Â鶹APP

Verbier. Photo by Patrick Nouhailler.

Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Verbier

Verbier is a village in the canton of Valais in southern Switzerland. It is a holiday resort and ski area in the Swiss Alps that is regarded as one of the world’s premier off-piste resorts. Some areas are snow-covered all year. Skiers have settled in Verbier to take advantage of the steep slopes, varied conditions, and resort culture. It offers a spectacular panoramic view of Mont-Blanc and the Combins massif.

In the winter, the extraordinary skiing region provides limitless enjoyment for both advanced skiers from around the world and beginners. Mountain bikers and hikers can choose from a variety of marked trails during the summer. Paragliding, heliski, sledding, golf, museums, and local produce are just a few of the activities available in the alpine village for families, seniors, and young people alike.

1. Ascend the four valleys’ highest peak- Mont-Fort

Ascending the highest peak in the Four Valleys is no easy task, but it rewards those who go the extra mile. To reach the summit from the village of Verbier, four cable cars must be taken. These journeys become increasingly dramatic until you reach the Glacier de Tortin on the final 400 meter cable-car ride from Col des Gentianes.

After ascending a stone stairway, you’ll be on top of the world, with views of the glacier and Mont Blanc and the Dents du Midi in the west, the Matterhorn in the east, and the Rhône Valley in the north. In the winter, expert skiers can take off down one of the Alps’ most difficult black runs.

2. Reach Mont-Gelé summit from Verbier

Mont Gelé, another of Verbier’s limitless peaks, peaks at 3,022 meters and can be reached by cable car from Les Attelas. As the meeting point of the municipalities of Bagnes, Riddes, and Nendaz, this is the only peak with 360° views of the entire Four Valleys area.

Mont-Gelé is a good excursion if you want to get a feel for the terrain, and if you’re an experienced skier, you can take on a few thrilling off-piste runs. These are depicted as itinerary runs on the official map of the Four Valleys.

3. Skiing is a must-do at Verbier

People skiing. Photo by Banff Sunshine Village.

Verbier’s ski domain is large enough, with elevations ranging from 1,500 meters to 3,300 meters at Mont-Fort. However, Verbier is also a part of the Four Valleys, giving you access to hundreds of kilometers of trails. Because of the numerous opportunities to go off-piste, the more experienced you are, the more fun you will have in Verbier’s immediate vicinity.

However, this does not mean that newcomers are excluded from the lower, flatter slopes. The resort has up to ten ski schools, each with instructors who have spent at least a decade skiing in Verbier.

4. More winter fun by snowboarding

Snowboarding. Photo by Damiano Lingauri.

Verbier is more than just downhill skiing in the winter. Verbier is an important stop on the Haute Route, a seven-day route from Chamonix to Zermatt.

Less ambitious hikers and cross-country skiers can choose from a variety of trails varying in length and difficulty.If this appeals to you, there are guides in Verbier who are well-versed in the wilder mountain terrain.

Advanced snowboarders will be pleased with the variety of off-piste runs, and snowshoeing is ideal for those who want to take in the scenery. Beginners can try the light gradients.

5. Trail through La Réserve du Haut Val de Bagnes

Switzerland’s second-largest nature reserve, established in 1968, is within Verbier’s borders. The summer months are ideal for exploring it on foot. There are hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails in the reserve. The trail has a classic Alpine landscape of bare peaks, lakes, and lush pasture.

Take the six-hour Chamois Trail through the reserve to see Alpine wildlife. As the name suggests, if you go quietly, you’ll have a good chance of seeing chamois picking their way along the rocks, while ibexes and marmots also live in the area and can be seen from the trail.

6. Mountain biking at Verbier

A man riding a bike. Photo by Rick Gebhardt.

From June to September, the Four Valley’s network of cable cars and ski lifts provide access to more mountain biking trails than you could hope to explore in a single vacation. If you arrive in Verbier without your own wheels, there are a few rental shops.

The Verbier Bike Park, which has a vertical drop of around 700 meters and is served by the Ruinettes gondola, is a good starting point. These trails are divided into four difficulty levels: Green (10%), Blue (20%), Red (40%), and Black (30%). The park’s pro rider can advise you on the major obstacles.

Mountain bikers can purchase a six-day lift pass for unlimited trips onto Verbier’s trails and compete against “enduro” tracks across the Four Alleys.

7. Verbier is home to the world’s eighth-tallest dam

Mauvoisin dam. Photo by Copetan.

In the Upper Bagnes Valley, close to Verbier, there is a true mega-structure. The Mauvoisin Dam, at 250 meters high and more than half a kilometer wide. It is the world’s eighth-tallest dam. It’s capable of holding up to 190 million cubic meters of water.

The dam, which spans the valley of the Bagnes stream, was built in the 1950s, primarily to generate hydroelectric power but also to prevent floods and regulate the amount of sediment flowing down the valley. The reservoir and the waterfalls that feed it down the valley’s steep walls can be seen from the top.

8. Verbier hosts a classical music festival every year

Verbier hosts a prestigious classical music event for two weeks at the end of July and beginning of August. The Verbier Festival Academy is a learning experience for aspiring soloists.

The public is treated to a musical feast over the course of two weeks, with a jam-packed schedule of concerts. Lera Auerbach, Evgeny Kissin, and András Schiff were among the many soloists and ensembles who appeared at the festival in 2017.

9. There is an exhibition hall in Verbier

Fondation Gianadda. Photo by Sylenius.

The unmistakable highlight is the Fondation Gianadda, a large exhibition hall built in the 1970s. This regularly hosts temporary art exhibitions.

There is also a permanent collection of vintage cars and artifacts from Martigny’s time as a Roman settlement. For many visitors, the best part of the museum is the sculpture garden, which features works by many 20th-century artists.

10. Enjoy Bagnes cheese in Verbier

Bagnes cheese. Photo by Alexander Maasch.

Verbier is located in the Bagnes Valley. Any raclette or fondue you order in a restaurant will almost always be made with Bagnes cheese. It’s also tasty on its own.

Raclette, melted cheese typically served with pickles and cold cuts, is a Bagnes Valley specialty. The dish is so beloved that the village of Bagnes hosts the “Capital of Raclette” festival at the end of September.

A large cheese market sells the many varieties produced in Valais. There is a parade for the region’s feisty Herens fighting cows.