#helvet magazine Verbier | Winter 2019-2020 | EN

Verbier Beneath the swirling snowflakes, a vibrant resort sits contentedly at the heart of one of the most beautiful freeride areas in the world.

Living the high life

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Editorial Verbier shines on Switzerland’s Best Ski Resort for the second year running. At the end of November, the World Ski Awards once again put Verbier at the pinnacle of Swiss ski resorts. The accolade is reward for the commitment shown by the municipality and all the professionals who have helped make this Alpine citadel the outstanding place that it is. In further good news, the W was named the World’s Best Ski Hotel for the fourth time.

Verbier is a ritual, a flash of light in winter, an eternal mountain location, a snowflake, and a timeless and essential haven that casts its spell season after season. Verbier is unique in that it is a discreet yet universal place where the whole world can meet. Royalty and A-listers know it well and converge in superchalets. From David Beckham (who appears in these pages) to Madonna, and from Richard Branson to James Blunt, many have stayed in Verbier, now an essential destination, or fallen head over heels with the place and decided to buy here.

In awarding their prize, the jurors of the World Ski Awards have expressed all that, all the things that helvet has spent the last ten years extolling in this magazine and in the beautiful book we have recently devoted to Verbier – 288 pages of timeless images – in an effort to elevate the real and the unreal. And then there is helvet Zermatt, shortly to be followed by others, all of them declarations of our passion for this country’s outstanding locations.

They are Switzerland’s windows to the wider world, doors that open out to the most remarkable places on the planet. helvet is the soul of the nation contained in its name. helvet is Switzerland, the Swiss-made, la suissitude. It is everything that this country is and everything that this country does best and will do even better.

The snow is falling and the magic is here. Come and experience it for yourself.

Christian Bugnon

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

A C C O M M O D AT I O N O N LY S E L F - C AT E R E D BED AND BRE AKFAST F U L LY C AT E R E D LIMITLESS SERVICE

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Contents 16

News Winter 2019-2020 22

Les 4 Vallées A ski area worthy of superlatives 28

Beckham On top of the world

86

An international school where skiing is king 90

Verbier Festival Where art reaches the greatest heights 97

The legend of the PdG

36

goes on in Verbier

Jonas Schäfer

98

Portfolio 46

Chalet La Marmottière Out of the ordinary 54

Steiger & Cie an Encyclopaedia of Mountain Real Estate

Charity Night gets a makeover 100

Verbier the capital of well-being 106

60

Trends

The vast whiteness of the Grand Désert

Watches

68

What to watch

High Jewellery In wonderland 78

111 Spring 2020 112

High Jewellery Watches

Trends

Those Precious Moments

Luxury

Editing, administration and advertising District Creative Lab sàrl I Place de l’Hôtel de Ville 2 – 1110 Morges - Suisse I info@district.swiss I www.district.swiss I Tel : +41 21 312 41 41 | 30° degrees magazine special issue Editor-in-chief Christian Bugnon : christian@district.swiss Assistant Mélissa Hertzeisen : melissa@district.swiss Writers (in order of appearance) Laurent Grabet, Daniel Bauchervez, Claude Hervé-Bazin, Nathalie Cobos, Marie de Pimodan-Bugnon, Janine Vuilleumier, Christian Bugnon Photographers (in order of appearance) Raphael Sumont, Haute montagne, Yves Garneau, Tudor, Jonas Schäfer, David Carlier, Verbier international school, Lucien Grandjean, Diane Deschenaux, Silvia Laurent, PdG Pascal Perraudin, Alpimages Thomas Roulin, W Verbier, Cordée des Alpes, Frédéric Ducout Graphic design District Creative Lab – Tania Bétrisey, Samuel Galley, Simon Castro, (DA) Christian Bugnon English translation Simon Till, Paul Subrenat Photo-offset printing Images3 Advertising info@district.swiss Copyright © 2020 helvet magazine, Unauthorized duplication/copying of all or any part of this magazine is strictly prohibited without the express prior permission of the rightful owners. Cover Yves Garneau | Next issue: winter 2020-2021 I from the same collection: the helvet Verbier book – helvet Zermatt magazine | available on www.helvet.swiss Living the high life

spread the flow of skiers across the season by offering slightly

news

more attractive prices to people who come during quieter periods. Prices will also vary in line with visitor numbers. Dynamic pricing will be introduced in the Verbier sector and La Tzoumaz-Savoleyres, where a day’s skiing will respectively cost between CHF 57 and 62.50

Winter 2019-2020

and between CHF 50 and 55. www.easyverbier.com

Winter sports Food and drink

Shopping

MICHAUD:

TIME NEVER

LOOKED SO GOOD

HAUTE

CUISINE

5.0

It’s official: the Haute Cuisine Festival is returning to W Verbier on 1-4 April 2020 for its fifth consecutive edition. This

The interior sets the tone: soft

major culinary event will bring

lighting, warm wood panelling,

together no fewer than ten wor-

deep sofas and thick carpets. A

ld-famous chefs with 16 Miche-

standard bearer of Neuchatel

lin stars between them and will

jewellery and watchmaking

see Verbier become the capital

for four generations, Bijouterie

city of the culinary world for

Michaud opened in Verbier in

four whole days. Together they

2011. Expertise and the very best advice are the order of the

series of interactive cookery workshops, all with a dash of good humour and as part of a programme that also features truly outstanding themed dinners and around a dozen other events (shows, fashion shows,

L E T ’S

DO THE

LUGE It’s the longest luge track in

live music and more besides),

French-speaking Switzerland:

each to be enjoyed with a cock-

10km of non-stop action. A

tail or two.

gondola lift runs up to the start,

www.wverbier-restaurants.com/ haute-cuisine

in Savoleyres, situated 2,354m

Ski area

VERBIER

SWITCHES

TO DYNAMIC

up above the Verbier valley and looking out to the majestic Combins. Equipment can be rented on site and the groomed track is wide and fast. It starts out running along ridges in the sunshine before weaving in

PRICING

and out of the trees. Descents

Buying a pass in advance has

and 30 minutes and leave you in

will serve up their valuable

just got cheaper, thanks to dy-

the pleasant family resort of La

advice and trade secrets in a

namic pricing. The aim is to

Tzoumaz, perched 1,500m up

can take anything between ten

day in a store in which every

above the Rhône Valley. Don’t

detail recalls the ambiance of

forget your helmet.

a luxury chalet, which is all

www.latzoumaz.ch

the better for showcasing the elegance of pieces designed

by Rolex, Hublot, Breitling, H. Moser, Zenith, Tudor, Messika,

Winter sports

GO SKIING

Pomellato and Shamballa Jew-

IN BULGARIA

els, among others. Step into the

Never heard of Bansko? It’s a

luxurious world of Bijouterie

pretty little Balkan resort that’s

Michaud and you’ll almost for-

home to traditional wooden

get about the skiing altogether.

houses and cobbled streets

www.michaud.ch

and is situated beneath expan-

from the Col des Gentianes or Mont-Gelé, on the yellow run.

Whichever way you’re coming from you’ll be greeted with a smile by Daniel and Frances Bruchez, who’ve been holding the fort since 1983. There’s fondue on the menu, of course, along with rösti and pizzas. www.cabanemontfort.ch

Verbier by night

W

© melodysky

DJs AT THE

Mountain refuge

The last word in urban cool, W

sive pine forests on the slopes

tackling the pristine slopes,

of the Vihren (2,914m). The

with the aid of an experienced

mountain is the highest point

guide. Ahead of them lies an elevation loss of between 1,750

MONT-FORT

at the Living Room, the hotel’s

of the stunningly beautiful Pirin massif, almost all of which

and 2,600 metres, depending on

Everyone loves the Cabane du

which has just been given a

has national-park status. This

the starting point: Le Petit-Com-

Mont-Fort refuge. Winter after

makeover but still retains the

particular part of the world is

bin, La Rosablanche, Le Pigne

winter, people make the journey

same views of the valley. Mixing

home to bears and wolves and

d’Arolla, or Le Trient. Solo tra-

on snow shoes from Les Rui-

the beats this winter is Nathalie

sees considerable snowfalls up

vellers or groups, single drop or

nettes, studying the works of the

Roache, the winner of the 2019

on high. This winter, 4 Vallées

a full day’s charter, gentle slopes

3-D Sculpture Park along the way.

