Crans-Montana is a ski resort in the canton of Valais, northeast of the city of Sion, on the slope of the Bernese Alps, in the valley of the Rhone River in Switzerland.
The first ski lift was built in 1928. Crans-Montana offers a vast ski area of 140 km of marked ski slopes, with an area of more than 350 hectares, served by 23 ski lifts, some of which are very recent, like the new Nationale or Cabane de bois chairlifts. The area peaks at 2,927 meters at Plaine Morte, at the top of the funitel and where two short alpine ski slopes have been built, as well as a cross-country ski trail directly on the glacier. A long track leaves from the summit and joins the connection point with the Aminona sub-domain.
The area also offers a snow garden, a snow park, and an ice waterfall. Cross-country ski trails are also available, notably on the Plaine Morte glacier (12 km) and on the plateau.
Access : Coordinates: 46.316667, 7.483333 /
Highlights :
- The Aminona sub-area is relatively out of the way and is connected to the main area by means of a chairlift.
- The resort is connected by a funicular to the town of Sierre, and buses go to Sion. You can get around here along numerous hiking and cycling trails.
- In 1959, the Winter Deaf Olympic Games were held in Crans-Montana. The 1987 World Alpine Ski Championships were held here, and other alpine skiing competitions are held periodically. The largest European golf tournaments are also held here in the summer. In 2008, the world mountain running championship was held here.
- The Crans-Montana snowpark is located just below the arrival of the cable car to the summit of Cry d’Er.Dedicated to freestyle enthusiasts, it is open from December to April, depending on snow conditions, the snowpark hosts each year the snowpark for national and regional freestyle competitions.
- Golf : The vast plateau on which Crans-Montana is located allows it to host several golf courses including Jack Niklaus (9 holes) and Severiano Ballesteros (18 holes), where the Omega European Masters of Crans-Montana takes place each year which is part of the PGA European Tour.
- For summer : In summer, some facilities are open for walkers as well as mountain bikers, for which there are several downhill trails. The station offers a network of paths of 135 km.
- Events : International Fiat 500 Meeting, every year at the end of August. / American Jeep meeting “Jeep-Heep-Heep”, every year at the end of September since 1997 / Music festivals Caprices festival, Les Sommets du ClassiquE and Crans-Montana musical weeks.
- Museum : The museum offers 700 square meters of exhibition presenting 150 years of Swiss Railways, through 1,300 models, collector’s items and models, and various attractions.
- Visit the two communities of Crans-sur-Sierre and Montana, which together form this holiday resort.
- Hike : A particularly beautiful challenge is the mountain hike along the Bisse du Ro . The path is only suitable for those with a head for heights and leads from Bella Lui via La Tsan, then you follow the Harvestse for a bit and then along the water canal to Plans Mayens (hiking time around 3 hours).
Go next : Grimentz , a small Alpine village / Anzere , village and ski resort / Sierre, a town in the canton of Valais in Switzerland . It is the capital of the Sierre district .
