountains and dairy farming in the plains. 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. Hoteliers were at the base of the development of Valais Tourism. The name Zenden or tithings probably came from a very ancient division of the bishop's manors for administrative and judicial purposes. It is composed of 13 districts (hence the 13 stars on the flag) and its capital is Sion. There are many side valleys branching off the main valley. The Romans called the upper Rhône valley Vallis Poenina. The resorts in the Goms (district) are slightly less known, yet also receive attention during the summer hiking season and the winter ski season. At the outbreak of the Burgundian War in 1475 the bishop of Sion and the Zenden made a treaty with Bern.