DJette Search, with a resident

season pass holders who book

or steep (very steep): the choice

It’s a delightful three-hour walk,

DJ at one of Europe’s major

partner accommodation at the

is yours. You can also choose to

with the snowy peaks of Les

W hotels joining her once a

resort can ski there for free for

offset your CO2 emissions.

Combins providing the backdrop.

month. It’s the perfect occasion

three whole days. There’s every

www.helialps.ch

The view from the natural van-

to try some creative cocktails,

chance they’ll enjoy it too.

www.heliskiing-switzerland.com

tage point up top, at 2,457m, is

prepared by the Living Room’s

www.heliski-alpes.com

also awe-inspiring. Alternatively,

very own mixologists.

www.guides-verbier.com

you can stop off on the descent

www.wverbier.com

Winter sports

VERBIER,

MY CABANE DU

hotels never miss an opportunity to party. In Verbier, the party is iconic avant-garde bar-lounge,

THE CAPITAL OF

HELI-SKIING A helicopter flies above a world of seemingly untouched white peaks and cloud-filled valleys and skims over a vertiginous ridge before gently landing in a huge field of virgin snow. Its rotors whip up a snowstorm as it deposits a party of skiers. Alone in the face of the giant mountain, they have the delightful task of

17

news

Event

HIGH

5

the start line) and the waterslide,

runs for skiers to enjoy (5.6%

the summit will also be running

in which participants try to ski

of the whole 4 Vallées ski area),

a programme of cultural events,

across a stretch of water without

Bruson has an appealing tran-

with guided tours, concerts,

sinking. The best will earn se-

quillity about it. You’ll find that

screenings and workshops.

lection to a final in which they

peace and quiet on the blanketed

www.verbierartsummit.org

take on leading sports perso-

knolls of the Six-Blanc, which

nalities. This fun-packed event

offers views of the whole of

has attracted a large number of

Verbier and its valley, and on its

pro skiers over the years. The

legendary woodland runs, which

action on the snow is followed

are dotted with powder pillows.

by a wicked after-ski party,

www.4vallees.ch

featuring concerts, DJ sets and jacuzzis at the Chalet Carlsberg

Culture

Verbier by night

FARMING ANYONE? The Farm Club remains as rele-

ART

vant as it has ever been. Found-

HIGHEST

than anywhere else in the Alps,

Taking place on 31 January and

Ross and David Bowie have

1 February, the fourth Verbier

danced here together, trailing

Art Summit will attract artists,

most of the jet set and a few

SKIERS

architects and leading aca-

royals behind them.

demics from the world over.

www.experimentalchalet.com/party

and then Pub Mont-Fort. www.verbierhighfive.com

Ski area

A HAVEN

FOR

SOLO

AT ITS

This year’s theme could hardly

Had enough of the wide sun-

be more topical: how should

Next year’s High Five by Car-

kissed runs and breath-taking

art respond to the increasing

lsberg takes place on 11 April

views of Les Combins? Then

scarcity of resources and play

2020. The event involves four

it’s time to head to the western

its part in the necessary deve-

races open to all amateur skiers:

slopes of the Val de Bagnes, in

lopment towards an improved

giant slalom, the flying kilome-

the shadow of the Mont-Blanc

ecological equilibrium? Admis-

tre, ski cross (with four skiers on

massif. Offering just 23km of

sion to the debates is free and

ed 49 years ago, the legendary, cosmopolitan and celebratory Verbier nightspot probably shifts more bottles of Moët et Chandon and Dom Pérignon which comes as no surprise when you consider that Diana

Event

FROM FWT

TO E-BIKE The organisers of the Freeride World Tour have been kept busy over the summer, launching a new event: the Verbier E-Bike Festival. Recognition if it were needed of the spectacular electric bike boom of the last few years and the resort’s wholehearted commitment to the discipline. Next year, the

www.verbierebikefestival.com

W FOR

Shopping

Despite its young age, W Verbier

AIRP ORT

continues to rack up the awards.

Reaching the slopes of Les 4

UNVEILS

At the prestigious World Travel

Vallées is about to become very

Awards on 8 June 2019 it was

easy indeed. On 21 December,

named Switzerland’s Leading

Swiss Federal Railways will

LINEN DESIGN

Resort and Leading Hotel Resi-

be launching the Verbier-Ex-

A BANG!

dence of the year. Then, at the

press, a direct service to the

What are you doing on Saturday

World Luxury Hotel Awards in

new underground station in Le

25 April? That’s the day when

the autumn, it picked up three

Châble, which means no more

Verbier closes its season in

more accolades: Best Luxury Ski

changes at Martigny. Operating

style with the Ultime Session,

The collaboration sees Hästens’

Hotel in Western Europe, Best

double-decker trains, it will

an 80s-themed skiing party tak-

iconic blue check, which cele-

General Manager in Switzer-

run every Saturday and Sunday

ing place in the Snowpark. The

festival will take place from 12-16 August 2020 and will offer something for everyone, from a cuisine-themed ride to the grand tour of Les Combins and Mont Blanc, a three-day, invitation-only 325km trip with an elevation gain of 13,000m, That’s the great thing about e-bikes – you can cover more ground with them.

HÄSTENS

A NEW BED

BY LARS NILSSON

Hotels

WINNER

land, and the Chairman’s Choice

through the winter, with a single

Award. And just to top it off, the

departure time from the airport

establishment was recognised as

at 7.20 am. On arrival, passen-

the World’s Best Ski Resort for

gers will have direct access to

the fourth year running at the

the cable car station, where

World Ski Awards in November.

they can travel on to Verbier

www.wverbier.com

or Bruson. Just the ticket for

Mobility

DIRECT FROM GENEVA

an environmentally friendly and congestion-free weekend of skiing! www.sbb.ch

Event

GOING

OUT WITH

brated its 40th anniversary last

day’s challenges will include a

year, completely reimagined

banked slalom pairs event (a

for a series of bed linen and

real boneshaker!) and a truly

accessories. Made from 100%

daunting waterslide that gobbles

cotton, the collection is as un-

up its fair share of skiers (take a

compromising on quality as it

tip from us: don’t be too confi-

is on design. Natural, light and

dent or too slow and don’t forget

soft, the material is naturally

to bring a change of clothes).

environmentally friendly and

New for 2020: human bowling!

helps to regulate body tempera-

Let’s just hope the weather be-

ture in both summer and winter.

haves this time around!

www.betten-hastens.ch

www.4vallees.ch

19

news

Mobility

SWISSPASS

REACHES

VERBIER Verbier is the first resort in

Ski area

all times, Téléverbier has under-

season ticket, which is gradu-

SNOW GUARANTEED

ally being rolled out across the

Poor snow cover has been a pro-

voleyres and Les Planards, and

country following the creation

blem in recent seasons and has

on the Planards-Esserts piste,

of a large network of partner-

occasionally prevented skiers

which was recently renamed

ships with a broad range of

from making their way freely

Philippe Roux. Thanks to these

stakeholders. Thanks to the

between Savoleyres and Ver-

improvements, skiers can now

system, users can now down-

bier. Well, those problems are a

make their way back down on

load their ski passes at home.

thing of the past! To ensure that

skis instead of having to take

www.swisspass.ch

essential link remains open at

the cable car.

to accept the new SwissPass, Switzerland’s public transport

taken extensive work to enable the installation of state-of-theart snowmaking machines on the Sud piste, which links Sa-

VERTIGO

AT THE FWT

It’s time for a tour, a Freeride World Tour. The first meet of the year takes place in Hakuba, Japan, from 18-25 January. The next stops are at Kicking Horse in British Columbia from 612 February (record pow pow in prospect) and Vallnord-Arcalís in Andorra from 28 February4 March (thank you leap year).

Fieberbrunn in Austria will host the last leg from 7-13 March, at which point the axe will fall in the rankings to determine which riders will battle it out on the legendary Bec des Rosses at the © Yves Garneau

French-speaking Switzerland

Event

Xtreme Grand Finale, in Verbier from 28 March-5 April. That’s a whole lot of excitement on the horizon. www.freerideworldtour.com

PURE ENERGY LIVES HERE.

#verbier | verbier.ch

Les 4 Vallées A ski area worthy of superlatives Text: Laurent Grabet / Photos: Raphael Surmont

25

Mont Gelé offers a wide variety of lines, with something for every decent skier.

