Martigny serves as a winter accommodation base option and has been chosen for its perfect location right in the heart of the “four valleys” area and primarily for its access to the skiing mecca that is Verbier. Accommodation options may also be available in Le Châble and Verbier.

The capital of the French-speaking district of Martigny in the canton (state) of Valais in Switzerland, it lies at an elevation of 471 meters (1,545 ft), and has a  population of approximately 15,000 inhabitants with all the modern amenities you’d expect to find in a large town.  It forms a junction of roads joining Italy, France and Switzerland.

Bars and Nightlife

Too many to mention in summary, with a wide range to suit all tastes. From Big, Loud, busy to small, quiet and intimate they will be a bar to draw you in and that is just the Bars.  From a cultural stand point there are also two theaters and two cinemas offering an eclectic and high-quality programme throughout the season.

The main road link to Verbier runs through Le Châble. From here, a four person gondola, next to the railway station gives easy access to Verbier village. A bus service also runs from the train station to Verbier and to Bruson, on the opposite side of the valley, which offers access to a smaller, quieter, ski area.

Slope Status – Latest information

Verbier…

the world class skiing domain on the doorstep.

The village, located at 1500 m (4921 ft), in the French speaking Valais region, Verbier enjoys a fantastic, sunny, southwest outlook. A huge ski-playground the Verbier/Mont Fort area alone, offers some of the most varied skiing in the Alps with 206 km (128 miles) of runs served by 43 lifts. It is one of the old money ‘cachet’ resorts.

If that isn’t enough, Verbier is at the very centre of one of the largest ski areas on the planet, the “4 Valleys”, with  410 km (254 miles) of pistes and a network of 95 lifts. The pistes of the “4 Vallees” connect the domains of Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, Tzoumaz as well as Entremont and Val de Bagnes. Verbier  deserves the worldwide reputation as a ‘Mecca’ for off-piste skiing with almost limitless possibilities of big bumps and powder runs on its off-piste terrain. An absolute paradise, with hundreds of new challenges every day. Exceptional ski conditions are guaranteed on the Mont Fort glacier. Topping out at a height of 3330 m (10826 ft) the Jumbo Mont Fort cable car will take you up to the glacier and the notorious Tortin snow bowl with its phenomenally high bumps from top to bottom and you also get stunning and unique views of other famous alpine peaks.

Training Provider

Pro Ski Training is proud that the courses in Switzerland will be provided in association with a highly respected and establish ‘English Speaking’ ski school in Verbier. This will ensure that your training and exam preparation can be provided by highly experienced and qualified instructor trainer/examiners, within this stunning, world famous, european skiing ‘mecca’.

Accommodation

There is a wide variety of accommodation in Verbier if you choose to stump up the cost and stay in the resort itself. A typical example would be a, ‘Rustic small three-room apartment (65 m2) with very simple furnishings: living/dining room with satellite-TV,  2 small bedroom, each room with 2 beds. Kitchen (3 hotplates, oven and microwave), Shower/WC room and a Balcony’. Shopping centre, Restaurant, Ski Bus Stop, Railway Station and Underground Stations all within a 15 minute walk. This is an example of accommodation arrangements and is dependent on four people sharing the apartment.

Please note: typically non-smokers only.

Food

An amazing 75 restaurants to choose from in this top quality resort, Steaks from Chf 35, Fondue from Chf 25, A typical 3 course evening meal from Chf 45,

Le Caveau raclette and fondue specialists; Le Fer à Cheval great spot Apres Ski spot for a beer and a slice of pizza; Al Capone for extraordinarily good steaks, with location close to centre (5 minutes from the central roundabout, just uphill), is nice and cozy. The owner welcomes everyone personally, so service taken seriously. Should it be the location, the terrace, the food, the decoration, I just love everything. La Marmotte is a stunning mountain restaurant serving typical and refined Swiss food. The best fondues served here.

Pubs

World famous for its après ski, Verbier is trendy, sophisticated, cosmopolitan and guarenteed to be lively.

Central T bar, is a popular bar, situated right in the middle of town on Place Centrale.  Open from early until late every day of the year, a great meeting place for locals and tourists alike. It has a large terrace and a big screen for sports.

Nelson is located in Central Square, enjoy many wines by the glass, or different varieties of bottled beers. All sporting events are broadcast live on a big screen (football, rugby, motor racing, ski racing …).

The Farm Club a ‘nightclub’, boasts the largest profile in the resort. Founded by two Italian brothers, the Berardis, it’s been the place to ‘see and be seen’ in Verbier for over forty years.  Open every night during the season from 11pm.

Activities and Other amenities

Sports centre, Swimming, Sauna, Ice-skating, Curling, Fitness Centre, Squash, Paragliding, Ice Climbing, Ice Karting, Cinema (often films with Original English Soundtrack), Cleared Winter Walking and Snowshoeing routes, Vast array of shops and high quality boutiques, FREE bus service from 0830 until 1900.

Where is Martigny and the 4 valleys?

View Larger Map

Latest slopes status @ Verbier

How to get here?

Easily accessible by road or public transport.

By car
From Geneva, very straight forward, take the A9/E62 motorway around the entire length of Lake Geneva to Martigny (1hour 30minutes).

Current Road Condition Information

By public transport
For full and up to date details of your route, visit www.cff.ch.

By air

Airports	Distance	Airlines
Genève	134 km	Regular and charter flights
Zürich	250 km	Regular and charter flights
Sion	29 km	Regular* and charter flights

* Winter 2010-2011 : Snowjet London Stansted to Sion
** Air Partner : private jet charters to Sion Airport

History

Martigny’s history reaches back two thousand years: Celtic tribes, the Romans, and even Napoleon Army have left behind traces. The Roman amphithratre has been restored with, temples, citizen living quarters, and thermal baths can be seen in Martigny today. There are historical districts of La Bâtiaz and Vieux-Bourg which feature churches and secular buildings.

Martigny is in the region known as the Chablais which in modern times incorporates a portion of Switzerland Vaud east of the Rhone, Switzerland Valais west of the Rhone, and France in former Savoy. In 1845-47 there was an attempt by a group of Catholic Swiss cantons to secede from Switzerland and form a Catholic confederation called the Sonderbund. The Valais was to be part of the Sonderbund. General Henri Dufour with 97,000 Federal troops in 1847 prevented secession in a relatively bloodless confrontation against a slightly smaller rebel army in what is known as the Sonderbund war. The Valais decided to not fight.