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Valais / Wallis canton (Switzerland)

by António Martins

Description of the flag
Symbolism of the flag
History of the flag
- 1498-1628 Valais flag
Flaggen, Knatterfahnen, and livery colours

See also:

Description of the flag

Per pale argent and gules, thirteen mullets of five: in each field four in pale and five on the palar line, all countercoloured.

Divided vertically into equal parts white (hoist) and red (fly). In the white field and four red five-pointed stars arranged vertically. In the red field are four white five-pointed stars arranged vertically. A third row of five stars straddles the dividing line, each star half red and half white opposite to the field colour. The stars all have one point directed toward the top of the flag. They are often incorrectly depicted fimbriated in black.

Symbolism of the flag

Red and white are the colours of the Bishop of Sion, the dominant power in Valais until very recent times. The thirteen stars represent the thirteen districts (Zehnden) of Valais, a number that has remained constant since 1815 when Valais joined the Swiss Confederation.

History of the flag

Valais, straddling the upper Rhone valley, was an important territory to the ancient Romans due to the mountains passes linking Italy to transalpine Europe. The monastery of St. Maurice, named for a Roman Christian officer martyred in Valais, was founded in 390. Valais was initially hostile to the Swiss Confederation but became