Discovering Crans-Montana
A destination unlike the rest
Are you imagining a small village lost on a plateau in the Alps? Well, it’s not at all. Crans-Montana is a beautiful city in the mountains with, depending on the season, 5,000 to 50,000 inhabitants. This means (and it really drives the point home, it’s so rare), even in the low season it’s no ghost town. As a result, inhabitants, those lucky enough to live in a magnificent setting all year long, owners of secondary residences, even residents of Geneva and Lausanne (and others) who migrate north every weekend, live with perpetual smiles.
To tell you the truth, Crans-Montana is the combination of 2 destinations: Crans-sur-Sierre and Montana-Vermela. No one goes without their daily dose of Vitamin D on the Alps’ sunniest plateau, which is an important advantage to consider when buying your home. Looking for the best exposure will not be a problem, but you will be faced with a decision between a magnificent, traditional Valais chalet or a comfortable, beautiful apartment in a luxury residential building with a swimming pool, hammam, gym, and movie theater. And why not an adorable family abode in a condominium that looks like a big chalet in the mountains? The choice is vast and varied, but one thing is for sure: the sun is there to stay through the summer and winter. And all the better, because we know that you prefer skiing and golfing under blue skies without an umbrella the size of a canopy.
White or green
In the winter, Crans-Montana puts on its white coat and offers 140 km (approx. 87 miles) of slopes with exceptional panoramic views of the Alps. It’s a paradise for skiers, snowboarders and skaters. As soon as the snow melts, a beautiful green carpet is revealed, bringing joy to hikers, golfers, and families. From the peaks to the plains, we love this huge playground and it's exclusively for you, for us, and for friends.
In Crans-Montana, it’s difficult to choose a favorite season. Are you more of a summer or winter person? Like us, you want the best of both. Crans-Montana spoils freestylers with not only a snowpark, but also a “wakepark†and a bike park. Long live the parks! Teens, young adults, and those who want to remain youthful at heart will be able to keep themselves busy. Golf enthusiasts will also be able to indulge in their big parks with no less than four courses dominating the Rhone Valley and the huge OMEGA European Masters tournament. This gives the rest of the party time to go shopping in the pretty shops and enjoy the city’s sunshine from the restaurants’ terraces.
We all know it, for happy parents, one needs happy children and teens. You’ve come to the right place, because Crans-Montana has been labeled the 'Family Destination,' with many amenities, activities, and distractions for the younger generation: Bibi’s House welcomes the youngests of the bunch and the Ycoord Center offers beautiful infrastructure, an ice rink, a curling hall, a bowling alley, a rock climbing wall, organized treasure hunts ... It’s the ideal program to ensure a vacation full of laughter and fun.
Who hasn’t dreamed of slipping and sliding on the snowy slopes while a literature professor gives a course on Shakespeare? So, why not give your children the pleasure of studying at one of Crans-Montana's top international schools, Regent College (ages 4 to 18) or Les Roches International School of Hotel Management. This is how one combines pragmatism and pleasure, with an excellent education as a bonus. And for those who aren’t ready to take the plunge just yet, summer camps are the perfect opportunity to make memories and friends from all over the world, for life.
Crans-Montana will be your paradise, if …
- You are a man (or woman) of all seasons
- Yes, we’d like our trilingual chicks to be raised in the Alps’ fresh air
- You’re thinking about taking up ice skating (especially for the outfits)
The aura of Crans-Montana
Since the beginning, Crans-Montana has attracted elegance and a certain savoir vivre. As an international resort, visitors come from all over the world, fall under its charm, and decide to invest. Why? Because Crans-Montana offers all imaginable activities, sports, great restaurants, luxury hotels, and chic boutiques. For all of these reasons, they’ve rushed to the home of Roger Moore, Lord Brett Sinclair himself. Decency and discretion forbid us to reveal the names of the many celebrities who come to CM.
The ambiance of the après-ski is joyful and festive. Lounges and nightclubs are very popular among the young and not so young. Fortunately, fun has no age limit.
If you want to party on skis with a drink in your hand, then try out the Snow Groomer's Party with a DJ perched on top of a groomer snowmobile and let the rhythm take you away.
For something a little more challenging and just as spectacular, we suggest you catch the last Crans-Cry d’Er Gondola to have seat on Bellalui’s terrace and admire the sunset before taking off to the moon with a tandem paragliding flight - you’ll want to share this experience (and hold someone’s hand). As for the panorama, one word: stunning.
Crans-Montana will fit you like a glove if …
- Your idea of chic is only reached at great heights
- Moon boots, ski boots or dress shoes, as long as there’s dancing!
- A two-seater is a good plan to lower your “fear-o-meterâ€
Gastronomy and culture, the perfect match
In the canton of Valais, we like good food and Crans-Montana is no exception. The best places are household names, such as the Hostellerie Pas de l'Ours and Montblanc, and many others where local products are put in the spotlight. Chefs incorporated flavors from all over the world with traditional cuisine to satisfy the most diverse and scrupulous of taste palettes. In Crans-Montana, you’ll find that the colors of Lebanon, Japan, France, Portugal are all represented.
And to follow the seasons and new trends, there are 4 major tasting events - Food & Art, Food & Fashion, etc. - Guest Tables whose addresses are unveiled the day before the event, a fun and exciting concept we love. The best chefs in the region and starred chefs - Frank Reynaud and Pierre Crepaud - who come to express their creativity and talent (yum!), we’re already making bets on potential coordinates.
Crans-Montana is also the destination of choice for culture lovers, with its exhibitions of renowned artists in art galleries and museums. Music enthusiasts come in summer and winter to attend wonderful concerts of popular music - classical, pop and electro. Here, you’ll find something for every preference.
Crans-Montana is for you if …
- You like musical notes to fly like snowflakes
- Your heaven is somewhere between gourmet restaurants and alpine farms
- You never let a little bad weather ruin a good time