Moving to Valais

The Canton of Valais is a unique territory in Switzerland, stretching along the Rhone Valley from the Rhone Glacier in the east to Lake Geneva in the west. With over 350,000 inhabitants across approximately 120 municipalities, this bilingual canton (French in the Lower Valais, German in the Upper Valais) offers an exceptional living environment between fertile plains and alpine peaks rising above 4,000 metres. Its capital, Sion, is the sunniest city in Switzerland with over 2,000 hours of sunshine a year.

Valais is the third-largest canton in Switzerland by area, but the majority of its territory is uninhabitable mountains. The population is concentrated mainly in the Rhone plain (from Brig to Monthey) and in the major tourist resorts. The canton attracts new residents each year, drawn by the quality of life, stunning landscapes, property costs more moderate than the neighbouring Lake Geneva arc, and excellent rail connections (the Lotschberg Base Tunnel links Valais to Bern in 1 hour).

Why move to Valais?

Valais has unique advantages that explain its growing appeal:

• Exceptional quality of life: record sunshine, renowned vineyards, gastronomy (raclette, fondue, fendant), rich culture and living traditions
• Affordable property: prices on the plains are generally more moderate than in Geneva or Lausanne, offering space and greenery
• Improved connections: the Lotschberg Base Tunnel (2007) brought Valais closer to Bern and German-speaking Switzerland; the A9 motorway links Monthey to Brig
• World-famous resorts: Zermatt, Verbier, Crans-Montana, Saas-Fee, Nendaz attract residents and investors
• Diversified economy: chemical and pharmaceutical industry (Lonza in Visp), hydroelectricity, tourism, agriculture and viticulture

The challenges of moving in Valais

Alpine geography and access

Valais is dominated by the Alps. Moves in the lateral valleys (Val d’Herens, Val d’Anniviers, Val d’Entremont, Lotschental) require adapted vehicles and good knowledge of the winding mountain roads, sometimes narrow with steep gradients.

Certain resorts present unique challenges:

• Zermatt is entirely car-free: the move must be done by Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn train or by authorised electric shuttle, which makes the move more complex and longer
• Saas-Fee heavily restricts vehicle traffic in the resort
• Perched villages like Chandolin (2,000 m), Grimentz or Evolene are reached by winding single-track roads in places

Bilingualism

Valais is a bilingual canton, with French dominant in the Lower Valais (from Monthey to Sierre) and German in the Upper Valais (from Leuk to Goms). The language border lies at the Raspille, between Sierre and Leuk. It is important to choose a mover who can communicate in your language.

Harsh winter conditions

In winter, mountain roads can be snow-covered, icy or temporarily closed. Alpine passes (Simplon, Grand-Saint-Bernard, Nufenen) are closed for several months a year. Mountain resort moves are strongly recommended between May and October.

Second homes

Valais has one of the largest stocks of second homes in Switzerland, in ski resorts (Verbier, Crans-Montana, Anzere, Nendaz, Thyon, Veysonnaz). Moves to these properties present specific constraints: limited access, scarce parking and tourist crowds at certain times.

Moving services in Valais

• Residential moving: full service, from a small resort studio to a large family chalet
• Commercial moving: offices, shops, hotels and tourist establishments
• Free, no-obligation quote: easily compare offers from several professional movers in your area
• Professional packing: careful packing with protective materials suited to mountain transport
• Storage: secure storage on the plain (Sion, Martigny, Monthey) for your belongings
• Furniture lift: essential in many mountain chalets and buildings
• Specialist mountain transport: vehicles adapted to alpine roads and difficult access
• End-of-lease cleaning: property restoration to Valais standards

What affects the price of a move in Valais

The price depends on the volume to move, the distance, floors and access, the use of a furniture lift, packing, the date and any added services. In Valais, moves at altitude or in resorts with restricted access add further complexity. The movers who contact you will prepare a free, no-obligation quote based on your situation.

Factors specific to Valais

• Altitude: every additional metre of altitude increases the difficulty and cost
• Accessibility: single-track roads, tight bends, low tunnels, weight restrictions
• Season: in winter, road conditions require special equipment and extend travel times
• Distance: Valais stretches over 150 km from east to west; Monthey-Brig = 1 hr 30 by road
• Property type: wooden chalets often have narrow staircases and non-vehicular access

Main towns and municipalities in Valais

• Sion: cantonal capital (~35,000 pop.), in the heart of the Rhone Valley, dominated by the castles of Valere and Tourbillon, sunniest city in Switzerland
• Martigny: road and rail junction (~20,000 pop.), access to the Grand-Saint-Bernard pass, Gianadda Foundation
• Monthey: largest town in the Chablais Valaisan (~18,000 pop.), chemical industry, close to the Vaud border
• Sierre: bilingual town (~17,000 pop.), gateway to the Val d’Anniviers and Crans-Montana, renowned vineyards
• Visp: centre of the Upper Valais (~8,000 pop.), rail junction towards Zermatt and Saas-Fee, Lonza headquarters
• Brig-Glis: German-speaking town (~13,000 pop.), access to the Simplon Tunnel towards Italy
• Naters: neighbouring municipality to Brig (~10,000 pop.), significant residential development
• Collombey-Muraz: developing Chablais municipality (~9,000 pop.)
• Conthey: wine-growing municipality on the outskirts of Sion (~8,500 pop.)
• Fully: wine-growing municipality between Martigny and Sion (~9,000 pop.)

Services available in Valais

For your move in Valais, professional movers in your area offer all the services you need:

• Residential moving: the most requested service
• Commercial moving: hotels, restaurants, offices
• International moving: to Italy via the Simplon, to France via the Grand-Saint-Bernard
• Free quote request: compare and save

Tips for moving in Valais

1. Choose the right season: for a mountain move, prefer the period from May to October
2. Get information on access: some villages are reachable only by narrow roads or cable cars
3. Allow plenty of time: distances in Valais are deceptive — the Monthey-Brig journey takes over 1 hr 30 by motorway
4. Compare offers: prices vary considerably between the plain and the mountains
5. Check restrictions: some municipalities impose delivery hours or weight restrictions on communal roads
6. Protect your belongings: altitude and winding roads require careful securing and reinforced packing
7. Book early for resorts: mountain-specialist movers are in high demand between May and October, so contact them as early as possible, especially around the lease termination dates
8. Plan the cleaning: even in Valais, property managers require an impeccable property at handover

FAQ — Moving in Valais

Request your free quote for a move in Valais

Whether you are leaving the Rhone plain for a mountain resort or settling in a Valais town, request your free quote: your request is passed to professional movers in your area, who contact you with a free, no-obligation quote.

Professional movers in the area cover Valais, from the Chablais to the Upper Valais, through the lateral valleys and tourist resorts.