Switzerland’s largest ski area, it is also one of its most complete. There is something for every snow sports lover at Verbier, from novice freeriders to foodies out for a Sunday ski trip.

Easy to reach by rail, especially from Geneva Airport, Les 4 Vallées ski area is truly in a league of its own. With its 410 kilometres of runs served by 80 ski lifts and stretching across the resorts of Verbier, Veysonnaz, Thyon, Nendaz, La Tzoumaz and Bruson, it is the largest in Switzerland and the third-biggest in Europe. One day is nowhere near enough to discover it in its entirety. In fact, it will take you all that time just to ski from one end to the other.

Les 4 Vallées is also one of the highest ski domains in Switzerland, rising as high as 3,300m. In these days of global warming, it guarantees snow, with a battery of 510 snowmaking machines in reserve just in case. The season starts here in December, without fail – and sometimes even in November – with the traditional “opening session”, where skiers dressed up as Santa Claus or Père Fouettard (St Nicholas’ helper) can ski for CHF5. The season comes to a close in mid-April.

27

Europe’s undisputed freeride capital, with La Grave (France) occupying a quite different category entirely, Verbier nearly always delivers excellent snow, thanks its altitude and size.

- Annecy - 502 792 393 - JULBO RCS 645 950 197 - © Jeremy Bernard

PHOTOCHROMIC

NO MATTER THE WEATHER Léo SLEMETT

The very best skiing

A visual feast

Les 4 Vallées caters for every taste and level, from beginners, freeriders and freestylers to seasoned skiers and racers. The runs are impeccably prepared and patrolled.

Lovers of steep slopes and complete tranquillity make a beeline for Bruson, for a long and wild descent through the trees to Châble.

Freeriders are simply spoiled for choice, from the countless lines on the famous Mont Gelé, whose cable car was refurbished two years ago, to the Mont-Fort backside run, or one of the area’s seven ski itineraries. These runs, covered by non-packed snow, are patrolled and accessible to proficient skiers, even if they don’t have an avalanche transceiver (DVA) or any avalanche expertise. Verbier is also an Alpine mecca of heli-skiing and lies close to no fewer than four areas dedicated to it.

Les 4 Vallées affords unique views of the Swiss, French and Italian Alps. From the peak of Mont-Fort, at 3,300m, the eye is met by a land where the snow always lies, taking in summits as beautiful and as legendary as Les Combins, La Dent Blanche, the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc. A “photopoint” has been set up at the entrance to the cable car and allows skiers to activate the camera with their ski pass and then retrieve their photos from the website www.skiline.cc.

Les 4 Vallées has another string to its bow: its cuisine. The Verbier-Bruson sector alone is home to some 23 high-altitude restaurants and bars. The Igloo du Mont-Fort is the highest of them all, but not the largest, and serves the highest fondue in the Alps. Verbier? It’s a place that only superlatives can describe. www.4vallees.ch

29

Beckham On top of the world Text: Daniel Bauchervez / Photos: Tudor

33

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David Beckham spent a few days in Verbier recently, getting to grips with backcountry snowboarding with the help of a Norwegian Olympic champion. Did the former footballer manage to rise to the challenge?

It’s four in the morning and Verbier is up and about.

Correction: It’s four in the morning and David Beckham is up and about, in Verbier.

Sporting a headtorch over his woolly hat, the British football icon slowly climbs his way up the mountainside in the dark, splitboard skis on his feet and a fine blanket of powder underneath. Before long, sunshine bathes the mountain in intense golden light, as day breaks on a cloudless, majestic and captivating landscape. “Amazing,” says the ex-midfielder, a world away from his usual stamping grounds. “It feels like you’re on top of the world. A fresh blanket of snow fell last night and the conditions are perfect for snowboarding.”

So here’s what it’s all about: Beckham has been invited to Switzerland by the watchmaker Tudor with the idea of trying his hand at snowboarding. Where exactly? In Verbier, of course, on the slopes of the Massif des Combins.

Beckham is not one to shirk such a challenge and is a natural fit as the Swiss watchmaker’s new brand ambassador, a partnership that has taken #BorntoDare as its slogan.

His childhood ambition to become a footballer at all costs, his success, his long career playing for Manchester United among others, his media profile and his role as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador all point to an iron will and an ability to test himself and take risks, qualities that reflect the brand’s DNA. Tudor sent out a very special guide to accompany Beckham on his adventure: four-time Olympic champion and Norwegian snowboarding star Kjersti Buaas. Skiing instructors do not come much better than her. Stylish and full of enthusiasm and positive energy, the two have plenty in common.

No sooner had they peeled the ski skins from their splitboards, than the intrepid duo set off down the virgin slope. “I couldn’t try other sports when I was playing and it’s only since I retired that I’ve got into snowboarding with my children,” says Beckham. “I was a bit apprehensive to start with. I’d heard that the slopes of Verbier were a bit of a challenge. But it’s amazing to follow in the tracks of a world-class athlete. All I want to do now is just go back out there and do it again.”

The Black Bay P01 Beckham wore that day is a precision timepiece based on a prototype developed in the 1960s for the US Navy.

Check it out on page 107.

35

Jonas Schäfer The mountains are my home Text: Claude Hervé-Bazin / Photos: Jonas Schäfer

37

Previous page: A curious young Alpine ibex watches the world go by from a rocky ridge – an iconic image with the Alps as a backdrop.

A face-to-face meeting on the rocks with two young males. One has his eyes fixed on the photographer, the other seems less concerned.

39

41

Previous pages: From old males with big horns to inquisitive kids, the Alpine ibex is not easily frightened and is happy to stare it out.

This image earned Jonas Schäfer an honourable mention in the National Geographic Travel Photo Contest (Nature category).

Young photographer Jonas Schäfer has an all-consuming ambition: to see and to show through the prism of his camera. His energy derives from his passion for the mountains and the animals that live there, chief among them the Alpine ibex.

In September 2018, Jonas Schäfer earned an “honourable mention” in the nature category of the prestigious National Geographic Travel Photo Contest. In his eyes, that fourth place was like winning gold, a just reward for all the photographic wanderings and explorations of his formative years.

So, what is in the shot? A herd of Alpine ibex crossing a ridge in the Bernese Oberland, with a rocky crest stretching below them and clouds floating through the valley. Surrounded by nature at its most beautiful, these kings of the Alps are masters of all they survey.

The effort and patience he invested in capturing that image is plain to see, just as it is in all the other images he has ever taken of these animals. The photo came about thanks to hours of walking, unstinting diligence and a little bit of luck. Like all animal photographers, Jonas lives for the spoils of the hunt – that precious moment where all the stars align: the subject, the setting and the light. It is a small yet unforgettable miracle. That image is his window to the world, his wide mountain world, an image that arouses our very sense of identity.

“I know where I come from” A federal civilian employee, Jonas is dreaming of a career as a professional photographer. Though he acknowledges that he has a long way to go, he is working hard, swapping VAT calculations for Alpine paths whenever he can and going in search of extraordinary landscapes and legendary animals.

Though he has already travelled extensively in his young life, tracking down sharks in Hawaii and lions in Africa (a love of his since his childhood days), the photographer admits to an immense feeling of joy whenever he comes back to Switzerland. “The mountains are my domain and the animals that live there are my passion,” he says. “That’s where I feel happiest in this world.”

“Photography is the reason why I’m on this earth” Armed with his faithful Canon 5d Mark IV, Jonas walks the mountains in summer and explores them on snow shoes and skis in the winter, as often as he can and preferably when the sun is rising or about to set. “The Alps fill me with energy and joy,” he explains. “They remind me, every time I go out, of the beauty of the world in which we are so fortunate to live. That’s what drives me. That’s the reason why I’m on this earth.”

Jonas is thinking big. But what is his goal? “To capture a unique moment, to create amazing images (both in nature and in form) and emotions, and to contribute to the understanding of the world of living things and protect its diversity.” It is quite an undertaking. www.jonasschaefer.photography

Chalet La Marmottière Out of the ordinary Text: Claude Hervé-Bazin / Photos: Yves Garneau

47

Marmot holes are getting bigger in Verbier, and much more stylish too. This particular one, combining two neighbouring chalets with a total floor area of 1,500m2, stylishly fuses the warm authenticity of a traditional Alpine setting with an elegantly contemporary ambiance. This is Verbier at its purest.

