Wintertime in Valais

Dear Journalists,

Valais offers a wide range of activities tailored to the needs of children and parents alike, making it the family paradise par excellence. Families particularly enjoy travelling to the region to ski, hike and sledge, but the Valais winter also scores points with a centuries-old carnival tradition and the legend of Barry the St Bernard dog.

Would you like to find out more? Don’t hesitate to contact us: we would be delighted to provide you with further information or organise interviews.

Valais Skisafari

The new Valais Skisafari is a winter holiday package aimed at snow sports enthusiasts, available from this winter. Every day, guests will explore a new ski area. The basic package of the Valais Skisafari comprises five nights’ accommodation and a “Snowpass Flexdays” lift pass for four days. The extended package also includes a rental car and hire of high-quality ski equipment. If customers wish, they can also book a ski instructor or mountain guide to accompany them on their skisafari adventure.

Cholera – the recipe from Valais for winter

Despite its unusual name, this vegetable pie is harmless. There are numerous stories around the origin of the name “Cholera”. One explanation is that the dish dates back to the time when cholera broke out in Valais and the trade and exchange of food was banned due to the risk of infection. The hearty pie was made from what peasant households had to hand: flour, onions, leeks, apples, potatoes and cheese. Another interpretation suggests the German word “Kohle” – “Chola” in Valais – as the source for the name, because the pan with the cholera on it was placed on charcoal for baking. In fact, “Cholära” in Valais is also a term for the open anteroom in the bakery where the coals were collected in a pit in front of the oven door.

First experiences on skis or a snowboard

Many ski areas in Valais have special facilities such as children’s snow zones or the Swiss Snow Kids Villages run by Swiss Ski Schools. In some cases, the venues are located in the heart of the resort and allow very young children to get their first taste of snow sports free of charge. Some resorts also offer special rates for beginners.

Valais carnival traditions

Wintertime means carnival time in Valais. Many villages and valleys celebrate their own centuries-old customs and traditions during carnival. Figures in unusual costumes try to banish winter and evil spirits. In the Lötschental valley, for example, fearsome creatures known as “Tschäggättä” roam the streets decked out in pelts and gruesome hand-carved masks. And in Evolène, strange straw men and mysterious creatures dressed in fur can be spotted in the villages of the region between Epiphany and Carnival Tuesday.

Fondation Barry

Barry, the famous St Bernard dog, is best known for his role as an avalanche rescue dog at the hospice on the Great St Bernard Pass. He is said to have saved more than 40 lives.

The Augustinian monks at the hospice on the Great St Bernard Pass started breeding the legendary St Bernards in the late 17th century. For centuries, they searched the pass route twice a day for lost or injured travellers.

More recently, the Fondation Barry in Martigny, founded in 2005, has taken over the breeding and care of the famous St Bernards from the hospice. And the foundation’s remit is very broad: Barryland in Martigny is the world’s first living museum devoted to St Bernards. The first floor is dedicated to the history of the Great St Bernard Pass, its hospices and dogs. “Barry Family” on the second floor is an entertaining interactive exhibition. In April 2018, the foundation opened the multimedia Barry Theatre for children.