Sion, Switzerland

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Coordinates: 46°14′N, 7°22′E

Sion
Country Switzerland Canton Valais District Sion 46°14′N, 7°22′E
Population	27,697  (December 2002)
- Density	1,082 /km² (2,802 /sq.mi.)
Area	25.6 km² (9.9 sq mi)
Elevation	500 m (1,640 ft)
Postal code	1950
SFOS number	6266
Mayor	François Mudry CVP/PDC
Surrounded by (view map)	Ayent, Conthey, Grimisuat, Grône, Les Agettes, Nax, Nendaz, Saint-Léonard, Salins, Savièse, Vernamiège, Vex
Twin towns	Colón (Argentina), Philippi (United States)
Website	www.sion.ch
Sion [zoom]

Grand-Pont, street in the town centre

Sion (German Sitten, Latin Sedunum) is the capital of the Swiss canton of Valais. In 2002, its population was 27,700.

Landmarks include the Basilique de Valère and Château de Tourbillon.

Sion has an airfield for civilian and military use, which, because of its location in a valley, causes a reasonable amount of noise pollution.

FC Sion is the local football side. They currently compete in the Swiss Super League.

[edit] Geography

The city consists of 28,013 habitants as of 31 December 2005. However during the day, more than 55 000 people commute to Sion for work. Situated at the heart of the Rhône valley, Sion is the region's economic centre.

The Château de Valère and the Château de Tourbillon are situated on twin roches moutonnées over looking Sion.

The ancient part of the city is particularly well conserved. In addition to the two Châteaux, a number of other important buildings are found there. Such as, the Château de la Majorie, the Hôtel de Ville and the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Sion.

[edit] History

Sion was occupied during the Neolithic era but it seems to have started to really develop during the Celtic times.

It takes its name from the Latin word Sedunum, itself derived from the celtic tribe that lived there, the Seduni. It was occupied by the Romans with the rest of the surrounding area in the first century BCE. The town-hall is said to contain several Roman inscriptions, one of which found at Sion memorializes the Roman presence: Civitas Sedunorum Patrono.

The Roman Catholic diocese of Sion is the oldest in Switzerland and one of the oldest north of the Alps.

Sion lost to Turin, Italy in its bid to host the 2006 Winter Olympics. Sion also bid for the 2002 Winter Olympics, which it lost to Salt Lake City, and the 1976 Winter Olympics, which it lost to Denver (the games were re-assigned to Innsbruck when Denver residents voted down additional funding).

[edit] Politics

The municipal council is the executive power in the commune. Its 15 members, non-permanent except the President, are elected every 4 years by the people.

The commune of Sion comprises also of a counsel of public rights of the medieval commune, the Burgeoisie. Who protect the rights of the original inhabitants against new inhabitants. The counsel is made up of 7 people : a president, a vice-president and five counsellors.

[edit] Economy

The tertiary sector is the main economic sector in Sion, mainly due to the presence of the cantons administration, the Valaisan parliament and the cantons courthouse. Tourism is also an important sector due to its historic château's and museums.

The secondary sector is also represented.

The primary sector, although marginalised, is ever present. Sion is the third largest wine making region in Switzerland, however, the valuable agricultural land and vineyards are undergoing constant regression due to the process of urbanisation.

Sion has also become an important medical site. The Sion-Region hospital is situated here next to the central institute of Valaisan hospitals and the Romande clinic for physical rehabilitation (SUVA).

Finally the commune hosts a waste incinerator which disposes of the waste from 44 surrounding communes. This incinerator is equipped with a catalytic converter which lowers the levels of NOx emissions below acceptable levels. In addition, the heat created from the combustion is converted into electrical energy which is then provided to local communes.

[edit] Airshows

Public Airshows have been held at the airfield of Sion. Participated Aerobatic teams have been for example the Frecce Tricolori from Italy was well as the Patrouille de France.

[edit] Media

Notre Dame de Valère above the city

Sion is host to a number of newspapers, television and radio stations. Such as :

• Le Nouvelliste, a daily Valaisan paper printed in Sion;
• Canal 9, regional Valaisan television;
• Rhône FM, private Valaisan radio;
• TSR, the re-emission of public Swiss television.

[edit] Schools

Sion has two high schools (colleges)

• the Lycée-Collège des Creusets (LCC);
• the Lycée-Collège de la Planta (LCP).

Sion is also host to the :

• Cantonal agricultural school, situated between Châteauneuf and Sion;
• A circus school;
• A jazz school;
• HES-SO Valais, a technical college;
• HEM Valais (Conservatoire Supérieur et Académie de Musique Tibor Varga}.

The HES-SO Valais offers education in Sciences, Engineering, Economics, Information Technology and Health Sciences.

[edit] Transport

Sion is situated on the main railway line, the motorway and also has an airport (Sion Airport).

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography by William Smith (1856).

[edit] External links

• The Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sion.
• Official website (German) (French)
• Tourism guide

v • d • e Municipalities in the district of Sion, Switzerland Arbaz | Grimisuat | Salins | Savièse | Sion | Veysonnaz Valais | Districts of Canton Valais | Municipalities of the canton of Valais