Located a stone’s throw from the golf course and Le Hameau de Verbier, between the nearest skiable slopes and the centre of the resort, La Marmottière sits behind a screen formed by birch trees and spruces, right beside an irrigation channel.

What was once a mere chalet is now a superchalet, one of those prestigious buildings that has taken Verbier to the very peak of Alpine luxury.

The main chalet (900m2), reworked by the Valais firm AMD Interior Designer, has no equal when it comes to allowing the light in. With its huge sliding bay windows embracing the scenery, it even goes as far as to create a new aesthetic for mountain architecture. These windows usher the sunlight into the large cathedral-like lounge on the first floor, which is surrounded by the most panoramic of terraces. They perform the same function on the ground floor, where a shimmering swimming pool that stretches for 17 whole metres, right along the building’s façade, reflects the distant peaks.

Previous page: Beneath its wooden vault, the spacious lounge of the main chalet extends between an elongated contemporary fireplace and views of Les Combins, showcased by large bay windows.

Traditional materials come to the fore in the second chalet’s dining area, with its heavy aged wood beams and parquet floors.

49

1

2

1. The bedrooms and suites are for the most part very roomy and bright. Some have their own fireplace and lounge area.

2. Some rooms have a more distinct contemporary feel to them, while others put the accent on aged wood, in an ode to the ambiance of the chalets of yesteryear.

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3. The centrepiece of the ground floor, which is devoted to recreational areas, the 17-metre swimming pool stretches the whole length of the glassed façade, guaranteeing stunning views.

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Up on the top floor, the two master bedrooms vie with each other in their very own beauty contest. They too boast large windows opening out on to Les Combins and a large private balcony. The sense of scale is the same, as is the sense of fulfilment. One looks out on to the landscape opposite, its king-size bed an island floating off towards the horizon.

The other sits to one side, as if out of shyness. Each has its own lounge, complete with a big screen and warmed by a glass-encased fireplace, and ensuite bathrooms: a shower and sleek wood in one; a bathtub and anthracite marble in the other.

The first floor is home to a number of other rooms, where guests can retire in the comforting warmth of aged wood after using all the little toys the house has to offer: an outdoor jacuzzi, sauna, hammam, gym, and a bar created by Italian craftspeople on the theme of luxury cars and featuring a pool table. There is also a games room, poker room, cellar, which itself offers panoramic views, and a bowling alley, hewn out of the rock. Meanwhile, the second chalet (600m2) has a 3D cinema, conference room, massage room and ski room. La Marmottière will take some beating!

1. The main chalet’s dining room is a vast open-plan area, with a lounge overlooked by equally original metal lights.

2. Situated on one side of the chalet, a large outdoor jacuzzi nestles snugly between two stone walls and beneath a wooden portico offering protection from the snow.

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Steiger & Cie an Encyclopaedia of Mountain Real Estate Text: Claude Hervé-Bazin / Photos: Yves Garneau / Haute Montagne

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While Steiger & Cie also manage and market modest properties, some chalets represent true next-level luxury, as seen by this chalet’s private wellness space, vast living room, and cosy bedroom with stunning views.

Verbier’s real estate market is one-of-a-kind, as are Steiger & Cie’s unique brokerage activities.

This exceptional agency leaves absolutely no rock unturned, handling every detail with the utmost care.

In the early 2000s, when Verbier’s high-end luxury real estate development was well underway and the popularity of contemporary alpine style on the rise, an ambitious young man saw an opportunity. Florian Steiger, a former CEO in the music industry, built a rock-solid team directed by Nicolas Koch in Verbier and Oliver Herweg in Zermatt, and Steiger & Cie was born. More than a typical agency, Steiger & Cie has always had ambitious goals: from the beginning, they sought to build an interconnected ecosystem that met every single one of their clients’ needs, both during and after a real estate purchase, using a vast network of reputed, highly-skilled professionals.

Beyond Brokerage Today the company has offices in Verbier, Zermatt, and Crans-Montana. When it comes to property brokerage, Steiger & Cie’s close and exclusive partnership with Cardis | Sotheby’s International Realty ensures this core part of their business resonates on a global level and is up to the highest international standards. In posh ski resorts where the luxury market is key, Steiger & Cie manage all kinds of real estate assets, from small apartments sold for less than one million francs, to rare chalets that can go for 25 million or more.

Finding and presenting real estate assets is one thing; knowing how to truly highlight their real value is another. Steiger & Cie take great pride in their stunning (but never misleading) photography of featured chalets and apartments, and avoid using extensive retouching or deceptive wide-angle views in their images. The company stands by their belief that ensuring authenticity and establishing trust from the offset is the best (and only) way to build a business relationship. Both clients and partner notaries use the same key words to describe Steiger & Cie: honest, reactive, and highly professional.

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But establishing trust is just the beginning: in order to close a deal, one needs an extremely thorough understanding of every element involved in the decision making. Being able to find the right asset for the right client, means taking both a client’s nationality and budget into account, as the canton of Valais has imposed strict regulations on real estate purchases by foreigners, something Steiger & Cie are well-versed in.

The company also has strong ties to the canton’s largest architectural office. Can we expand the building? Will the undeveloped neighbouring parcel stay that way? Have redevelopments already been planned? Steiger & Cie will look for and provide the required information. How can a foreigner obtain a residency permit? How can I finance my purchase?

How can I benefit from a tax package? Once again, you can count on Steiger & Cie. Yet another of the company’s strong selling points: to answer all the questions that might arise, even the uncomfortable ones.

But it’s not all about selling points. Unlike many other agencies, Steiger & Cie is not here to simply push a sale and benefit from a short-term commission. The company looks further into the future with every decision they make to ensure they maintain their excellent reputation among current and future buyers. They will even go as far as to setup short-term rentals for clients interested in certain properties, so they can see firsthand if the property is a fit before making their purchase.

And once the deal has been closed, Steiger & Cie is still available to coordinate workers and artisans for any needed renovations. Their vast network, which also includes relationships with local authorities, shifts the company identity beyond the realm of simple real estate brokerage and makes them a valuable community partner. In short, they are an engaged and committed companion, able to handle complex cases from start to finish, without mishaps and without wasting any time. www.steigercie.ch

Steiger & Cie’s office in Verbier echoes the popular alpine style of many recent chalets and apartments, featuring wood, stone, and other natural materials.

Verbier, a dynamic market Contrary to Zermatt, where everything is highly regulated, Verbier has found itself in a much more fluid situation. On average, there’s about ten times more alpine real estate for sale, including chalets and even super chalets (ranging from 400 to 1,000 m2 and higher) of exceptionally high quality. Investors are diverse, often hailing from Scandinavia or Benelux, while there are fewer UK buyers today than in the past, due to a weakening of the British Pound and legislative uncertainty related to Brexit. From an administrative perspective, non-resident foreigners can (like in many other communes with strong tourism) buy property, as long as it’s within the limit of 200 m2 (to 250 m2) of living space and has a total plot size no greater than 1,000 m2.

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The vast whiteness of the Grand Désert Text: Laurent Grabet / Photos: David Carlier

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Previous page: 1 A solitary climb up one side of the Grand Désert.

1. Panoramic view of the Grand Désert, dominated by La Rosablanche. The Dent d’Hérens and the Matterhorn stand in the background.

2. The final few metres to the summit of La Rosablanche are completed on foot, along a rocky ridge.

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Educational Excellence in Verbier The Verbier International School proposes international boarding and day school for 3 to 16 year olds in the heart of the Swiss Alps. Ski Academy available, combining individually tailored education with an intensive ski programme.

Verbier International School For more information, please visit : www.lvis.ch + 41 27 565 26 56 / info@lvis.ch

The route leading to La Rosablanche from the Col de La Chaux, high above the pistes of Verbier, is gently sloping.

The Rosablanche sector (3,335m) is a great white desert that has provided the setting for many an unforgettable Alpine epic. At these heights it is all majestic landscapes and exhilarating powdery snow.

The urge to head off for a spot of ski-touring is understandably hard to resist when the snow is lying, all sunlit, untouched and powdery, and the avalanche report is on the positive side. And in Verbier, there are plenty of routes to choose from. One of the most frequented rises up to La Rosablanche, a 3,335m peak situated in the heart of the fascinating and timeless world of high-altitude mountains.

