Switzerland (in french :  « Suisse » and « Confédération Helvétique » - CH) came into being on August 1st 1291 through the signing of a « Perpetual Alliance » between three cantons : Uri, Schwyz and Unterwald in a moutainside meadow called the Grütli. They swore to unite in order to free themselves from the Habsburg yoke.

The national hero, William Tell, according to the legend refused to recognize the authority of the Habsburgs over the region. Arrested, he was sentenced to pierce with an arrow an apple placed on his son’ s head. A confirmed marksman, he emerged victorious from the trial.

Other towns and regions joined the 3 « primitive » cantons. Today the country is made up of 26 cantons, with Berne the capital.

Situated at the heart of Europe, Switzerland has borders with Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein. Surface : approx. 41,300 km2.

Set in the Alps, with summits of 4000 m, Canton Valais is at the crossroads of the main mountain passes linking Switzerland to Italy and France. So it is at the same time a mountainous, commercial and touristic region.

Switzerland is a confederation – that is, an association of sovereign States (the cantons) delegating certain tasks to a common organism (the Confederation). Thus each canton has its own legislation, form of government and tribunals.

• The « Assurance maladie de base » (basic insurance) is obligatory (according to the present law called LAMal).
• There exist more than a hundred different insurance companies (« Caisses »). Your employer may offer you a collective insurance policy, which you are entitled to refuse.
• You may be offered several types of « franchise ». The higher the amount, the lower the premium.
• The complementary sickness insurances are optional and may be taken out with an insurance company other than the one chosen for the basic insurance.

• Salaried workers are automatically insured with te LAA.
• If you are not working, you must include your accident insurance in your sickness insurance contract.
• Complementary insurances may also be taken out.

• Every motor vehicle must have an RC insurance, an insurance covering damage and third party damage.
• Other types of insurance exist, non-obligatory but frequently useful. These include household insurance (« assurance ménage ») and legal aid (« protection juridique »). You can obtain advice from an insurancee agent.

Assurance vieillesse et survivants = old age pension and pension
granted to widows, widowers and orphans.

Assurance invalidité. « Invalidity » = partial or total work incapability

over a long period. Monthly premium of 5,05% of gross salary, deducted by the employer.
If out of work, annual premium due is a minimum of Fr. 425.--. You must present your AVS insurance certificate (grey card) to the « caisse de compensation » (=office dealing with tax affairs).

• Obligatory for all wage-earners.
• Dues deducted from salary.
• Complements AVS offer : following retirement, you are insured in case of death, invalidity/infirmity, death of spouse or of parent (in the case of minors).

A service called « coordination de la petite enfance » (027/721.26.87) places children 0-12 years in the « communal » (= local) day nurseries and day-care centers.

Schooling is obligatory for all children 6-15 (9 years’ schooling). The school year begins end of August and finishes end of June ; it includes various days off and holidays throughout the year. A timetable is given to all pupils at the beginning of term.

• children 4-12 : local schools, called « enfantines » and « primaires ».
  secretariat (new school building in town center) : rue des écoles 7 -   Tél. 027/721.24.00
• children 12-15 :  two high school in Martigny called « cycle d’orientation », non – specialized :

For information regarding all forms of higher education, apply to :

Rue du Collège 5
1920 Martigny
tél : 027/721.75.61

Every person taking up residence in the Commune has to register with the C.d.h. within 14 days.

Aliens arriving in Switzerland with a view to working must register with the B.d.é. before starting their job, for which they require a work permit.
This is issued by the Etat du Valais (= State offices), the decision being made by the Service cantonal des étrangers and the Service cantonal du travail.

Any change in status – marital, name, employer – or change of domicile, has to be reported to the C.d.h.

As each Swiss Commune is independent, it is necessary, upon change of Commune, to register with your new Commune.

Permits L and B are taxed at the source (deductible from salary and payable by the employer).
For EU nationals and members of the AELE, Permits B,C and G are generally valid 5 years.
For other aliens, Permit B is valid 1 year and C, 3 years. Permit G (commuters) does not exist for them.

When taking up domicile in Martigny, you have to register with « Synergy Martigny SA » for the payment of your eletricity bill and, if you wish, for being linked to the radio and television networks, also the internet.

Sinergy SA
Rue du Simplon 4 B
Tél : 027/721.25.00

Every household possessing a radio and/or a television set must pay dues to Billag.

You may rent your apartment from an individual or an agency (« régie immobilière »)

It is important to make an initial survey (called « un état des lieux d’entrée ») , an agreement signed by you and the proprietor or agency. This will save you trouble when you leave the apartment.

The duration of a lease for rented accomodation is normally one year, renewable by tacit agreement.

