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Crans-Montana
Crans-Montana is charming, sporty, entertaining, culturally mature and trendy. Tasteful ambience amidst the most plentiful Alpine shopping in the world is what characterizes the town's chic.
280 km of hiking routes extend between five mountain lakes and fragrant forests. Water as life-giver: Crans-Montana has brought the Alpine irrigation system that dates from the 12th century and the paths along its canals back to life again. The «Bisse du Rho» with its overhanging passages is a special jewel. But Crans-Montana also means: mountain biking, horse riding, bridge clubs, enjoying music festivals, visiting art exhibitions, archery, hot air balloon flights, playing street ball, rink-hockey and lakeside volleyball. It is home to a Culture and Congress Centre of international repute, which regularly hosts meetings of world-famous political leaders. Crans Montana is also famous for its holes - the ones on the golf course. The European Masters is one of the top events in the Swiss calendar. The amazing Severiano Ballesteros (18-hole) and Jack Nicklaus (9-hole) golf courses boast a magical backdrop: a panoramic view from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc.
Crans Montana is situated on a sunny plateau at some 1500 meter altitude and overlooking the Rhone Valley. The Rhone Valley lies in the south of Switzerland and is separated from the border with Italy by a rugged swathe of mountains called the Southern Alps. As a (summer) destination Crans Montana is probably more suited to those seeking nature and quiet surroundings then to party animals but nevertheless there is a very adequate choice of some 80 restaurants, some 20 bars, there is a casino , cinema's etc.
Culture and history:
In the immediate and wider vicinity of Crans Montana there are there are many villages, some of them centuries old where time has seemingly stood still. Down in the Rhone Valley one should not omit to visit Martigny and Sion (www.siontourism.ch). Both are very old and well preserved town centres. Please do not forget to visit the famous exposition centre in Martigny (www.gianadda.ch). Nor should you fail to head for de Val d'Anniviers (www.sierre-anniviers.ch) on the other side of the vally where the small towns of St Luc and Grimentz are not to be missed.
The Rhone valley is famous for it's wines. Many of them white and dry with a just a hint of sparkle. There are several wine trails and you can visit the caves where the wines are matured.
Sport:
Golf : Three 18 hole golf courses are found in the region, day tickets can be bought for about 40 EUR :
Walking / mountain biking: In the vicinity of Bluche and also around Crans Montana you will find a fabulous area for walking. There are numerous routes laid out for every level of walker.
- Unique to the area and world famous are the bisses. The bisses were built over the centuries (some are more than 500 years old) as irrigation channels which led water from the glaciers to the vineyards, sometimes many miles away. The water was led over dry moutainslopes in hollowed out tree trunks and through gutters which were cut out of the rocks often along dizzying drop-offs.
Now a days they are no longer in use for this purpose but serve as walking routes. Whilst on a trek along the bisses you will experience the relaxation of walking along easy mountain paths, the energy of the bubbling water, respect for the amount of work and determination involved in constructing them, the silence along the ancient mountain routes and sometimes with
Anxiety when passing a particularly steep drop off.
For more information about the bisses click www.crans-montana.ch. Do not miss them!
- Various hiking tracks well above 2,500 meters where you can stay for the night in special cabins. There are day trips but also tracks for three, five or seven days.
Swimming
- In the environment of Crans Montana there are several lakes in which you can swim to your heart's content. During the summer the water is warm and the
beaches are safe for children. Down in the valley in Sierre there is another beautiful lake.
- Open and indoor swimming pools you will find in Crans Montana and also in
Sierre (10 km from Bluche)
- Several waterparks and amusement parks you find in the valley.
- For more information about the region please click www.valaistourism.ch
For more information about Crans-Montana please click www.crans-montana.ch
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