Though Bagnes-born mountain guide Claude-Alain Gailland knows the area like the back of his hand, he never tires of it: “La Rosablanche is the linchpin, the key to many 360-degree Alpine adventures,” he explained. Those with the greatest reserves of stamina can get there straight from the resort, a journey of around 10km and with an elevation gain of 1,600m. An easier option involves setting off from Les Ruinettes (a climb of 500m less). However, the loveliest and least physically taxing route of all – one that leads you right into nature’s arms – is to take the ski lifts to the Col des Gentianes (2,950m) or Mont-Fort (3,330m). The first option, accessible to intermediate skiers, takes in two successive climbs, while the second, for more proficient skiers, features a single climb and offers a warm-up by way of the legendary descent of Backside Mont-Fort.

“These routes partly intersect with those of the Haute Route and the Patrouille des Glaciers,” explains Gailland. They also pass close to Bec des Rosses, a breathtaking arena of rocks and snow, where the gladiators of Xtreme freeride battle against each other at the end of each season. It is a delightful little taster for the epic off-piste adventure that awaits and which explodes into life on reaching the glacier of the Grand Désert. Here, the imperious majesty of the landscapes simply overpowers the nevertheless intense sentiment exuded by carving out your own sketchy tracks, which man in all his vanity believes will last forever. The final 50-metre section is completed on foot.

The best is yet to come: the descent. Once again there are various options to choose from. The gentlest of them leads to Nendaz via the Cleuson dam. The route leading to the Val des Dix through the Glacier de Mourti invites more reflection than the rest. A bus then takes you back to Verbier, passing through a large part of the superb 4 Vallées ski area along the way. The third option, through the Vallon de Fionnay, is the most technically challenging of all and offers the wildest scenery. Enthusiasts will note that heliskiing is also on offer in La Rosablanche. Whatever choice you make, though, the services of a guide are an absolute necessity. www.nolimitsexperience.ch

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In wonderland With their radiant colours, geometric shapes, and powerful contrasts, high jeweller creations are audacious and full of spirit. Adorned with colourful gems, they remind us of those succulent candies of our childhood, to be delighted in without reservation. Stewards of stories and keepers of dreams, they stir the emotions, leaving no soul untouched. This is high jewellery that captivates, that proclaims, that dares. It gifts seduction, transcendent beauty, and passion.

Text: Nathalie Cobos

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Previous page: Chanel Folklore bracelet, Le Paris Russe Collection The Folklore bracelet is reminiscent of the traditional headdresses, motifs and prints of the Russian scarves created by Gabrielle Chanel. This dazzling two-tone creation in white gold and enamel is meticulously enhanced with interlaced settings of diamonds, pearls, blue and pink sapphires, and green tsavorites. This exceptional piece tells the story of the colourful exuberance of the Russian ballet paired with its rich wealth of ancestral know-how.

Bulgari Supreme Diamond Light ring, Wildpop Roaring 80’S Collection Set in a sophisticated contrast of onyx and diamond, this ring pays homage to the majestic Art Deco edifices of New York City and their geometric shapes, while setting its roots in the pop trends of the 80s. This sublime two-tone kaleidoscope pushes the boundaries of high jewellery with an entrancing and fun-loving nod and wink. The creation is completed by its resplendent marquise cut diamond set on the ring.

Chopard Tanzanite, Paraiba Tourmalines, Amethyst and Diamonds Suite, Red Carpet 2019 Collection This exceptional suite dazzles with an explosion of colour that instantly captivates. Large precious stones are surrounded by tanzanites, Paraiba tourmalines (neon blue), amethysts and diamonds, forming colourful concentric circles set in svelte rings of white gold and titanium.

A powerfully symbolic creation that expresses the eternal quintessence of love.

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Van Cleef Éventail Souverain bracelet, Treasure of Rubies Collection Van Cleef invites us to discover the scarlet palette of the ruby.

This legendary gem adorns the Eventail Souverain bracelet with a sublime array of vermillion hues. This creation, inspired from the jarretière bracelets of the 1930s, beautifully reinterprets the strap and buckle. Set in a three-dimensional bow, the rubies are showcased in a prong setting bordered by diamonds which accentuate the buckle’s fan-like shape.

Adler Scarlett necklace A high dressmaking fashion pairing transposed into precious stones, the Scarlett necklace falls perfectly around the neckline to create a scintillating collar. Using contrasts to perfection, a piping of rubies placed in what at first glance appears to be a random arrangement is accentuated by two inner lines of round diamonds to create an elegant two-tone effect. The exuberance of the carmine stones stands in stark opposition to the symmetric sobriety of the white diamonds.

All eyes are drawn to the pear cut stone, which can be transformed at will into a ring or a pendant.

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Graff Yellow & White Diamonds Necklace, Threads Collection Graphic, angular, and composed of interlinked geometric shapes, the Threads collection is a poetic ode to our modern, ultra-connected world. Mirroring the invisible links that exist between souls, the structures that make up this necklace of white and yellow diamonds form a high jewellery network that interconnects with the skin to tell that most wonderful of stories: life.

Cartier Equinox necklace, Magnitude Collection In a stunning move, Cartier has created a magnificent and unexpected pairing of precious stones with ornamental natural stones. A yellow sapphire radiates like the sun at the heart of a web composed of colourful diamonds which shine like stars to create a constellation of lace set against the skin.

Around this collection of light, spheres of lapis lazuli enhanced with gleams of gold represent the deep blue of space, a starry sky set against an expansive universe.

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Tiffany & Co. Frame necklace and earrings set In this ode to diamonds, Tiffany gives prominence to that most precious of precious stones, placing it at the heart of a cleverly structured frame. Diamonds alternately fashioned in various cuts—emerald, cushion, oval, pear, square—appear to float inside small frames of yellow gold to create a new iconic design that reflects the jeweller’s absolute mastery of its craft.

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Those Precious Moments With bold designs and striking colours, these creations serve as both timepieces and jewellery.

They transcend technical expertise and know-how to radiate poetry and emotion. Their magic? As with an elegant sleight of hand, they make time disappear in the face of timeless beauty.

Text : Nathalie Cobos

Previous page : Audemars Piguet Sapphire orbe watch This unique timepiece exquisitely plays with light and colour to capture the first light of dawn in subtle nuances of blue and orange. At the heart of this scintillating cloud of diamonds and sapphires, set in concentric ellipses, lies a globe that hides a dial fully covered in orange sapphires, echoing that magical moment when the sun disappears beyond the horizon.

Jacob & Co Fleurs de Jardin watch A butterfly and eleven rare flowers (citrine, amethyst, tsavorite, garnet, and rubies) make up this exquisite master watchmaker creation, rotating around its dial every ten minutes. Technique, expertise, elegance and aesthetics converge to give life to this masterpiece, a lovely garden set in an eternal spring that can be taken anywhere.

Bulgari Serpenti Misteriosi Romani watch Coiled around a sumptuous bracelet of white gold paved with baguette cut diamonds and sapphires and coiffed with a ten-carat blue sapphire, the serpent stands watch, opening only to the initiated to reveal the face of its secret watch.

The designs which adorn the articulated links of its cuff glisten and move like the scales of a serpent, the most expensive animal imagined by this high jewellery house.

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Cartier Archipel watch This timepiece appears to have emerged straight out of the deep. Like an iridescent shell with magical colours, an exquisite oval opal opens to reveal the elegant dial of the Archipel watch, made of mother-of-pearl and diamonds. Making up its bracelet are a multitude of small green and blue tourmaline balls that undulate like sea grass in shades of turquoise reminiscent of the ocean’s depths.

Chopard Diamonds and rubies watch, Precious Chopard Collection A corolla of rubies hemmed in by diamonds, this flower shaped watch dazzles as it twirls like a ballroom dress, its lovely skirt scintillating in the light. Its lace is fringed with finely cut rubies and sapphires, breathing life into a delicate ballet set to the pace of time.

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An international school where skiing is king Text: Laurent Grabet / Photos: Verbier International School

17 juillet - 2 août 2020

Photos: Tero Repo

One of Valais’ two international schools can be found in Verbier. Its team of teachers provide 130 young students with a British-style education in which sport plays a prominent part.

Question: What do the Canadian racing driver Jacques Villeneuve, the French actor Charlotte Gainsbourg, and North Korean president Kim Jong-Un all have in common?

