CENTERED upon the Alps and located in the heart of Europe, Switzerland is a holiday world with abundant natural beauty, leisure and pleasure activities.

The mountains are always irresistible to people, but the water is the most attractive part of Valais, in south-eastern Switzerland.

Valais is a remarkable water world, with glaciers, rivers, thermal springs and lakes. So following the International Year of the Mountain last year, it is now the turn of water to be honoured in "The Year of Water."

Water is omnipresent in Valais, from babbling brooks cascading merrily downhill, to the tranquil, mirrored surface of a mountain lake reflecting majestic summits capped with eternal snow.

The healing power of water has been known since antiquity, and in Valais tourists can recover their lost energy and get back in shape in thermal springs or health spa centres.

A couple of famous spa resorts and thermal health centres, including Breiten, Leukerbad, Ovronnaz and Saillon, provide tourists with everything to facilitate relaxation and a sense of well-being.

Besides, tourists can enjoy a lot of sports and fun in this mountain area: paragliding, bungee jumping, skiing, water skiing, golf, sailing, horse riding, and even donkey riding.

For hikers, the Valaisan landscape is a paradise: numerous peaks soaring to over 4,000 metres, impressive glaciers, deep gorges and a network of over 9,000 kilometres of hiking trials.

Each year from March to October, the ancient traditional cow contests inspire passionate enthusiasm and regional pride.

Crowds flock form near and far in their thousands to watch cows battling for the final winner's crown.

Wine producing has been a tradition in Valais for over 1,000 years and Valais is by far the largest wine-growing region in Switzerland.

The vines that cling to the steep slopes of the Rhone Valley flourish up to an altitude of 800 metres above sea level and even higher.

The climate, with its abundant sunshine, no fog, rare rain and mild temperatures, often accompanied by a warm wind, makes this place particularly suitable for wine growing and the maturation of grapes.

Last but not least, the ice caverns in Belvedere are an ideal place to explore the inner world of glaciers.

(Star News)