Grimentz is part of the Val d'Anniviers area. The ski pass covers 220km of piste across five different areas/resorts these are: Grimentz, St Luc, Chandolin, Zinal and Vericon. It’s actually on the opposite side of the valley to Crans Montanna and only a very short distance from Zermatt and Verbier. Grimentz was recently described by The Sunday Times as a “boutique” resort like St-Foy and Vaujany.
If you like ancient, quiet, totally unspoilt mountain villages together with a modern lift system then this is the place for you. In addition to the piste skiing the area is famous for its fabulous off piste skiing and its mountain touring. For magnificent views just off one the pistes in Grimentz there is a stunning 360 degree panoramic view of the Imperial Crown – five 4000m peaks – Weisshorn, Zinalrothorn, Obergabelhorn, Dent-Blanche and the Matterhorn. The village itself has tiny cobbled streets and in some places they are so narrow that the roofs of the chalets almost touch each other in the middle.
The skiing in Grimentz is mainly between 1340m to 3000m although the vast majority of the skiing is above 2100m thus the area is snow secure. The area has varied skiing from open pistes to forest runs and steep blacks to easy blues. There is a great snow park at 2500m in Grimentz and additionally one in Zinal. The lift system is modern with Gondolas, Cable cars, a funicular in St Luc and fast six man chairlifts.
To get to the other resorts in the area from Grimentz there are free buses – a regular bus goes from Grimentz to Zinal and a slightly more irregular service to the other resorts. If you are a competent skier there is a fantastic long black run from Zinal back to Grimentz which starts steep and then meanders through the forest until you pop out a short walk from the main gondola station in Grimentz. A new cable car link is planned to link Zinal and Grimentz for next season and in addition a thermal pool complex is due to open in 2010.
Grimentz has many accolades and has been described by Where to Ski and Snowboard 2008 as “Europe’s best-kept secret” and an “undiscovered gem”. As Where to Ski and Snowboard 2008 says “get there fast before it has time to catch up with the 21st century! It has also recently been featured in the Ski and Board Magazine and many others.
Apres-Ski:
The best après ski bar is Chez Florioz which is located at the bottom of the slopes in Grimentz; this has good music, serves very nice food and is always packed straight after skiing.
There two pubs; Domino and Le County (which has a pool table and table football ) together with one disco – Disco Shaddock open until 3am.
There are a number of excellent restaurants we particularly recommend Meleze which has an excellent selection with a great hot rock or Fondue Chinos (both not oil) with endless meat, salad, chips and sauces together with a great ambience. In addition there is the Restaurant Alpina that serves good oven baked beef with sauces; Arlequin that serves good pizzas, Becs-de-Bosson, Claire Fontaione which is directly in the centre of the old village and serves a wide variety of crepes and finally perhaps one of our favourites Restaurant Moiry with an old world feel with ancient paintings of the famous fighting cows of the valley and an open oven that’s really cosy at night.
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