Valais Alps (Matterhorn / Dufourspitze)

(Local Name: Waliser Alpen) The Valais Alps (German-Waliser Alpen; French-Alpes Valaisiennes) lie between the Upper Rhône valley and the Italian river Dora Baltea. The Swiss-Italian frontier runs along the main ridge of the massif which forms part of the southern Swiss Alps.

The principal valleys in the Valais Alps are accessible on side roads opening off the main road along the Rhône valley. Two important north-south routes run through the massif, over the Great St Bernard, in the west and the Simplon pass in the east. Rising to well over 4,000 m/13,124ft, the range includes some of the mightiest peaks in Switzerland, including the Matterhorn (4,478 m/14,692ft) and the Monte Rosa group, with the Dufourspitze (4,634 m/15,204ft), the country's highest mountain. One notable man-made feature is the artificial lake of Grand-Dixence in a grandiose mountain setting. The beauties of the Valais Alps were discovered by tourists relatively early. The best-known resorts are Zermatt and Saas Fee, but in recent years a number of other resorts such as Verbier, Grimentz and Zinal have developed into popular winter sports areas.