Answer: They all studied at international schools in Switzerland. While our country is known for its mountains, cheese, chocolate and banks, the same is also true for these private schools and the high-quality education they dispense.

Training the citizens of the world Founded in 2010, the Lemania-Verbier International School (LVIS) falls squarely into that category. Some 130 students aged between three and 15 and hailing from around 20 countries receive their schooling there, in uniform. With fees ranging between CHF 25,000 and 35,000 – around the average for schools of this type in Switzerland – the LVIS mainly welcomes children from privileged backgrounds, among them the offspring of aristocrats, who are particularly appreciative of the discretion for which the Bagnes region is known. More than anywhere else in Switzerland, Verbier is the kind of place where locals pass the likes of Richard Branson and ex-Nestlé CEO Peter Brabeck in the street, skis over their shoulders, and pretend not to know who they are.

The Verbier International School takes pride in “educating citizens of the world”. It takes a holistic approach to teaching and its lessons are in English, with French courses running in parallel. The values underpinning the curriculum, which leads to an IGCSI qualification recognised throughout the world, are also very British in spirit. “Our specific aim is to encourage our students to be open-minded, bold, morally upstanding, communicative, curious and critically minded,” said the school’s director Thibaut Descoeudres. To achieve

that goal, this 44-year-old former elite paraglider and the 20 teachers on his staff carefully deliver “bespoke teaching” in small groups of five to 15 students, “avoiding the vertical transmission of knowledge, which is somewhat outdated”.

An impressive backdrop for learning They are all of the mind that their students learn just as much in the two chalets housing the classrooms as they do when tackling the mountains facing them. Sport in general, and skiing in particular, are central to this atypical, high-education schooling. Many are the people who have moved to Verbier and sent their children to school there because of what it has to offer. The school’s youngsters ski at least twice a week during the winter, and some strive for excellence by taking part in ski races and freeride competitions. The school has even entered into a partnership with the Freeride World Tour Academy run by the Swiss Ski School in Verbier. It is a formula that is working very well indeed: the LVIS’s waiting list is growing, with around 20 youngsters having put in applications, and a boarding school will open shortly. www.lvis.ch 89

Verbier Festival Where art reaches the greatest heights Text: Claude Hervé-Bazin

Previous page: 1 Formerly the music director of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and the principal conductor of New York’s Metropolitan Opera (the famous Met), the Italian Fabio Luisi is now Generalmusikdirektor with the Zurich Opera.

Photo: Lucien Grandjean

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For two weeks every summer, classical music fills the streets of Verbier and its surroundings.

Over the last quarter of a century, the Festival has established itself as one of the biggest events on the international music calendar, a place where the greats can perform in the rarest intimacy and where the baton is also passed to the next generation.

The story began when Swedish artistic producer Martin T:son Engstroem fell head over heels in love with Verbier, its ski runs, and its unrivalled views of Les Grands Combins. Far removed from the hubbub of the modern world, immersed in the overwhelming silence of the mountains, a group of enthusiasts began to form around him before, in 1994, the Verbier Festival came into being, modest in size but ambitious in spirit. Music lovers flocked to a marquee on Médran, at the foot of the slopes, where they sat on the stage enthralled by the performances by the young Russian violinist Maxim Vengerov and compatriot and piano prodigy Evgeny Kissin. In the intimate surroundings of this tiny venue, the musicians became one with their instruments.

Twenty-six years later, those loyal early guests are still here, alongside the great classical performers of the day. The Verbier Festival has flourished over the years. In addition to recitals, concertos and orchestras, it now welcomes opera,

jazz and world music influences, choral music, and surprise recitals. Year after year, its Rencontres Inédites series brings together men and women who have never performed with each other before, creating some perfect musical matches in the process.

Here there is no dashing between concerts from one side of the world to the other. This is an event where artists melt into the audience and listen to one another. The Verbier Festival is much more than a beautiful setting and a summit meeting of the greatest talents. It is a gathering of personalities, an opportunity for sharing, with a special human chemistry of its own, hence that sense of warmth felt by its fans.

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1. The young Swiss pianist Louis Schwizgebel-Wang performs.

Photo: Lucien Grandjean 2. Five French musicians on the stage: the Ébène quartet and the violist Antoine Tamestit, playing the first viola made by Stradivarius.

Photo: Lucien Grandjean 3. The Savoie violinist Renaud Capuçon performs with the Anglo-Hungarian pianist and conductor András Schiff, a figure renowned for his masterclasses.

Photo: Diane Deschenaux

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www.adler.ch

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1. Spanish pianist Joaquín Achúcarro takes a masterclass.

2. Another Academy masterclass, this time under the direction of the Breton pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet.

Photos: Silvia Laurent

An academy and an orchestra The beating heart of the festival, the Verbier Festival Academy took on a mission at a very early stage of its life: to unearth and train new generations of performers. “Young people are so important. They’re the ones who bring energy,” says Martin T:son Engstroem. Every summer, dozens of musicians aged between 15 and 30 spend three to five weeks in Verbier attending masterclasses given, along with concerts, by the leading maestros of our times. The emphasis is on absorbing and passing on knowledge, with young musicians anxious to learn and their elders keen to teach. The result is a Verbier Festival that nurtures budding virtuosos and gives them a launch pad. In seeking to spread the word, the Festival now has its own orchestra in residence, made up of former Academy students. Regarded as one of the finest training orchestras in the world, it represents a rite of passage for tomorrow’s greats of the global musical scene. From 17 July to 2 August this year, Verbier is the only place to be. www.verbierfestival.com www.medici.tv (live broadcasts) 95

Living the high life

Il y a Verbier et il y a Zermatt. Deux icônes suisses dans les montagnes. Deux magazines signés helvet. Et une invitation à découvrir la station au pied du Cervin sous un angle intime, en 132 pages d’envies, d’effervescences sportives et de personnalités attachantes. Zermatt corps et âme.

Recevez helvet Zermatt chez vous (CH 15.-) en le commandant sur info@helvet.swiss www.helvet.swiss

The greatest ski-mountaineering race in the world, the Patrouille des Glaciers has a budget of CHF 5.5m.

The legend of the PdG goes on in Verbier Text: Laurent Grabet / Photos: PdG François Perraudin

Between 27 April and 3 May, 1,600 intrepid teams of three will race from Zermatt to Verbier, hoping to win the 22nd Patrouille des Glaciers, the most legendary ski-mountaineering event of them all.

“The Patrouille des Glaciers is part of Swiss heritage. It’s one of the world’s greatest events, right up there with other flagship races like the New York Marathon,” says 58-yearold Swiss Army staff colonel Daniel Jolliet. The newly appointed commander of the Patrouille des Glaciers, his love for a race he has completed seven times in 18 years is clear for all to see. “It’s the greatest one-day ski-mountaineering race in the world because of its length, elevation gain and loss, and the number of participants and spectators.”

A sporting and military challenge like no other “LA Patrouille”, as it has become known, is a very significant contributor to the reputation for excellence enjoyed

by Switzerland and Verbier. It is there, under the watchful eye of the majestic Combins, where this gruelling 57.5km race, which runs from Zermatt through the spellbinding but uncompromising world of the high mountains, comes to an end. Along the way comes an elevation gain of 4,386m and an elevation loss of 4,519m. Those numbers come as something of a surprise even to the people in the know, who believed the race to be 53km long and the elevation gain only 3,990m. “The 2020 route is not going to be radically differ-

ent, though the latest GPS tools have shown that previous calculations of the length of the race and the elevation gain and loss were some way short of what they actually are,” explains the commander. The finishers of previous years will be delighted to learn that, given that their achievements have now become all the more impressive.

By the time you read these lines, the registration period will sadly be closed. Only 1,600 three-strong patrols will have the joy of going down in history between 27 April and 3 May next year, in the long and the short versions of the race.

Cheering them throughout the week and at various points of the course will be around 40,000 spectators. There were 300 disappointed patrols following the draw, but safety is one of the watchwords of the competition and comes before all else. The Swiss Army plays its part in guaranteeing it by mobilising with typical rigour and lending its services on the ground for eight whole weeks. At the height of the event, no fewer than 1,600 soldiers and civil defence guards are on duty, among them 200 army doctors and medics, as well as around 40 mountain guides and avalanche experts.

