In the Pfyn-Finges Regional Nature Park there are as many dialects spoken as there are stars in the Valais emblem. The little stream “Raspille” between Salgesch and Sierre forms the language border between German and French.

The Canton of Valais is one of the three bilingual cantons of Switzerland. Or perhaps one should rather say that the Valais is a canton with two language areas? 

The little Raspille River and the Forest of Pfyn-Finges separate the Upper and Lower Valais and at the same time form the German-French language border. The legendary Forest of Pfyn-Finges was considered to be dangerous in former days because of the many robbers and highwaymen, and this made exchange between the two canton halves difficult. Nevertheless, the language border did not always run where it is today. Up to the end of the 19th century the town of Sierre was mainly German-speaking and even the Capital of Sion had a large German-speaking contingent. On the other hand, the countryside population spoke predominantly dialect or Franco-Provençal patois. While patois is unfortunately being continually less spoken, Valais-German is and remains the proud characteristic of the Upper Valais inhabitants.