The former home of Sir Roger Moore is as enigmatic as the man himself. It is a luxury ski resort that oozes quiet class without being too flashy and is just the sort of place that a Bond villain might hide. On these very slopes the protagonist of Live and Let Die, The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker rehearsed his lines and formed the iconic character. Here in the heart of the Swiss Alps, Crans-Montana is firmly on the top of the list for this must-visit Swiss ski destinations.

Found 1500 m above the Rhone Valley, Crans Montana opens a front-row window to a chain of mountain peaks stretching from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc. It balances supreme skiing and après ski with alpine shopping and has a growing chest of five-star hotels.   As such, Crans-Montana draws visitors from all over the world year-round and is nothing short of an alpine aficionados’ paradise.

Louis Antille opened the first hotel in Crans-Montana in 1893 and once the British traveller Henry Lunn discovered the resort, he started to bring visitors, firstly to play golf, in 1908. Then in 1911, the funicular railway was built, connecting the resort to the valley below and cutting the time to travel up from four hours, by mule, to one hour, by train as opposed to 12 minutes today. That year, Henry’s son Arnold Lunn brought skiers to the resort and started one of the ever first-ever ski races to be held and what the media at the time described as ‘the first major downhill challenge in the history of skiing’.

Celebrity residents

Perhaps the most famous of Crans-Montana’s residents was the English actor Roger Moore, whose legacy as James Bond lives on in the resort even after he died in 2017. The spectacular golf course has attracted the very best pros over the years and some of them decided to buy homes in the resort, including Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott, and the Molinari brothers. Chef Michel Roux also made Crans-Montana his home from 2008, splitting his time between the UK.  Many other celebrities visit Crans-Montana each winter and can often be spotted on and off the slopes.

Ski

The skiing area of Crans-Montana consists of 140 km (87 miles) of pistes; from the high plateau up to the Plaine Morte Glacier at 3000 m, which is one of the snowiest parts of Switzerland. There is a superb variety of prepared on-piste terrain both above and below the tree line, with wide and accessible ski runs ideal for all abilities from beginners to experts. Advanced skiers can take the chairlift to La Toula to find a challenging descent. Particularly popular are the broad carving pistes and the descent down the Piste Nationale which, at 12 km, is the longest in the region. It is known as an intermediate skier’s paradise. Crans-Montana is famous in alpine ski racing for the 1987 Alpine Ski World Championships and is often on the World Cup schedule, usually for women’s speed events. The annual women’s ski run alternates between black and red and is known as the toughest ski race on the circuit. Crans Montana hosts the City Ski Championships and the Women’s world cup downhill race. Furthermore, it is a future Alpine Ski World Championships candidate.

The 1500 m vertical long-run crosses across the expansive piste, ski routes and freeride terrain plus 15 marked ski touring trails and 40 km of marked paths. The area is home to the second-largest snow park in Switzerland with Olympic size halfpipe.  This is a paradise for cross-country skiers and hikers with 16kms of slopes designed specifically for this niche. In addition to classic cross-country ski trails, there is also an extra piste especially for skaters and an excellent diversity of piste trails for all levels.

There are 24 ski lifts and the Alaïa chalet is an action sports centre. Aimed at beginners, the golf course is turned into a ski area. There is glacier skiing on marked black runs – one long black run with a couple of steep sections, can be quite ‘moguled’ in places, but gentler piste skiing can be found Aminona sector out on the far east of the skiing area. The ski terrain extends mainly to red runs and on-piste skiing, but in fresh snow conditions, there are lots of off-piste opportunities too.

Hotel Chetzeron

This unique hotel and restaurant is a ski-in-ski-out retreat located high above the resort of Crans-Montana at 2,112 m in a former cable car station that first opened as a restaurant in 2009 and then a hotel in 2014. The only to get to Chetzeron during the winter is on skis or by special cat-track vehicle – it’s like a James Bond baddie lair where you’re treated more like royalty than an enemy spy. The heated outdoor pool provides views of the ski slopes and the magnificent views from all 16 bedrooms and the large terrace means catching the sunset over Mont Blanc when sipping an après ski cocktail is guaranteed, weather permitting of course. Covered with natural local stone, the building’s exterior at once blends in with its environment and is a striking juxtaposition to its luxuriously cozy interiors, while generous windows let nature flow in.

Six Senses

Six Senses Crans-Montana has 47 guest rooms and suites and one of the most sensational spas on the mountain. Currently, there are 17 Six Senses residential units available for purchase by foreigners. There’s two restaurants and a sun terrace and bar plus a retail space. A wellness centre includes a 22,000 square foot (2,000 sq.m) Six Senses Spa specialising in Alpine treatments, a gym and fitness studio, swimming pool and suspended relaxation area. The spa will also include a dedicated area for children and teen treatments.

Art de Vivre

This four-star family hotel Art de Vivre, can be found in the centre of Crans-Montana and its flagship restaurant Tout un Art offers you a flavour of the Alps with dishes whipped up from seasonal products. The bar lounge is perfect to unwind after a day on the slopes and if you still have energy to burn there is the fitness centre with a gym and relaxation area including two steam baths, a sauna, a cold-water pool and an ice fountain – not to mention a jaw-dropping view of the Valais Alps. It is a short stroll away from the casino and Harry’s Club.

