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Host city:
VERBIER
Overview
The resort developed from the 1930s onwards (27 inhabitants per year in 1945) above the village, in the mountain pastures and mayens. The first hotel was built in 1927, the development company in 1937 (hotel business). The first ski lift was built in 1947, the first chair lift in 1950. The road arrived in the village in 1935, in the resort in 1949. In 1975, Verbier and Le Châble were linked by a cable car. The resort has developed rapidly; in 2010, it had some 30,000 tourist beds, mainly luxury second homes, and recorded over 900,000 overnight stays (5,400 in 1950).
From the end of December to the beginning of April, at weekends and on certain public holidays, the Verbier Express runs once a day from Geneva to Le Châble without changing at Martigny. This partnership between the train companies and Téléverbier allows for an easier link between the railways and the ski lifts and contributes to a significant reduction in car traffic.
Gastronomy
Legend has it that one cold day a shepherd left his cheese a bit too close to the fire. Nevertheless, he ate the resulting melted cheese and thought it tasted just fine. Raclette was born!
Beverages
With its colourful vineyards and talented winemakers, Valais is definitely an exceptional wine destination that allows you to taste regional grape varieties such as Humagne, Petite Arvine, and especially Cornalin, an ancient indigenous grape variety, while strolling through sunny vineyards.
Points of Interest
The 23 enduro mountain biking itin¬eraries of all levels (easy – intermediate – difficult) promise to be a delightful mix of rolling terrain, technical sections and switchbacks. With 211 km of pure pleasure, you can tour the Val de Bagnes and La Tzoumaz on trails renowned for their exceptional landscapes and their playfulness. They link up with ski lifts, bus stops, restaurants and the most beautiful viewpoints in the valley.
CRANS MONTANA
Overview
An idyllic region in the heart of the Alps
An extraordinary valley, nestled in the heart of the Alps, with 300 days of sunshine a year. From the valley to the glaciers via impressive vineyards, its landscapes offer an ideal setting for outdoor activities, be it hiking, cycling, mountain biking or skiing.
It’s precisely the diversity of activities that makes Crans-Montana so unique. From sport to nature, culture to dolce vita, everything is there for you to enjoy yourself thanks to our quality infrastructure. Historic villages and lively town centers, ski slopes and cultural events, traditional raclette and Michelin-star restaurants, demanding cycling routes and creative snowpark modules, mountain biking and shopping in the luxury Rue du Prado; the whole family will spend unforgettable holidays.
Beyond the activities, it is also the nature that surrounds Crans-Montana that seduces its visitors. The sunny Crans-Montana plateau is a veritable balcony with panoramic views of the most beautiful peaks in the Alps. Its landscapes are varied, from vineyards to the Plaine-Morte glacier, and offer a true haven of peace to all fans of great outdoors.
Food
If you like natural products, you will love what Valais produces. Here, we grow tasty seasonings and golden grains, wonderful fruit and excellent wines. Rich harvests infused with thousands of hours of sunshine, and the passion of our wine growers, herdsmen and farmers. Here, in these wild mountains, we have been learning how to reach the heights of quality for centuries.
The difference lies in the flavours: our specialty meats and cheeses are indescribably delicious. Our wildlife is further evidence that everything which comes from Valais is something quite special: Valais Blackneck goats, Valais Blacknose sheep, strong-willed, lovable Herens cattle that are typically native to our valleys.
In Crans-Montana, whether in the resort or on the pistes, when tastebuds quiver every gourmet will find what they’re looking for amongst the huge choice of restaurants which vary from mountain huts to Michelin-starred establishments.
Quality local produce, numerous foodie events, passionate craftspeople and chefs illustrate the wealth of gastronomy in our region. Moreover, it is a great joy for Crans-Montana to include amongst its numerous restaurants, two Michelin-starred establishments, Franck Reynaud‘s l’Ours, and LeMontBlanc from LeCrans Hôtel & Spa. Thanks to their incredible talents, Crans Montana Chefs, who has settled in Valais, sensitively interpret every flavour in our local produce. Although their creations retain a hint of the south, they should naturally be savoured with a fine Valais wine.
And if you’re missing raclette or other Valais specialities, there are plenty of mountain huts and restaurants which will be delighted to welcome you for a traditional mountain dish.
Points of Interest
Crans-Montana was founded when two friends living in the valley, Louis Antille and Michel Zufferey, fell in love with this majestic plateau on a hunting trip back in 1893. They went on to open the first hotel, marking the beginning of the story of an entire region.
To celebrate this anniversary, 12 giant illuminated letters spelling Crans-Montana have been installed on the banks of Lake Grenon, in the heart of Crans-Montana. Replicas of these letters can also be found dotted around twelve of the most beautiful viewpoints in the region. So whilst you’re out walking between the valley and the glacier, you’ll come across these 12 letters together with a telescope and video portraits of local celebrities, who will tell you more about a theme closely related to each place.
Summer or winter, on foot or by bike, explore some of the most beautiful places in Crans-Montana.
