This lovely 4 bedroom chalet, which sleeps 8-10 people, is situated overlooking the village of Grimentz and just 200m from the piste. Given suitable snow conditions, a good skier can ski virtually into the back door.
It is 700 metres from the (free) ski bus stop which is then just a 5 minute drive to the main lift, or you can drive a few minutes and park at the station. The lift is open in summer for walkers and mountain bikers and in winter for skiers.
The chalet is fully furnished with a wall mounted TV with built in DVD, HI-FI and free internet access. The kitchen is fully fitted with modern appliances including oven, hob, dishwasher and fridge freezer.
4 bedrooms (3 double and 1 bunk bed room), 1 bathroom with a WC, 1 shower room with WC and a further shower room. There is a spacious open plan kitchen, and a huge dining and living area. Above this is a large mezzanine sleeping area.
There is also a balcony and terrace area with chairs, a table and a bbq
Introduction
Grimentz is one of the most beautiful and picturesque of the old Valaisan villages in the Val d’Anniviers. The area is found in the furthest east of the French speaking valleys in the canton of Valais (Wallis in German), situated around 2 hours from Geneva. Valais itself boasts the 10 highest mountains in Switzerland – all over 4,000m. The capital of Valais, Sion, is a delightful old city in the Rhone valley, which has numerous historic remains, including a 13th-century castle, a late Gothic cathedral and a 17th-century town hall. French is the principal language but English is widely understood.
Getting here
Grimentz is just over 2 hours from Geneva airport, and only 40 minutes from Sion Airport. There are excellent train links to Sierre, the nearest town, from numerous entry points into Switzerland, including Geneva airport. There is a bus service from Sierre to Grimentz, and taxis are readily available.
Winter
In winter, the free regular bus service starts at the end of the road and takes just a few minutes to transport you down to the main telecabine lift which then whisks you up to 2110m in a matter of minutes. From there, there are plenty of uncrowded pistes to enjoy with something to suit all levels from beginner to advanced. Your ski pass for Grimentz also covers the neighbouring villages of St Luc, Chandolin, Vercorin and Zinal, giving a total of 220km of piste skiing, plus a huge area of off piste to enjoy. A free shuttle bus operates throughout the ski season to link the other villages. Verbier is 90 minutes drive, and Crans Montana one hour.
Summer
In summer, Grimentz is transformed to a delightful green haven with an abundance of mountain walks to suit all levels, mountain biking, tennis and other outdoor sports. The Moiry glacier is 20 minutes drive, just above the large Moiry dam, which has cobalt blue waters. There is a weekly themed market in the village on a Friday during high season.
Anniviers Liberté pass 2012
This new pass entitles you to more than 20 free activities and transport in the region in summer. This includes lifts and cable cars, buses, swimming, tennis, mini golf and guided tours. This pass will be provided to you by our agents on your arrival and is INCLUDED in the price of your holiday rental.
Eating and Drinking
There are numerous hotels, bars and restaurants dotted around the village, with something to suit all tastes. Fondue and raclette are typical specialities served in a number of the establishments. If you fancy something a little different there is a British run company based in Grimentz who, amongst other things, will deliver home cooked food to your door ready for you to reheat at your convenience. They can also provide a complete drinks package for your holiday should you desire. In the Sierre area, there is an annual wine festival and a 2 Michelin starred restaurant at the Hotel Terminus.
Shopping
There are 2 supermarkets, 2 bakers, a butcher / fishmonger and a gluten free delicatessen in Grimentz, which can cater for all your food shopping needs whilst you are here, plus sports and gift shops. There are numerous vineyards in the valley.
Children
Grimentz is the perfect holiday destination if you have children. There is a creche at the top of the mountain in ski season, an excellent “snow garden” which helps teach the basics of skiing from about age 3 upwards, and then the 2 local ski schools provide group lessons for kids every week. In summer, the tourist office organises numerous activities to keep children amused such as arts and crafts, trampoline and treasure hunts, plus there are tennis courts, a swimming pool and mini golf all within the village itself.
Further afield
There is plenty to enjoy in the region - there are several other attractive villages to explore within the Val d’Anniviers itself. Less than an hour away is Leukerbad - the largest thermal springs centre in Europe, with several thermal bath complexes. Or, in a little over 2 hours you could be sipping a coffee on the shores of the Italian lakes.
Both Zermatt and Saas Fee are within easy reach for a day trip.
