James Bond actor Roger Moore once lived in the Swiss mountain town of Crans-Montana, and I'm looking forward to some licensed thrill activities.
Debonaire Sir Roger fell in love with the upmarket resort while filming For Your Eyes Only, and it is the understated glamour that continues to draw scores of British families here more than 40 years later.
The south-facing resort is famous for being one of the sunniest places in the Alps, and it sits on a plateau in the Valais canton, with spectacular views of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc.
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Crans-Montana may not have the glitzy cachet of nearby Verbier, but the two-centre town Crans is the upmarket part, with jewelry shops and concept stores, while Montana is more low-key and sporty is gaining its own following.
Crans-Montana began as a golf and health retreat in the early 1900s, but later opened up the mountains to skiers and, later, mountain bikers in the early 2000s.
Crans-Montana may not have the glitzy cachet of nearby Verbier, but the two-centre town Crans is the upmarket part, with jewelry shops and concept stores, while Montana is more low-key and sporty is gaining its own following.
Crans-Montana began as a golf and health retreat in the early 1900s, but later opened up the mountains to skiers and, later, mountain bikers in the early 2000s.
The chic resort has one of the best Alpine snow parks, so new additions to the area are attracting a younger crowd, including North Americans and Britons. These include Alaa Chalet in nearby Lens, which has a skatepark and trampoline center, and Alaa Bay, which has a state-of-the-art wave pool for surfers.
Etang-Long Lake Wakeboarding
To that end, I go to Etang-Long Lake to try wakeboarding, which involves being towed across the water by an overhead cable and whooping with delight.
I say "in theory," because getting into an upright position is difficult for me, and I'm soon being dragged on my belly along the lake as a panicked rainbow trout leaps in front of me.
Our instructor encourages me to try again, recommending that I use a different board. Suddenly, I'm standing up and skimming across the lake. To the delight of outsiders, I even manage a turn around the buoy for a home run.
Microbrewery La Marmotte
This adrenaline stuff makes me thirsty, so I head to the La Marmotte microbrewery on the shores of Lake Grenon for a beer tasting session.
Yves Klingler, owner of the nearby Hotel du Lac, decided to expand his business into brewing and coffee making and now produces his own delicious artisan beer, gin, cider, and even a single malt whisky.
During the pandemic, the Swiss businessman switched to brewing alcohol hand gel, which kept his employees employed.
E-Biking
The next day, we need some carb-burning exercise, so we join guide Julien Cavé for a day of mountain e-biking: Julien, who is also a ski and snowboard instructor, is passionate about mountains and bikes and shares his best tips and techniques for improving your performance and confidence.
"E-biking is an excellent and fun way to see the mountains in the summer," Julien says, pointing out the thin trails weaving down steep grassy slopes above pure grey metamorphic rock cliffs.
Although purists may dismiss e-bikes, it's easy to see why these machines are becoming increasingly popular. They are ideal for novice riders who want assistance on steep climbs but still want to feel like they are riding a regular bike on the way back down.
After a quick lesson outside the rental shop, we're soon riding up the mountain, passing through forests, lakes, waterfalls, pastures, and even a glacier, which provides a perfect playground for mountain bikers.
The Sex Page
On the Bisse de Tsittoret walk to the Tieche waterfalls, we stop for lunch at the charmingly named Alpage du Sex, a delightful, typically Swiss mountain eatery and cheese farm.
Hikers and bikers are enjoying the al fresco dining at the restaurant. The rosti is the best in the region, and sausages and steaks are grilled outside, filling the air with delicious barbecue aromas.
Colombire Eco-Museum
The next day, a visit to an eco-museum in Colombire, a hamlet of ancient buildings known as mayen traditional wooden Alpine dwellings housing families, livestock, and food stores - is a change of pace. Colombire, now a rural museum, is a powerful reminder of how difficult life was for herders living on the grasslands.
Mountain guide Etienne Jaccottet tells us about wolf-spotting and the modern-day tradition of cow fighting after a traditional cheese-making demonstration.
Valais hosts a battle of the cows tournament called combats de reins every year, which began in the 1920s and attracts up to 50,000 spectators. The winner of these battles is known as La Reine des Reines and her value rises dramatically as she is crowned ruler of the herd.
The bovines in front of us, on the other hand, are lazily chewing the cud to make more maker cheese for my next visit.
Crans-Montana Information
Crans-Montana, which stretches from the Rhone valley to the Plaine Morte Glacier at 3000m, offers breathtaking views of a string of mountain peaks stretching from the Bietschhorn to Mont Blanc via the Matterhorn. The region has something for everyone with its lakes, forests, glaciers, and vineyards. There are many facilities dedicated to sporting activities for sports fans, while museums, events, and festivals are available for cultural devotees.
Crans-Montana, in fact, combines all the advantages of an urban lifestyle in a mountain setting, with a diverse range of restaurants ranging from mountain huts to award-winning restaurants, boutiques and shops, a wellness center, a variety of entertainment, and a vibrant nightlife. The Swiss Tourism Federation has designated it as a "Family Destination," one of only two in French-speaking Switzerland.
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