Crans Ambassador

The Crans Ambassador is a luxury chalet hotel with incredible mountain views. With 56 rooms, three restaurants and a 1200sq.m spa area. Sit back at 1500m altitude with a cocktail on the Valaisanne terrace or savour a romantic dinner overlooking the highest peaks of the Swiss Alps. Here the luxury is in the detail as you invite nature in your room, in your bed and even in the bathroom. For instance, the Deluxe Forest room’s picture windows open out onto a terrace with a view of the spruce forest. The room’s contemporary decor works in harmony with the landscape. Similarly, the Alpina Deluxe is bathed in light, extending onto a large south-facing terrace looking onto the Swiss mountains. A step up from that the Alpina Prestige room, decorated in chocolate tones that create a restful environment to enjoy the majestic panorama. The spa includes a hammam, heated 17m pool and whirlpool and there are treatments such as signature massage, anti-aging programmes, detox and better aging with Nescens as well as massages. The rooms are bathed in a natural light, warm wood, and there’s mineral-infused water in the bathrooms.

Hostellerie du Pas de l’Ours

This Relais & Chateaux property has astounding views of the snow-covered mountain peaks, the suites have open fireplaces and jacuzzis perfect for unwinding in after a visit to L’Alpage Spa. A range of accommodation choices is available at Hostellierie du Pas D’Ours from spacious classic north facing double rooms with a king size bed with fur throws decorated in old wood and en-suite bathrooms with showers.

Furthermore, it has a Michelin Star restaurant called Le Bistrot des Ours, managed by Franck Reynaud which has earned a one-star honour in the Michelin guide. Chef Franck Reynaud serves up creative cuisine with “emotion” as his guiding force. His wife Severine is from this region, so Reynaud holds Valais in his heart, remaining true to his Provincial roots. One will find menus curated carefully to the seasons in this gourmet restaurant has one star in the Michelin guide. Franck has remained true to his Provincial roots, and he carefully follows seasons to prepare local meals that treat you to a mouth-watering bite.

Le Crans Hotel & Spa

A magnificent chalet-style hotel and spa high above the Crans Montana surrounded by snow-capped mountains and forests and mountains are the Le Crans Hotel and Spa. This luxury boutique hideaway is a mere 100m from the nearest ski slopes and enveloped by stunning forest and offers outstanding views and 13 individually designed rooms and suites, as well as three apartments. Yet it is also close to the centre of town. Relax in one of the stylish regional and mountain-themed rooms or in the outdoor heated pools and enjoy a great view of the Alps. Mont BlancLeSpa offers a sanctuary for the senses with a beautiful, heated outdoor pool, voted one of the best in the world, in which to enjoy awe-inspiring panoramic Alpine views.

Le Mont Blanc at Le Crans

The critically acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurant Le Mont Blanc at Le Crans is expertly led by executive chef Yannick Crepaux, and combines the traditional with the avant-garde, featuring a combination of Swiss and classical French ingredients with a modern twist.

Paradise for Foodies

Aside from these two main names on the mountain it’s fair to say that Crans-Montana is heaven for food lovers. Gastronomes will be spoilt for choice with over 90 restaurants. Le Rawyl by Bert De Rycker and the Mosaic restaurant showcase modern and innovative cuisine. Meanwhile, CASI is the new Italian restaurant in the centre of Montana. The owner Caroline is the daughter of Adolf Oggi, who was president of Switzerland. Le Mayen is well known for its raclette degustation. Guests have presented five different kinds of kinds of cheese from different areas of Valais, giving fromage lovers the chance to taste regional flavours and these are served alongside local cold cuts of local ham and dry beef meat. If it is something meatier one craves, then The Burger Lounge in Crans serves homemade burgers with local beef meat and cheese but also fresh bread made by a local bakery.

Fun for all the family

Bella Lui family festival takes place each December in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, named for Etoile Bella Lui, the famous local fairy that lives in the region. Families will be able to follow paths illuminated with the light of lanterns to a craft market and Ferris wheel in the centre of town that also includes a central food area, complete with regular visits from Father Christmas and his helpers. During the evenings, special shows and events will take place close to the ice rink, including stories for children, street artists, figure skating and light shows.

Families will love to discover the delights of alpine farms in the region and there is no better place than the one run by self-proclaimed Swiss Shepherdess Claire Jeannerat at Bergere De Nay. Situated high in the mountains, each year the farm takes part in transhumance which involves driving the animals to and from high ground to low ground in a seasonal cycle. In short, it’s a type of migration. UNESCO has in recent years officially recognised this ancient tradition as an intangible cultural heritage. The herd can travel up to 60 km over three days.

Valais wine

Visitors to Crans-Montana won’t miss the vast expanse of vineyards that cover the facing south-facing side of the valley below Crans-Montana. The vineyard occupies the whole territory from the Rhône plain at 500m to 800m. Up to 50 different grape varieties are cultivated here, including some local specialties such as the typical Petite Arvine or Cornalin. Excursions through the impressive, terraced vineyards will take you from cellar to cellar, where you can taste some magnificent wines. Famous grape varieties include the Cornalin (red) and Chasselas (white) that go into making Fendant. The wine can easily be enjoyed in all restaurants in Crans-Montana and bought in the local supermarkets – the quality varies from simple country wine to class world-class vintages that compete with the best in Europe.

Crans-Montana combines all the amenities of a lively ski resort with boundless nature and sweeping views of the Valais Alps.  Here, the whistling of the marmot can be heard, and families can visit “Bibi”, the mascot, in the exciting fun park, which always has great vacation ideas. And there are adventures to be had with excursions in the adventure forest, mini golf and treasure hunts. Crans Montana is a place that should be on your wishlist.