Worldwide Ski Resorts • Switzerland • Crans Montana
Overview
Crans Montana is actually two towns brought together by interlinking boundaries and their centres only a mile apart. Set in an area facing South to the Rhone Valley it appears to have little of the Alpine charm, but the growth of many trees provides an attractive venue. Along the bustling main road there are a variety of hotels, apartments and villas, with plenty of smart shops. Out of season this is used by companies for conferences which creates a more formal and upmarket setting. It benefits from good access roads and a fast railroad. The views of the mountains are breathtaking and with plenty of sunshine the skies are clear and blue.
Profile
The Hotels are well appointed being large and comfortable with chic furnishings and many have a swimming pool. For those who like to have the freedom of home style holidays there are self catering facilities with the added bonus of being able to eat out rather than cooking. With the warmth of the sun the slopes may be rather icy early in the day with the possibility of slush later however there is snowmaking on the main runs. With the infrastructure of road and rail other resorts such as Verbier, Zermatt and Saas-Fee are well worth a visit.
Recently capital has been invested in siting Gondolas to overcome the queues waiting for the drag lifts.
Mountain Information
Spread over the mountainside the slopes have lifts from the valley bases. There is a mix of wooded and open slopes with few challenges and definitely no unpleasant surprises. Expert skiers will find a few steep slopes but off piste is plentiful even if the signing is a little sparse. The intermediate group have wide red runs which are not too challenging but enthusiasts enjoy the fast lifts, plenty of long runs and good links adding to the mileage. To test your technique the Piste Nationale is a good downhill run.
There are three good nursery areas for new skiers with varying slopes to build up skills and confidence. Snowboarding is a popular sport here resulting in a specialist school and plenty of shops to buy the equipment. With 25 miles of cross country trails there is something for everyone. Ski Schools and Guides have a good reputation and cater for the younger generation. About 30% of the runs are blue, 10% are black and the remainder are red. To make the most of ski time there are 33 lifts.
Apres Ski
If after stopping at one of the 20 mountain cafes and restaurants, which are very reasonably priced, you are still feeling the pangs of hunger relax in one of the pleasant places to eat with the local influence there is plenty of good French food. Or why not try something new and exciting and visit a Lebanese restaurant. Perhaps a party mood is what you are after so drop in to the George and Dragon where it is pretty lively. If the skiing has not tired you out two ice rinks will probably do the trick. Perhaps nod off watching a film at the cinema or take a stroll and marvel at the spectacular scenery.
Swiss Resort Guide
Resort Information • Crans Montana
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Resort Height | 1500m |
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Top Station | 3000m |
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Bottom Station | 1476m |
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Vertical Descent | 1524m |
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Drag Lifts | 27 |
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Chair Lifts | 6 |
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High Capacity | 4 |
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Opening Dates | Dec - April |
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Rating Expert | 5 |
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Rating Intermediate | 8 |
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Rating Beginner | 6 |
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Apres Ski Rating | 5 |
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Snow Reliability | 7 |
