Crans-Montana: The Ultimate Alpine Ski Destination

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Crans-Montana is a picturesque ski resort nestled in the heart of the Swiss Alps. With its Alpine architecture and sleek contemporary style, this resort is a popular destination for ski enthusiasts and tourists from all over the world.

Crans Montana The Ultimate Alpine Ski Destination

Ski Area

Spanning 88 miles, Crans-Montana boasts a vast network of ski slopes, with most of them being comfortably skiable reds. The slopes sweep across a south-facing mountainside, offering stunning panoramic views of the wide valley below. Long, pretty runs through the trees descend all the way down from the Cry d’Er gondola to the base and across to the Montana gondola, and the Violettes Express gondola. For more adventurous skiers, the Violettes cable car takes you to the most dramatic slopes, starting from the Plaine Mort glacier at 9,600ft.

City Ski Championships

The City Ski Championships in Crans-Montana is a rollicking weekend of skiing and partying. Founded in 2000 by Britain’s Momentum Ski, the event centers around a giant slalom race for everyone, plus a team slalom event. Celebrities who have participated in the event include F1 champ Damon Hill, Ski Sunday presenter Graham Bell, and BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, who is now a champion of disability skiing. The event also features open-air apres-ski parties, celeb Q&A, and a prize-giving dinner at slopeside.

Revival Party

The Revival party in Crans-Montana is another must-attend event for ski enthusiasts. The open-air apres-ski parties are open to all-comers, with music from Revival, Britain’s DJ-meets-retro-soul record label. The event also features an evening celeb Q&A and a prize-giving dinner at slopeside, followed by a night of partying at Cry d’Er Club d’Altitude with Revival’s band of singers joining the throng followed by Mousse T’s star set.

Why Go There

Crans-Montana offers a unique experience that combines a chilled-out feeling with a monied atmosphere. Unlike other resorts where the slopes hit the streets, the fun at Crans-Montana starts at three gondolas spread across the resort and tucked away. There are plenty of winter activities to enjoy, including 50 miles of winter hiking trails, a skating rink, sledging and snowtubing runs, a snowpark with an Olympic half-pipe, and the chance to try curling on an indoor rink. The resort also boasts a range of shops, restaurants, and bars, making it a perfect destination for those who want to combine skiing with a bit of shopping and relaxation.

Eating and Drinking

Crans-Montana has a variety of restaurants that offer a range of culinary delights. The Gastronomic Restaurant L’Ours is the home of feted local chef Franck Reynaud, which serves Michelin-starred set menus of between five and eight courses, costing up to near £200. Les Bistrot des Ours serves elegant provincial dishes such as chicken with Perigord truffles. For a more casual dining experience, La Cabane des Violettes is a rustic hut high on the slopes where Franck supervises a manic lunchtime service to 100-plus skiers crammed on to long tables.

In conclusion, Crans-Montana is a stylish ski resort that offers a unique blend of Alpine architecture and sleek contemporary style. With a range of winter activities, events, and restaurants, Crans-Montana is the perfect destination for ski enthusiasts, tourists, and anyone looking for a relaxing winter getaway.

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