Six Senses Residences Crans-Montana
January 20, 2022 - Pick up speed on the final turn of the corduroy Chetzeron piste, and you could almost ski right onto your slope-side balcony of Six Senses Residences Crans-Montana. Everything has been designed with calm, comfort, convenience, and culture in mind.
The past year has shone a light on how precious “we time” is with family and friends. Six Senses Residences Crans-Montana is conceived so you don’t waste a moment.
The calm
The location for the residences is genius, just above the main gondola in Crans, the prettier and more stylish end of the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana. This puts you steps from designer boutiques and Michelin restaurants. But it is also surrounded on three sides by a pine forest, giving the impression you are in the middle of nature. The residences on the front have views of the Alps that stretch between countries, from the craggy Swiss Matterhorn on the left to the snowy French Mont Blanc massif on the right. At night, the twinkling lights of Nendaz greet you from the 4-Vallées range across the Rhône. It is quiet on the balconies; the only sounds are the chuckle of a stream and the occasional swoosh of a ski. Breathe deeply and it’s easy to understand how the former spa town owes its existence to its pure mountain air.
There are 47 hotel suites and 17 residences in total, nearing completion. As one of the last construction projects in Switzerland for sale with no restrictions for international owners, 13 can be bought as a secondary residence. The authentic Swiss chalet feel has been remodeled into a contemporary and airy style, with high ceilings and smart and sustainable architecture courtesy of AW2 Paris and local firm JP Emery & Partners Architecture in Crans-Montana.
The comfort
Consistent with Six Senses sustainability standards, the locally inspired design is visible in the use of quartzite stone facades, local larch and oak species, and slate roofs. Wherever possible, recycled and renewable materials have been used in the manufacture of finishes including flooring, millwork and fabrics. Each space is not only stylish but also functional and responsible. Energy and water conservation play a key role in the overall design. Pellet boilers will power the underfloor heating.
Residences range in size from 210 to 330 square meters (2,260 to 3,550 square feet) and include three- to five-bedroom apartments, with two to three bathrooms and private parking places. Each apartment has large bay windows to maximize the connection to the natural surroundings to the back and left-to-right Alpine views to the front.
In addition to a host of home maintenance and hospitality services including housekeeping, security, concierge, business center, nanny, and groceries, residents can access all the amenities of the Six Senses hotel. This includes the restaurants, lounge, and in-residence dining with a chef on call. The 2,000-square-meter (21,500-square-foot) Six Senses Spa includes everything you need to refresh and rejuvenate through a modern take on ancient treatments and therapies with an Alpine twist. At the center of the complex are a rooftop swimming pool, Alpine garden, and an open-air cinema.
By choosing the Six Senses interior design option, your apartment will be fully furnished and decorated and therefore can be included in the rental option managed through the resort. This offers additional benefits at Six Senses Crans-Montana and promotional rates when staying at other Six Senses properties worldwide.
The convenience
Perched high above the vineyards of Sierre, in winter, Crans-Montana is one of the few ski resorts where you don’t need a car to get there: land into Sion only 26 kilometers away or catch the two-hour train from Geneva Airport to Sierre and hop on the funicular.
Although challenging for beginners, the 140 kilometers of high-altitude, long, open cruisers are interconnected, so you can access the entire area. On a sunny day, the best place to start is from the top of the Plaine Morte glacier, which is just shy of 3,000 meters. With panoramic views, it’s hard to know where to point your camera first. There’s a glorious 10-kilometer long red into the valley. Keep left and you’ll end up on the sunny and arguably less busy pistes of Petit Mont Bonvin. This doubles as a playground for off-piste adventures.
The impressive snowpark, one of the largest in Switzerland, has gained 5 stars for its “Adrenaline” zone. It boasts an immaculately maintained half-pipe, several rails, an area for beginner freestylers, a skicross/boardercross course, and a brand new snowpark for teenagers. Or tighten your boots and try your luck down the Women’s World Cup Mont-Lachaux. From the other side of the Cry d’Er, catch your breath on the large après-ski sun terrace before making your last descent down the varied Chetzeron, which starts off steep and bumpy, and eventually bottoms out through the pine forest to your residence. In summer, this same terrain doubles as a terrifying mountain bike run.
Although the World Cup put this “Best of the Alps” resort on the map, Crans-Montana operates year-round, and many people choose it as their primary residence. The Régent International School, acclaimed Summer Camp Montana, and prestigious École des Roches hotel management school are all on the doorstep. When staying in summer, you can test your head for heights with paragliding or mountaineering, get on the water with wakeboarding and water skiing, or take life at your own pace by exploring the trails on foot or on horseback.
A highlight of the summer calendar is the prestigious Jumping Longines show jumping event, which takes place every year in July. In 2019, Six Senses Residences Crans-Montana joined Jumping Longines as a headline sponsor.
Top-level golf can also be found at the famous Severiano Ballesteros 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus 9-hole, and esteemed Crans-sur-Sierre golf club, which has played host to some of the world’s finest golfers. The Six Senses Residences Crans-Montana Golf Open also welcomes special guests for a day of golfing.
The culture
Crans-Montana has a surprising density of art galleries for a mountain resort, dedicated to art fans and collectors alike. Alongside the Fondation Opale museum showcasing contemporary Aboriginal art, you’ll find the Musée Art et Collections curated by the Fondation Bernard & Caroline de Watteville, which has opened its doors again to the delight of art fans. Music lovers flock to the Crans-Montana Classics concerts, with a wealth of annual programming. It won’t escape fashionistas that the chair lifts are sponsored by Prada, and indeed you’ll find the upscale designer and all the top luxury brands in town.
In gourmet terms, in addition to a dozen mountain restaurants, there are an astounding 90 restaurants in the town, with food choices ranging from the local Valais cuisine to Turkish, Chinese, and even Argentinian. At the Crans end of town, the most celebrated non-hotel gourmet dining is at the Nouvelle Rotisserie and the Bergerie du Cervin, which specializes in Valais-style raclette and fondue.
Jessica Swales visited the Six Senses Residences Crans-Montana site in January 2022. For all residential enquiries please contact residences@sixsenses.com or complete the enquiry form.