Sion: Château de Tourbillon
Château de Tourbillon is best known within Valais for its 13th-century fortress crowning a rocky hill above Sion. Built for the bishops of Sion, it formed part of the medieval city’s defensive system and was abandoned after a fire in 1788; its curtain walls and square tower still mark the ridge. Across the saddle stands the fortified Basilica of Valère, creating Sion’s defining pair of historic hilltops. Below them, Sion spreads across the broad Rhône valley, the principal east–west corridor through central Valais. Vineyards on the surrounding slopes reflect the canton’s long-established wine-growing tradition.
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Sion combines a compact medieval core with a broad Alpine valley setting in a way that reflects its position as the capital of Valais. The Rhône runs through the valley below two defining hills: the ruins of Château de Tourbillon and the fortified Basilique de Valère. Valère contains an organ dating from the 15th century, regarded as the world’s oldest playable organ. Known in Roman times as Sedunum, Sion has long been an important settlement on routes through the Alps. Vineyards climb the dry, sun-facing slopes around the city, linking its urban centre to one of Switzerland’s major wine regions. Continue through nearby webcams to explore different parts of Sion and the Rhône Valley.
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Valais combines high-alpine terrain with vineyard-lined valley life in a way that reflects its position between the Rhône Valley and the Pennine Alps. These coordinates lie in the Val d’Anniviers, a side valley where the Navizence flows north towards the Rhône and long-settled communities occupy slopes beneath high peaks. Across the canton, mountain pastures, glaciers and celebrated summits shape daily life as much as the broad, productive valley floor. Valais is also Switzerland’s leading wine-producing canton, and its historic bisses—open irrigation channels—show how generations adapted dry sunny slopes for cultivation. Browse additional webcams from the surrounding area to extend your view of Valais.
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Switzerland stretches from the Jura Mountains in the northwest to the Alps in the south, encompassing a central plateau of cities, farms and lakes. The Rhine rises in the Swiss Alps, while Lake Geneva forms part of the country’s southwestern border. Zürich, Geneva and Basel are major urban centres, yet mountain railways and passes remain central to how many regions are experienced. Four national languages—German, French, Italian and Romansh—reflect Switzerland’s distinct cantonal identities. The Matterhorn above Zermatt is among Europe’s most recognisable peaks, and the 1291 Federal Charter is closely associated with the country’s founding tradition. Continue through nearby webcams to explore different parts of Switzerland.
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