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Resort Guide

Crans Montana is one of Switzerland's biggest resorts, once two towns its expansion has now merged them together on their sunny plateau opposite the Matterhorn. Located above the Rhone Valley there's a strong French feel to the resort and spectacular views as far as Mont Blanc.

Unlike most famous ski resorts the slopes are south facing, which means the town can claim to have some of the sunniest ski runs in skiing. This is not always a good thing for guaranteeing snow cover, but extensive snowmaking and terrain stretching up to 3,000m above, with a glacier to ski on means that this isn't a problem.

Crans Montana is perhaps a little less well known in the UK than resorts like Davos and St. Moritz, but it does have similar luxury facilities in terms of accommodation, restaurants and shopping. It also has a long history, having celebrated 115 years of tourism in 2008.

There are also excellent health and leisure facilities and a cosmopolitan feel to the après ski scene. On the slopes the extent of the runs and the vertical skiable are both world class statistics, with equally impressive uplift capacity provided by a fleet of modern gondola and high speed chair lifts.

Beginners

There are sunny beginner slopes right next to the village and a choice of ski schools offering group or private lessons, with more than 350 instructors employed in the resort. Group lessons normally last for three hours per day. If snow at resort level is limited there's an excellent plateau at 2100m reached by gondola from Crans.

Intermediates

Intermediates will get the most from Crans Montana's 100 miles of piste. This is spread across three linked areas above the resort with trails up to 12km (seven-and-a-half miles) long.

The largest area is Cry d’Err, but Violettes has some of the more challenging terrain that advanced intermediates will enjoy. Long runs down from the Plaine Mort glacier and up at Aminona above a resort development out of the main village.

Advanced

Although there are only three black runs at the resort, they are quite major runs in world skiing and offer 15km (nine miles) of steep terrain between them. Particularly highly rated is La Toula and there is also the Nationale men's downhill course which has staged many world Cup races.

The mountain guides office leads off piste ski trips, high mountain ski touring, deep snow skiing and organises heli ski excursions.

Snowboarding

Crans Montana is a major snowboarding centre which stages international competitions attracting the world's best boarders. There is a terrain park and a halfpipe at Pas du Loup with easy access by gondolas and high speed chair lifts. Night boarding is also offered on a three-and-a-half kilometre (two mile) course from Cry d'Err to Montana once a week.

Other Activities and Facilities

There's lots to do in Crans Montana and it's therefore quite a good choice for groups including non skiers. Health and fitness is a major strength with a wide range of Wellness centres in many of the resort's leading hotels, and virtually all imaginable health and fitness treatments available at these and other Swiss clinics in the town.

The Dabliù Beauty Farm and Fitness Centre has a VIP room next to the Grand Hotel du Golf, cardio fitness and muscle-training, personal wellness, fitness programmes, sauna, solarium, Hammam and a hair salon.

Out on the snow and ice there's ice skating and curling rinks, toboggan runs, ice climbing, snowshoe tours and winter hiking trails, as well as 50km of cross country skiing.

A non-skiers lift pass is available for those wanting to use the chairlifts, gondolas and cable cars to move between hiking trails. In the air there's hot air ballooning and paragliding. Indoor options include a bowling alley, museum and cinema. There are also more than 300 shops.

Après Ski and Dining Out

With more than 20 bars to choose from, most of them open late, Crans Montana is certainly well equipped for night life. Popular venues include Amadeus, the George and Dragon and Harry's club, one of three clubs in the resort.

The casino opened in 2002 and features slot machines and game tables with Black Jack, English-style roulette and Progressive Stud Poker. Dining choices are even wider with more than 60 establishments to choose from. These include creperies, pizzerias, Chinese, Lebanese and Mexican establishments as well as the more usual Swiss alpine traditional restaurants.

Due to its elite clientele there are several gastronomic Meccas in the restaurants list, and it is no surprise that Michel Roux recently moved to live in the village after spending more than 40 years building his reputation in the UK.

Families

Crans Montana has a full range of facilities for families and indeed, thanks to its excellent tourist infrastructure and extended families and children activity and entertainment programme, Crans Montana is now in line to receive the "Family" label - a special seal of approval from the Swiss Tourist Association.

For those needing childcare from an early age the Fleur des Champs kindergarten accepts children from three months to seven years and is situated in Lac Grenon. The alternative Halte-Garderie P'tits bouts is for two to six year olds. To find it, head towards Moubra but take the small street on the left before Doctor Bornet's office.

The Swiss Ski School is one of several operating a ski kindergarten, the Jardin des Neiges, for three to six year olds. Beyond these facilities there's tubing and tobogganing in the Fun Park, the Petit Aminona toboggan run, skating rink, swimming pools, horse riding, cinema and lots more.

Accommodation in Crans montana

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