_International Property Digest: Swiss Snow Resorts Explained
Verbier, Villars, St Moritz and Gstaad: Switzerland is home to some of Europe’s most iconic and snow-sure resorts where the dramatic Alpine peaks provide spellbinding natural beauty. A top-drawer infrastructure makes reaching the resorts straightforward and once there, traditional Swiss efficiency and style kicks in to ensure a memorable stay based around magical spas, five-star hotels and cosy hostelries, fine dining and fondue feasts.
“The Swiss are working hard to encourage more people to live full-time in the mountains and that means the best resorts have ever more year-round life,” says Alex Koch de Gooreynd, Partner and Head of Knight Frank’s Swiss Team. “Each resort has its own appeal from the historical glamour of St Moritz to the serious ski scene at Verbier, the family-friendly vibe in Villars to the discreetly elegant mountain lifestyle in Gstaad.”
Choosing four Swiss resorts that are most widely respected and best-performing locations, Mr Koch de Gooreynd asked his Alpine team for their recommendations to compile a helpful, best-in-class reference list for the coming winter season.
Verbier
Above: Five-bedroom chalet for sale in Verbier
Best Piste Run:
Col de Chassoure. A long, north-facing run with a lung-busting mix of fast flat areas and challenging moguls.
Best Place to Eat Out:
Igloo at the top of Mont Fort for a perfect mountain fondue.
Best Place to Be Seen:
Le Rouge at the bottom of the Le Rouge piste is the place for après-ski with resident DJs and a sunny terrace. In resort head to Le Farinet Bar, voted best après-ski bar worldwide by Which.
Local insider tip:
Don’t forget to ski across the valley to the quieter areas in Bruson or the other side from Verbier in Savoleyres. And talk yourself onto the workers lift at 07.30 up to Les Ruinettes where you can ski down creating fresh tracks on fresh corduroy.
Property for Sale:
A five-bedroom chalet in the centre of Verbier sold fully furnished and available to non-Swiss residents. CHF 5,950,000
Villars
Best Piste Run:
Set out at Grande Chamossaire 2120 metres, pass wild chamois as you ski through Bretaye and carry on past the golf to end at the RoyAlp for a hot chocolate on the terrace. Just a few metres more and you arrive at the balcony of Fleur des Neiges, the perfect place for a sunset coupe.
Best place to eat out:
Refuge de Solalex. A mountain retreat accessible only accessible by snow cat in the winter with log fires and fabulously authentic regional dishes, most involving cheese.
Best Place to be Seen:
Central 105 Bar in central Villars, formally known as “the Moon Boot” where things hot up from 11pm.
Local insider tip:
If you select the right Ski School you can have lessons from one of three former world champions.
Property for sale:
Hedonia Alpine Residences are new and wonderfully contemporary two to four-bedroom apartments in the centre of Villars with south-facing balconies giving perfect view of the dramatic Dents du Midi. CHF 1,350,000 to CHF 2,850,000
Gstaad
Above: Seven-bedroom chalet in Rougemont
Best Piste Run:
Tiger Run on the Wasserngrat. Steep, graded black and generally well groomed, this is the place to really ‘let rip’.
Best place to eat out:
Le Grand Bellevue. A one Michelin star restaurant. Order the incredible beef.
Best Place to be Seen:
The Gstaad Palace hotel lobby bar on a Saturday night.
Local insider tip:
The slopes are actually open before lunch…( Unlike the hard-core skiers in Verbier, Gstaad residents have a reputation for loving mountain life but taking a more leisurely approach to their skiing.)
Property for Sale:
A wonderfully traditional and spacious elegant chalet in Rougemont with seven bedrooms, staff accommodation, extensive underground parking for CHF 9,500,000. Available for non-Swiss residents.
St Moritz
Above: Four-bedroom apartment St Moritz
Best Piste Run:
Corvatsch. This amazing run starts on the Corvatsch Glacier at 3303 metres.
Best place to eat out:
Usteria Rabgiusa at the base of the Rabgiusa chairlift. Wonderful unassuming local restaurant with friendly service and excellent Italian-influenced food.
Best Place to be Seen:
The Badrutt’s Palace lobby bar in St Moritz Bad where a who’s who of European royalty and elegant celebrities pass through each year.
Local insider tip:
Try a “taxi ride” on the Olympic Bob sleigh Run (the only natural ice bob track on the world).
Property for Sale:
A comfortable four-bedroom apartment on the Via Ruinatsch with wide terraces and parking for CHF 1,340,000.
For further advice on Swiss properties for sale contact Alex Koch de Gooreynd, Head of Knight Frank’s Swiss Network.