A major challenge No one can say if the respective men’s and women’s records of five hours and 35 minutes and seven hours and 15 minutes, both set in superb conditions in 2018, will be bettered. Yet one thing we can be sure of is that although the sole ambition of most of the participants is just to finish the race, this is a legendary event that is not to be taken lightly. Extensive physical, technical and even psychological training is needed to beat the demanding cut-off times.

“The PdG is more than just a race; it’s a three-person human adventure, a journey through history, the mountains, friendship and emotions,” says Commander Jolliet. The Patrouille des Glaciers is an epic where the final goal is ultimately less rewarding than the path leading to it. That is something that those who have been fortunate enough at least once in their lives to cross the finish line in Verbier, invariably exhausted but always thrilled, know only too well. www.pdg.ch 97

Charity Night gets a makeover Text: Laurent Grabet / Photos: Alpimages / Thomas Roulin

Now in its 13th year, this essential end-of-season charity evening will next be held in Savoleyres on 3 April. We take a look at a celebrity-oriented event that is in the process of reinventing itself.

While it might be unlucky for some, 13 is a number bringing lots of good fortune to Charity Night. The famous Bagnes-based event will take place for the 13th time on Friday 3 April and will have a whole new look for the occasion.

Gaining in altitude, it will decamp from the Espace SaintMarc in Le Châble and set up in Verbier, with the Savoleyres Restaurant the most likely venue.

“The essential ingredients should stay the same: friendly tables organised around sports stars, good food, good humour and, above all, the desire to help out children in need.

We are breathing new life into it, though,” says Éric-A. Balet, the CEO of Téléverbier and co-founder of the event.

Balet is passing the baton on to a new committee that will now oversee this major end-of-season social gathering, which is expected to bring together nearly 200 people. The event will no longer be connected to the Verbier High Five and will be brought forward to the weekend before the Swiss Ski Championships, another late-season highlight, which will take place on Easter Saturday, 11 April.

The proceeds from Verbier Charity Night will go mainly to the Swiss branch of the Right to Play organisation. Over the years more than CHF 500,000 has been raised in support of it, and the money has been used by Right to Play International

to fund various projects in some of the world’s poorest countries. The aim of these projects is to harness sport and, to a lesser extent, music to help disadvantaged children get back on their feet, make friends and build their lives.

Away from Charity Night, Balet joined up with some of his friends four years ago to launch Right to Play Friends, a charity with around 50 members, who each make a monthly contribution of CHF 50 to directly fund an educational project in Burundi. A total of 32,000 children have directly benefitted from the venture.

Over the years, many leading sports stars and celebrities have graced Charity Night with their presence, among them Bernhard Russi, Thomas Lüthi, Dario Cologna, Alberto Tomba, Pascal Richard, Tina Maze, Laurence Rochat, Didier Cuche, Estelle Balet, James Blunt, Bastian Baker and Kacey Mottet-Klein. www.righttoplay.ch www.aidesportive.ch

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1. Marc Girardelli, Virginie Faivre, Gilles Jaquet, Léo Slemett, Xavier de Le Rue 2. Alex Fiva, Irene Curtoni, Géraldine Fasnacht, Marc Girardelli, Fanny Smith, Daniel Yule, Gilles Jaquet, Léo Slemett et Xavier De le Rue 3. Snowboarders Léo Slemett, Xavier de Le Rue and Pat Burgener 4. Éric-A. Balet introducing the evening’s celebrities 5. 250 guests took part in the 12th Charity Night event, which took place at the Espace Saint-Marc in Le Châble.

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Verbier the capital of well-being Text: Daniel Bauchervez

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Previous page: Aged wood and exposed concrete: the spa at la Cordée des Alpes plays with contrasts by the side of its long pool.

Photo: Cordée des Alpes

Guests at the W Verbier’s AWAY Spa can swim both inside and out.

Photo: W Verbier

Feeling stressed after a super busy day? Muscles in knots at the end of a long ski day? Or just looking for a little pampering? There are lots of good reasons for paying a visit to Verbier’s spas or having a restorative massage, and lots of choice too.

As the sun slips behind the Val de Bagnes, the evening chill quickly takes its grip on Verbier. With shoulders tense and tight, passers-by quicken their step as they make their way down the street. In the superchalets, meanwhile, the happy occupants are relaxing in the warmth of their very own private spas. As for everyone else, the time has come to make a beeline for the resort’s most select oases of wellness.

AWAY Spa & Fitness, W Verbier With its graceful curves, the W’s beautiful swimming pool stretches from indoors to out, comprising hot and cold areas separated by huge glass screens. Covering an area of 800m2, the adjoining AWAY Spa comprises a jacuzzi, sauna, hammam, relaxation area and treatment rooms (La Prairie and Phyto5). On the menu are detox massages, holistic treatments and bespoke treatments making use of Swiss plant oils and pure oxygen, among other things. There is also a fitness room, yoga and pilates room, nail studio, hair salon, and yoga sessions for skiers. Feeling hungry?

Then munch on seasonal fresh fruit from one of the bowls or pick something from the health menu. www.wverbier.com

Spa Cinq Mondes at La Cordée des Alpes Could this be the most beautiful of them all? One of the resort’s flagship hotels, La Cordée des Alpes (a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World community) is home to a simply stunning spa, combining a stripped-back contemporary feel with the timelessness of beautifully shaped wood. The centrepiece is a 15m indoor swimming pool heated to 30°C and stretching between an extended fireplace and a long window looking out to the Mont Blanc massif. Also featuring a jacuzzi, sauna, hammam, three individual treatment rooms (Cinq Mondes) and a fitness centre, the spa is open to non-residents booking at least one treatment. It can also be reserved for private functions. www.hotelcordee.com

Experimental Spa by Biologique Recherche Situated in the centre of the resort, the ultra-trendy Experimental Chalet – the latest offering by a group running bars and hotels in Paris, London and Ibiza – is a hotel, restaurant, cocktail bar, club and spa rolled into one. The spa uses products made by luxury French bespoke skin care brand Biologique Recherche and containing only fragrance-free natural and biotechnical active ingredients. Guests receive a personal assessment before each treatment. The spa is home to three treatment rooms, a hammam, jacuzzi and 50m² solarium. The treatments on offer include facials and a range of massages: essential oils, sport, hot stones, scalp and feet. fr.experimentalchalet.com 103

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The L.Raphael Temple of Beauty A pioneer in skin care and anti-ageing treatments, the L.Raphael brand operates out of Geneva, Cannes, New York and Beverly Hills. It has also opened an ultra-luxury “Temple of Beauty” at La Truffe Blanche in Verbier, a 280m2 chalet-spa that can be booked for private use. As well as nine treatment rooms, it also has a truly stunning 15m swimming pool that takes its design cues from Art Deco and Baroque, not to mention a hammam, Finnish sauna, gym, home cinema, hair salon, nightclub, and a vodka bar. It even serves sushi. www.l-raphael.com

Spa Nuxe at Le Chalet d’Adrien Here at Verbier’s sole Relais & Châteaux establishment and only five-star hotel, the long 16m swimming pool (heated to a temperature of 29°C) attracts all the attention. When its huge glass doors are opened, the Alps are revealed in all their glory and offer a majestic backdrop to the terrace in the summer months. The spa also boasts a jacuzzi, sauna, hammam, fitness room and private treatment rooms. A wide selection of treatments are on offer, all using Nuxe products: body and facial treatments with flowers, plants, honey and crème fraiche; a range of massages (relaxation, detox, Californian, energy, and deep tissue); and a treatment that goes by the name of modelage vers les cimes.

Lasting an hour and 20 minutes, it makes use of heated cushions, Edelweiss essence mist, and magnetite stones. www.chalet-adrien.com

Massages There is more to life than spas. You could just as easily have a massage at a beauty salon or at home. There are a good 20 or so companies and individuals who offer such a service in Verbier. If you don’t want to leave the comfort of your chalet, hotel room or apartment, you can book services with 1936 Massage (specialising in relaxing and sport massages), or Chilali Massage (Swedish, sport, deep tissue and hot stones massages, reiki and shiatsu, yoga and stretching).

Their masseurs bring all the necessary material with them.

The two companies also offer pilates sessions and facials.

