プフィン＝ファンジュ自然公園
Intro
ヴァレー州の中心部、ローヌ川が流れるローヌ渓谷沿いに広がる自然公園。ロイクやガンペルなどのドイツ語圏とシエールなどのフランス語圏にまたがるプフィン森（独語）／ファンジュ森（仏語）の両言語の名前を冠しています。エリア内では言語圏も変化していきますが、気候や土壌、動植物の生息環境など驚くほど多様な自然とそこで育まれてきた文化が他にはない最大の特徴。アルプス最大級のヨーロッパアカマツの森を中心に、アルプスの氷河から斜面に広がるブドウ畑、湿地から岩がちなステップ（乾燥草原）、伝統の山小屋から古城、のどかな山村から魅力的な小都市まで、変化に富んだ景観で訪れる人々を魅了します。
Pfyn-Finges extends from Gampel to Sierre and from the terraced vineyards near Salgesch to the Bishorn. The nature park’s twelve towns and villages are spread over 279 square kilometers and are situated between 500 meters and 4,153 meters above sea level.
Thanks to its dry climate and hot summers, Central Valais exhibits an extraordinary variety of species – a variety reminiscent of Mediterranean conditions. Besides the climate, diverse dynamic processes influence the natural landscape: debris flow, landslides, fire and, naturally, the wild Rhone River with its landscape of pastures and meadows.
The Pfynwald conservation area forms the centrepiece of the Regional Nature Park. It includes of the largest continuous pine forests in the Alps, an important protected wetland area with uniquely diverse wildlife and plants as well as an amphibian breeding site of national importance.
Besides natural gems such as the Turtmann Valley with the Barrhorn, Switzerland’s highest hiking mountain, or the rocky steppes of Leuk, the Pfyn-Finges Nature Park includes also one of the country’s most important wine growing. In addition, it boasts such cultural treasures as the Castle of Leuk, renovated by Mario Botta.
The Salgesch Natural History and Countryside Centre is the administrative headquarters of the nature park. This 300-year-old commandery of the Knights of St. John has been renovated and attached to a modern building that houses the park's reception and shop. An exhibition, multi-purpose room and library can be found in the former barn.
