An increasing number of avid skiers are choosing to purchase or rent an alpine retreat away from the busy, hard-core party and ski scene of Verbier. The reasons for moving go beyond Verbier’s high prices.
Over the last decade many local business owners in Verbier have moved “down the valley”. Instead of working and living in Verbier, they have chosen to separate work and home life and reside elsewhere. This trend has caught on and now an increasing number of visitors are choosing to do the same. Those who have made the move attest to many advantages.
A Swedish doctor, who travels to Verbier every year to ski, loves the vast winter opportunities and decided earlier this year to purchase his first alpine abode in Cries (Vollèges) instead of Verbier. “I really love the fact that I can come here to relax and be away from it all, but still have the proximity to a large ski area, great restaurants and nightlife in Verbier and go there if I choose to. There are a lot of Swedes who come to Verbier on a regular basis and some are also my patients. This can make it difficult to escape my work. Also when I am on holidays with family and friends I prefer to be low-key socially.”
Kathleen Fletcher, a long-time resident and business owner in Verbier, purchased land and built a chalet in Le Levron three years ago. She was the first Australian property owner in Le Levron, which was and still is a village with few foreign residents. She says that not only have property prices increased, but there are now also a couple of British bankers who have invested in properties up there.
A practical advantage of living below Verbier is that you can catch the lift from Le Châble at the bottom of the valley and connect directly with the vast Verbier–4 Vallées ski area, bypassing the queues at the busy Medran stop in Verbier. You are also closer to the numerous smaller resorts accessible from the valley. Vichères in the Entremont valley and Crévacol in Italy are highly appreciated for their groomed pistes, absence of queues and vast off-piste skiing opportunities, as well as the possibility of a delicious Italian-style lunch. These resorts offer equally exceptional possibilities in spring, summer and autumn for hiking, biking, rock-climbing and paragliding.
I am an interior-architect who recently transformed an old barn in the sunny picturesque village of Cries into three high-end contemporary dwellings using quality local materials. The village has a more constant, less transient population. There is a year-round, thriving community here that feels real. You can relax, go ski touring or walking in untouched nature and get away from a work environment and re-charge. It’s only a 20-minute drive from Verbier, so not a long work commute, and it’s also closer to Italy and Geneva airport.
The idea of moving away from the busy atmosphere of Verbier has been popular with locals for many years now. Tourists and recurring visitors also are realizing the advantages of choosing a more peaceful setting away from the crowded streets of Verbier for both winter and summer holidays. Deciding where is best for you really depends on what you are seeking.
Please share your experiences in the comments section below.
Lena Truusoot