Sion, Switzerland

History

Sion is a town in Switzerland in the beautiful Rhône valley. It is the capital of the canton of Valais. Many people live there, about 34,978.

The town has grown over time by joining with nearby areas. In 1968, Bramois joined Sion. Later, Salins joined in 2013 and Les Agettes in 2017.

Sion has an airfield. It is used for flights for people and for important air rescue work.

Landmarks

Sion has many interesting places to see, such as the Basilique de Valère and the Château de Tourbillon. These landmarks show the town's rich history.

History

Sion is a very important place from long ago in Europe. People lived there as far back as 6200 BC, during the late Mesolithic time. Early Neolithic farmers came to Sion around 5800 BC. Over many years, the town grew, and by about 4500 BC, people were farming and taking care of animals all through the valley. They buried their dead in stone boxes with special carved stones.

Later, during the time of the Celts, Sion was the main town of the Seduni tribe. The Romans took over the area in the 10s BC and called the town Sedunum. They built many things there, like baths and houses, and some of these can still be found in Sion today.

Necropolis at Le Petit-Chasseur

Sion became a special place for religion when the Catholic diocese was set up there. The first cathedral was built in the 6th century, and the town grew as the bishop lived there. In 999, the bishop was given control of all of Valais, and Sion became the capital.

During the Middle Ages, Sion created its own city rules and freedoms. By the 14th century, Sion had city walls, a market, and its own group of leaders. Even though the city faced some wars and attacks, it kept many of its rights.

In more recent times, Sion has been a quiet and peaceful place. It has tried to host the Winter Olympics many times but was not chosen. Archaeologists have found interesting old things, like stones that were standing up from around 2,500 BC.

Geography

Vineyards outside Sion and Sion town

Sion covers an area of 34.86 km² (13.46 sq mi). Much of the land is used for growing crops, while some areas have forests. Some parts have buildings and roads, and a small part is not useful for growing.

Sion is one of the driest and sunniest places in Switzerland, with about 82 days of rain or snow each year. December is the wettest month, while April is the driest. The climate is warm and humid, classified as "Cfb" on climate maps.

Coat of arms

Panorama of Sion

The coat of arms of Sion has a special design. It is split into two parts. The top part is silver with two red five-pointed stars, and the bottom part is red. This design shows the town's special identity and history.

Demographics

Grand-Pont, street in the town center

Sion has 34,978 people. Many people in Sion are from other countries, making up almost 27% of the population. Most people speak French, with smaller groups speaking German, Portuguese, Italian, and Romansh.

About a quarter of the people are children and teenagers, while most are adults. There are many married people, along with some who are single, divorced, or widows/widowers. The town has many homes, most of which are lived in all year, with fewer used for holidays or left empty.

Historic population

Sion, Switzerland, has grown over time. A chart shows how the number of people living there has changed through the years. This helps us see how the town has developed and become more populated.

Politics

Sion has a municipal council with 15 members. The people elect these members every four years. The council helps make decisions for the town.

Sion also has a special group called the Bourgeoisie. This group has seven people, including a president, a vice-president, and five counselors. They help protect the rights of the original inhabitants.

In elections, different parties can be popular. For example, in the 2015 federal election, the most popular party was the CVP, followed by the FDP, the SVP, and the SP. Many people choose to vote in these elections.

Economy

Sion and the Rhône

The main economic activity in Sion happens in the tertiary sector, which includes services. This is mostly because of the local government offices, the Valaisan parliament, and the canton's courthouse. Tourism is also very important, thanks to Sion's historic castles and museums.

Sion is the third largest place for making wine in Switzerland. However, there is less space for farming and vineyards now because of growing cities. Sion is also a key place for healthcare, with a large hospital and a clinic for physical rehabilitation. The town also has a waste facility that safely disposes of trash from many nearby areas and uses the heat from burning waste to make electricity.

Heritage sites of national significance

Sion has 14 important buildings and places that are protected. These include museums, old castles, churches, and the remains of a very old village.

One special feature of Sion is its old town, with two hills that have important churches and castles. The Valère Basilica on one hill has the oldest working organ in the world, made in the 1400s.

Airshows

Public air shows happen at the airfield in Sion. Famous aerobatic teams like the Frecce Tricolori from Italy and the Patrouille de France have performed there.

Sport

Sion is a great place for sports! The football club FC Sion plays in the Swiss Super League. Their home games are at the Stade Tourbillon. The city’s main ice hockey team is HCV Sion. They play in the Swiss Premiere League at the Ancien Stand arena.

In 2021, Sion opened a special surfing wave pool made by Wavegarden. This was the first of its kind in mainland Europe. Sion has tried to host the Olympics in many years.

Media

Sion has newspapers, television, and radio stations. One newspaper is Le Nouvelliste. It is printed in Sion every day. The town has its own television station called Canal 9. There is also a private radio station named Rhône FM. Sion can also watch public Swiss television through TSR.

Education

In Sion, many people study for more years after basic school. Some go to upper secondary school, and others go to university or a similar school. Most of these students are Swiss men, followed by Swiss women and people from other countries.

Sion has many places to learn and read. There are four libraries in the town with many books and things to explore. The town also has special schools. These include two main high schools, a school for farming, a circus school, a jazz school, and a technical university. These schools help students learn many different subjects, from science to music.

Transport

Sion has a railway station with trains going to Geneva, Milan, Venice, and other places in Switzerland. The city is on the E62 motorway. Sion Airport has only a few flights, so the nearest big airport is Geneva Airport, about 160 km (99 mi) west of the city.

Religion

In the year 2000, most people in Sion were Roman Catholic. About 78% belonged to this church. Another 4% were part of the Swiss Reformed Church. Smaller groups followed Islamic beliefs, Jewish faith, Buddhist practices, and Hindu traditions. Some people did not belong to any church or did not answer questions about their beliefs.

Crime

In 2014, Sion had more crimes than the average for Switzerland. There were also more crimes related to drugs. But crimes about immigration and work permits were less common in Sion than in the rest of the country.

Notable people

Sion has been home to many interesting people throughout history. Some well-known figures include Saint Theodore of Octodurum, a patron saint of the region, and Saint Guarinus of Sitten, a bishop from the middle ages. More recent notable individuals include Micheline Calmy-Rey, a politician who served as president of Switzerland, and Jean Zermatten, a lawyer who works to protect children’s rights around the world.

In sports, Sion has produced athletes like Sophie Lamon, who won a silver medal in fencing at the 2000 Summer Olympics, and football players such as Marco Pascolo and Johnny Leoni, both of whom played for the Swiss national team.

Twin towns

Sion has partnerships with several cities around the world. These partnerships help the cities learn from each other and work together on important projects. The cities twinned with Sion are: