Verbier

Verbier, a village and the ski area around it in the Pennine Alps, is part of one of the most famous and attractive winter sports regions in Switzerland, the Four Valleys. This vast linked ski area offers more than 340 km of pistes and, besides Verbier, takes in five other villages: Les Collons, Veysonnaz, Nendaz, La Tzoumaz and Bruson. The most important mountain in the region and the symbol of the whole area is Mont Fort (3,330 m). Here, in its upper reaches, there is also a summer glacier ski area. Skiers have four pistes here (one blue and three red), served by two T-bars. There is also a snow park at 3,000 m with features including a halfpipe. In winter you can ski down from the glacier into the valley on a 15 km piste, the longest in the area. From the summit of Mont Fort also runs the notorious piste to Tortin, the most difficult in the area (5 km long, 1,280 m vertical drop). The gateway to the glacier ski area is the Col des Gentianes (2,950 m), which skiers reach from Verbier by a series of gondolas and finally a cable car with 150-person cabins, the Jumbo des Neiges. From here one more cable car ride takes you to the top of the glacier. The summit of Mont Fort offers a sweeping view of the Western Alps; more than 50 four-thousanders are in sight. In winter Verbier has much more to offer skiers. On the edges of the village there are easy slopes for beginners and families with children. More ambitious pistes, where even true experts will find something satisfying, are higher up: on Savoleyres (2,354 m), Ruinettes (2,200 m) and Attelas (2,727 m). Verbier, once a quiet village and today a sizeable Alpine resort, lies on a sunny plateau. Besides traditional winter sports, there is also a chance to try something new. The leisure park at Esserts offers activities such as snowtubing, snow-cross and snow-karting. Verbier is also famous for its culinary pleasures. One of the best-known restaurants here is Roland Pierroz's Rosalp. Visitors to Verbier are not bored after dark either. The nightlife is very varied. Numerous pubs, bars and nightclubs stay open late.