Wholeycow Yoga Massage Fitness offer another option, taking a positive, global, physical and mental approach founded on personal development. Its services include Thai massages and reflexology, massages for pregnant women, aromatherapy, and après (or avant)-ski fitness sessions designed to help you raise your game on the pistes. www.massage1936.com www.chilalimassage.com www.wholeycow.ch

L. Raphael’s swimming pool boasts an alluring retroBaroque ambiance.

Photo: Frédéric Ducout

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watches

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona This legendary chronograph is instantly recognized anywhere.

In a yellow gold 40 mm diameter case, this version boasts a one-piece Cerachrom bezel made of Rolex-patented black ceramic, paired with an Oysterflex bracelet made of an innovative elastomer reinforced with a metal blade. Inside, performance remains top-notch thanks to its 4130 calibre, an automatic movement created and manufactured by Rolex. A technological marvel backed by Rolex’s Superlative Chronometer Certification. www.rolex.com On sale at Michaud

H. Moser & Cie Venturer Small Seconds XL Purity

Hublot Big Bang One Click Wishing you could change your watch’s style at a moment’s notice to match the occasion?

Nothing could be easier with the patented One Click attachment that lets you quickly change your watch bracelet without the need for tools. It’s a versatile spirit that is perfectly captured by this Big Bang model that boasts a 39 mm steel case encrusted with 42 diamonds and housing its own HUB1710 automatic movement. Just what you need to keep your watch in step with the latest fashion trends at all times. www.hublot.com On sale at Michaud

With a 43 mm case in red gold, a smoky rhodium dial perfectly complemented by main markers, a seconds subdial, and the H. Moser & Cie logo, the Venturer Small Seconds XL Purity plays its elegant minimalism card to perfection for lovers of classic timepieces. An impeccable silhouette, refined down to the smallest detail, is the hallmark of this 100-piece limited edition powered by a manual calibre with a three-day power reserve. www.h-moser.com On sale at Michaud

Breitling Premier B01 Chronographe 42

Tudor Black Bay P01

The look: this chronograph has a 42 mm steel case that houses a dial punctuated with black markers and a white tachymeter scale set against a black bezel.

The movement: built on the sophistication of the legendary Calibre 01 certified chronometer with an impressive 70-hour power reserve. With non-stop performance and unrivalled functionality housed in an elegant and timeless design, the Premier B01 Chronographe has it all. www.breitling.com On sale at Michaud

How does one take a prototype designed for the U.S. Navy in the 1960s and update it for the present? This is the challenge that Tudor measured up to with this 42 mm steel timepiece inspired by the 1967 model. Waterproof to 200 m, its bidirectional rotating bezel has a stop system using a mobile end-link at 12 o’clock. This singular design is complemented by the latest in watch movements: a COSC-certified MT5612 calibre with a 70-hour power reserve. www.tudorwatch.com On sale at Michaud

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Zenith Chronomaster 2

TAG Heuer Autavia Calibre 5

Norqain Freedom 60 Chrono Auto

Alpina AlpinerX Outdoors Smartwatch

It has been fifty years since the legendary El Primero movement has begun keeping time accurately and reliably inside the most exquisite Zenith timepieces. Reinterpreted this year in a modernized version, this titanium 250-piece limited edition joins the watchmaker’s iconic Chronomaster line. The 42 mm case with a blue ceramic bezel reveals a skeleton dial that showcases the movements of the chronograph, with the caseback revealing its new starshaped satin-finish oscillating weight. www.zenith-watches.com On sale at Michaud

After sitting in the garage since 1985, this year the Autavia is making its big comeback to the tracks. Inspired by the historic model that was all the rage on the wrists of race car drivers in the 1960s, this racetrack beast combines sporty performance and design in a 42 mm steel case with a bidirectional rotating graduated ceramic bezel. Under the hood roars the latest in advanced engines: the Calibre 5. www.tagheuer.com On sale at Michaud

All it takes is one look at this automatic chronograph and—voila!—you find yourself immersed in the carefree vibes of the 1960s. With its 43 mm steel case, black dial with white indexes, domed sapphire crystal, and aged brown leather strap, the Freedom 60 Chrono Auto stands out as a classic of timepiece design.

Without a doubt, lovers of neo-vintage style watches will love this model, powered by an automatic movement with an ample 48-hour power reserve. www.norqain.com On sale at Michaud

It tracks your heart rate and analyses your sleep cycles. It displays the UV index, temperature, altitude, atmospheric pressure, and compass direction. Not to mention text message and call notifications as well! Designed for active outdoor users, the AlpinerX Outdoors Smartwatch packs all the power of a computer on your wrist. It’s a highly versatile tool that takes readings in real time and transfers the data to your smartphone app. This wealth of innovation is housed in a highly resistant 45 mm steel case. www. alpinawatches.com On sale at Michaud

watches

Chopard Happy Sport 36 mm In 1993, Chopard had what seemed like the outrageous idea of mixing genres by combining steel with diamonds. It was a bold and ingenious move that has since been reinterpreted in ever more fun-loving, lightweight, and elegant models. The 36 mm Happy Sport showcases one of the most delightful aspects of its personality. Clothed in pink gold and diamonds, its case houses seven free-moving diamonds on its guilloché grey face. Their elegant rhythm matches that of its automatic movement that can be admired through the case’s seethrough back. www.chopard.com On sale at Michaud

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30. APRIL – 05. MAI 2020 WWW.BASELWORLD.COM

What to Watch Spring 2020 Text: Janine Vuilleumier

In the spirit of being more open, experimental, interactive, and connected, the fair plans to offer a variety of activities and novel experiences. The hallways of many high-end stands and the Carré des Horlogers allow exhibitors to display both their gorgeous timepieces and their exceptional know-how. Launched last year, the LAB gives industry startups and exhibitors a forum for their latest technological developments, while the “Live” element of the fair offers the public an insider’s perspective of all the exciting activity taking place during the fair.

When Watches & Wonders Geneva closes its doors, Baselworld will open theirs, and as always, Baselworld surely has surprises in store. Many brands reveal their latest designs for the very first time during this exceptional event that makes Basel the watch capital of Switzerland for one week, with the 2020 edition running from April 30 to May 5. Here brands will feature their most innovative creations, along with the world’s most beautiful jewellery and precious stones, in an ode to mechanical engineering, craftsmanship, and ingenuity. Around 700 luxury brands in total will be expected to present their creations during Baselworld 2020. The 2019 edition of the event had some 80,000 visitors and 3,400 media representatives from all over the world in attendance, setting expectations high for the 2020 edition to come.

The two biggest Swiss watch fairs, Baselworld and Watches & Wonders Geneva (formerly known as the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie), are undergoing a refresh to attract younger audiences that are fond of fine watches, but who also seek “experiences.” These two annual gatherings, which used to take place in January and March, will now be held for the very first time in succession in spring 2020.

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) will be completely transformed with a new concept, a new name, and new event dates. Now known as Watches & Wonders Geneva, the event will take place in April instead of in January. The location remains the same, so industry professionals, media, and privileged VIPs invited by exhibitors will still meet at Geneva’s Palexpo for the next edition of the event. The public is invited to explore a brand new experience in the heart of Geneva, named “In the City,” which will offer manufacturer visits, boutique activities, watch making initiation workshops, exhibitions, conferences, and industry meet-and-greet opportunities for watch fans and aficionados alike. Whether alone or with the family, this new concept makes watch-related experiences accessible for everyone.

Watches & Wonders Geneva Geneva, April 25-29, 2020 www.watchesandwonders.com Baselworld Basel, April 30-May 5, 2020 www.baselworld.com

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trends

1. Montblanc A Celebration of the Taj Mahal, Grand Art collection.

A ten-piece limited edition www.montblanc.com 2. Krug Champagne Grande Cuvée (Edition 167) www.krug.com 3. Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona www.rolex.com 4. Shamballa Gold Royal bracelet www.michaud.ch 5. UGG Classic Mini Cosmos Bow boots www.ugg.com 6. Reuge Dawn Chorus music box www.reuge.com 7. Pomellato Sabbia rings www.michaud.ch

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1. Qlocktwo Creator’s Edition Metamorphite clock www.michaud.ch 2. Denon AH-D7200 premium headphones www.denon-hifi.ch 3. Moon Boot Classic Faux Fox/Tartan boots www.moonboot.com 4. Poldo Dog Couture & Moncler Mondog dog jacket www.moncler.com

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CLASSIC FUSION FERRARI GT Titanium case. In-house UNICO chronograph movement.

Limited to 500 pieces.

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