Spend the heights of summer in Verbier
Verbier is a haven of activity into the summer with the traditional alpine features mixing with exhilarating activities. This year is set to be another great season in the Verbier St-Bernard region with mountain biking, Via Ferrata and cultural events at the centre of proceedings. Exciting building projects reaffirm Verbier St-Bernard as a region of the Alps keen to improve year on year.
Here are your key dates for the diary over the coming months:
6th – 7th July 2013
The Verbier St-Bernard Trail Race will take place. Now in its 5th year this event sees competitors run over 110km in a loop that takes in the five valleys and seven communes that make up Verbier St-Bernard. The event can be run as a two man relay with the first half from Verbier to La Fouly undertaken by one competitor with the second running from La Fouly back to Verbier trailvsb.com
19th July – 4th August 2013
This year sees the 20th anniversary of the Verbier Festival, a 17 day celebration of the best in international classical music. Over 50 concerts take place with a range of musical tastes catered from including jazz, orchestra and world music.
This year sees the creation of an exciting initiative aimed at 15-17 year olds, the Verbier Festival Music Camp. Also lasting three weeks, this programme is led by the conductor Daniel Harding with 60 places to be filled by promising musicians of the next generation verbierfestival.com
12th – 13th October 2013
The back end of the summer season sees an exciting camp centre around the Verbier La Tzoumaz Bike Park. Dakine pro team experts will be on hand to transform youngsters into the next big thing in mountain biking. The camp that runs over two days is a must for aspiring mountain bikers with fast progression expected verbierbikepark.ch
Mountain biking is set for a big summer generally in the region that includes Verbier itself, Val de Bagnes, Pays du St-Bernard and La Tzoumaz. To encourage more holidaymakers to get on their bikes there is a 20% off offer on accommodation and mountain bike hire. This is applicable on stays over 2 nights with further information available at verbier.ch/booking
To aid mountain bikers and other mountain lovers the lift times are extended this summer on the cable car between Verbier and Les Ruinettes. These extended times will allow for the lift to operate on weekends in June and then every day between 6th July and 27th October (the end date is dependent on weather). Detailed timings can be found at verbierbooking.com
December 2013
With the Verbier skyline transforming there are two exciting new openings during the month. W Hotels opens its first exclusive hotel in the mountains, the Trois Rocs complex includes the hotel as well as private apartments, spa and wellness centre, gourmet restaurant and club as well as a shopping centre lestroicsrocs.com wverbier.ch
Bruson is set to be linked to the wider ski area with a new gondola running from Le Châble to Les Mayens de Bruson. December will see this 14 month project come to an end with the opening of the gondola.
Other developments
There’s more to do on foot this coming summer with a couple of exciting developments up the mountain. The first of these is the new Via Ferrata in the Val de Bagnes. The 800m course with a gradient of 150m is from Madzeiria to Mauvoisin, free with the correct experience and equipment. Those less familiar with the adrenaline pursuit of Via Ferrata can find a guide at guideverbier.com
The second addition to the Verbier slopes is a new suspension bridge for pedestrians at the foot of the Corbassiere Glacier in the Val de Bagnes. Spanning from Cabane Brunet to Cabane Panossiere the bridge will provide both a useful link and an opportunity for stunning views to be taken in of the glacier.
The final addition is the resurrection of a feature of the mountain. The Bisse des Ravines in Bruson was last used back in 1942. After work commissioned by the Commune de Bagnes the Bisse, that seemingly precariously hugs the side of the mountain to make for an exciting walk, will be open to tourists.
For further information on Verbier St-Bernard and a summer of events visit verbier.ch