Verbier, a quaint mountain village located above the Val de Bagnes in the Swiss canton of Valais, attracts hikers and ski enthusiasts from all over the world. As part of the “Les Quatres Vallées”, the largest winter sports area in Switzerland, Verbier is referred to by connoisseurs as the world capital of mountain sports. Here you can find out why a visit to the cozy mountain village is worthwhile all year round.
Les Quatres Vallées – Four Valleys and One Vision
The region “Les Quatres Vallées” (4-Vallées for short) includes six villages, including Nendaz, La Tzoumaz, Veysonnaz, Thyon, Les Collons, Les Masses, Bruson and Verbier. All six villages are located south of the Rhône and extend over four side valleys, which is why the region is called 4-Vallées (French for four valleys).
The 4-Vallées ski area, which is now connected, did not come into being overnight, but has developed over many decades from skiing in the individual areas. The region is now criss-crossed by a seamless network of slopes and lifts. The three pioneers of Swiss winter sports and mountain railway operators, Rodolphe Tissières, Michel Michelet and René Fournier, had been pursuing this vision since the 1970s and achieved a breakthrough in the unification of the valleys in 1976 through the association of existing mountain railways and the construction of additional cable cars. Meanwhile, the ski area around 4-Vallées is so large that one visit is not enough to explore the entire variety of slopes, which distinguishes the 4-Vallées from the other smaller ski resorts in Switzerland. Despite its dimensions, the entire area of the 4-Vallées with its total of 410 kilometres of slopes can be used with just one ski pass.
Verbier’s unique winter fun – with and without runners
With the first snowfall, Verbier is transformed into a paradise for winter sports. A cable car leads to the highest point of the ski area, the summit of Mont Fort, which is located at around 3,300 meters above sea level and offers a breathtaking view of the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and the Grand Combin. From there, you have a free choice of how to get on on ski slopes, snowshoe trails, winter hiking trails and cross-country ski trails.
As one of the largest ski resorts in Switzerland, Verbier offers pure skiing fun on over 200 kilometres of slopes in the months from November to the end of April. Both absolute beginners and daring advanced skiers get their money’s worth here on blue slopes, mogul slopes and world-famous freeride routes. The mountain village is also a stage on the so-called “Haute Route”, a ski crossing along breathtaking high alpine glacier landscapes in the direction of Saas Fee and Zermatt – a must for lovers of long ski tours.
Numerous marked winter hiking trails make it possible to discover the landscape on foot. Accompanied by the winter sun, kilometre-long hikes lead through snow-covered forests and over gigantic sun terraces with breathtaking views to rustic mountain huts where you can relax with coffee, hot chocolate or tea. Particularly popular routes lead from Périn to Les Planards or from Les Ruinettes along a wide path through the Alps towards Alpage de la Chaux.
Verbier is also at the top of the world in terms of tobogganing. The toboggan run from Savoleyres to La Tzoumaz is the longest toboggan run in French-speaking Switzerland and offers fast-paced fun for young and old over 10 kilometres long and over 800 metres in altitude.
If you still haven’t had enough in the evening after the action on the slopes, hiking trails and the like, you can enjoy the varied après-ski offer and the aperitifs of Verbier.
Even in summer there is a lot going on here
Verbier is not only a winter sports mecca, but also offers pure fun in summer with its charming landscape on over 900 kilometres of hiking trails, 800 kilometres of mountain bike trails and perfect conditions for paragliders and climbers.
Verbier’s hiking trails stretch in the Val de Bagnes along the breathtaking backdrop of the Mont Blanc massif, Mont Velans and the Combins massif. Professional hikers can also explore the snow-covered mountain landscapes around Verbier in summer. And for those looking for something a little less action-packed, two golf courses and a sports club with sauna, tennis and squash facilities offer a weatherproof alternative.
If that’s still not enough, you get a huge range of international top events on top. In July, classical music lovers from all over the world come together at the 17-day Verbier Festival to forge a bond between old masters of classical music and talents from the younger generations against the backdrop of the magnificent Swiss Alps. Less cultural and more action is available on the Xtreme Verbier, the Freeride World Tour, where the world’s top freeride riders meet between March and April to reach for the world championship title.
… and it still remains cozy!
Despite the growth in tourism in recent years and the now about 4000 inhabitants, Verbier retains its village charm. Unlike surrounding ski resorts with a similar footfall, Verbier refrains from building huge hotels and instead remains true to the style of traditional slate-roofed chalets and small guesthouses.