More and more frequently, a rent guarantee deposit is required. It can be paid by bank transfer or by warranty. The sum required is the equivalent, maximum, of 3 months rent and remains blocked until the lease is terminated.

ASLOCA (association suisse des locataires)
Rue du l'Industrie 10 – 1950 Sion
tél : 027/322.92.49

As the Valais is a Roman Catholic canton, public holidays largely correspond to RC religious feasts and holy days.

• January 1 : New Year’s Day
• March 19 : St Joseph’s Day
• end May (date varies) : Ascension Day
• mid-June (date varies) : Corpus Christi
• August 1 : Swiss National Day
• August 15 : Assumption of Our Lady
• November 1 : All Saints Day
• December 8 : Immaculate Conception of Our Lady
• December 25 : Christmas Day

• Thursday mornings : market at the Place Centrale.
• February-March (dates vary) : Carnival (feast of the end of winter), 1 week, procession Saturday and Sunday, various entertainments, held in Martigny-Bourg.
• 5 Continents Festival (end June) , Place Centrale.
• Foire du Valais (Valaisan Fair) held in CERM for 10 days, all trades represented.
• Knie Circus : Wednesday and Thursday mid-October, every year.
• Octodurus Corrida (=running race) : town center, November.
• Foire du Lard (literally « Bacon Fair ») : first Monday in December, in the Martigny - Bourg old street, big market.
• Christmas Market : end December, Place Centrale.

In an even year, during the first week in August, a folkloric festival known as the FIFO is held in the CERM, and groups perform on the Place Centrale and on the Place du Bourg.

Minimum wages and work conditions are fixed by « conventions collectives » (collective agreements) or formal contracts.

Office communal du Travail
Mon-Fri 8a.m.-12noon
Avenue du Grand-St-Bernard 4
1920 Martigny
Tél. no : 027/721.22.50

Individual freedom, human rights, democracy and neutrality are Switzerland’s traditional and fundamental values.

The two main Christian denominations, Catholic and Protestant, are roughly evenly represented, but religious freedom is guaranteed.

Equality of the sexes is written into the Swiss Constitution, and children’s rights are recognized and respected, e.g. it is prohibited to force children to work, to mistreat them ; choice of spouse is free, likewise of trade, of religion, of political party, etc.

Thus a fine may be imposed, even a prison sentence, for acts of a racist or sexist nature or reflecting a rejection of a group, a minority…….

With a Catholic majority, the Valais honors Catholic feast-days as public holidays and Sundays, as days of rest, favorable for family lunches or strolls. So kindly avoid making a noise that would upset the neighbors on those days.

Disturbance of the peace at night is also unwelcome. No noise please after 10 p.m.
If you are going to receive guests, kindly inform your next-door neighbors a few days beforehand.

Everybody wishing to drive a motor vehicle must possess a driving license.

A learner’s license conveys the right to drive with a driving instructor, or accompanied by a person possessing a driving license for more than 3 years and aged minimum 23.

In Switzerland, the speed limit is 50 km/h in town, 80 km/h on cantonal roads (blue roadsign) and 120 km/h on the freeways (motorways) (green roadsign).

Safety belts are obligatory for all passengers. Children under 7 have to be strapped into a special baby-seat at the back of the vehicle, in accordance with safety standards. (Info : bureau TCS at the Tourist Office).

For « two-wheelers », including moped riders, a helmet is obligatory.

The alcohol level in the blood must not be beyond 0,5% (1 glass).

Vehicles unable to circulate at 80 km/h are banned from the freeways. On these roads, it is forbidden to hitch-hike and to drive along with studded tires. Should you run out of gas, you face a fine.

• From 14 years upwards : mopeds and farm vehicles up to 30 km/h
• From 16 years upwards : motor cycles up to 50 cm3
• From 18 years upwards : all other types of vehicle.

A learner’s license is valid for 2 years at most and can only be obtained after a first aid course and enrolment in a driving school (« auto-école »).

During the first year after arrival in Switzerland, a foreign license remains valid, except for professional runs.

When you bring your own vehicle from your former domicile or from an inheritance, you have to undergo a technical control and present the result to the authorities : the « Service cantonal de la circulation routière ».

For a whole year after registration, the vehicle may neither be sold nor passed on to another person.

For the technical control you have to provide the experts’report (« rapport d’expertise » issued by the Service cantonal) and the anti-pollution certificate (issued by a garage).

Service cantonal de la circulation routière
et de la navigation
Av. de France 71
1951 Sion
tél : 027/606.71.00

Registration plates for bicycles and mopeds must be bought at the post office or at a TCS office.