Valais

American  

[va-le, va-ley] / vaˈlɛ, væˈleɪ /

noun

1. a canton in SW Switzerland. 2,021 sq. mi. (5,235 sq. km). Sion.

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Valais British  

/ valɛ /

noun

1. German name: Wallis.  a canton of S Switzerland: includes the entire valley of the upper Rhône and the highest peaks in Switzerland; produces a quarter of Switzerland's hydroelectricity. Capital: Sion. Pop: 281 000 (2002 est). Area: 5231 sq km (2020 sq miles)

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Example Sentences

Valais canton police said investigators had identified the remains of a Swiss woman of 21, a man of 18, as well as a girl of 16 and a boy of 16.

From Barron's • Jan. 3, 2026

Mathias Reynard, president of the Valais region, said around 50 injured people "have been transferred or will be transferred soon to European countries in specialised centres for severe burns".

From BBC • Jan. 2, 2026

“Everything suggests that the fire started from incandescent candles or sparklers attached to champagne bottles, brought too close to the ceiling,” said Beatrice Pilloud, attorney general for Valais, the Swiss canton where the fire occurred.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

On Friday, Béatrice Pilloud, the attorney-general of the Valais region, said everything led investigators to believe the fire had started from sparklers attached to bottles of champagne that were "moved too close to the ceiling".

From BBC • Jan. 2, 2026

The world’s oldest playable organ, in the basilica of Valere in the canton of Valais in Switzerland, was built some time between 1390 and 1435.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall