Verbier is a Work of Art in the Summertime
The cultural side of Verbier
There are many things associated with Switzerland: chocolates, skiing and watches topping the charts, but I would not have imagined that on a visit to the mountain village of Verbier, I would be able to snap up a pop art piece by Banksy, Mr Brainwash or J Leno after a hike in the Heidi-like mountains, but the Bel Air Fine Art Gallery on the main drag was a feast for the eyes!
Situated in the southwestern Valais canton, Valais is historically known for its apres ski and European royalty, so on a recent summer visit, it was an eye opener to discover Switzerland’s curated culture hidden in the mountains; after the snow has melted, the area becomes a summer playground, with the black-run hills revealing an abundance of grazing cows, wild roaming ibex and delicate little flowers that cover the ground in a carpet of fragrance.
Switzerland is in fact an unrivalled summer destination, where the cantons offer a slice of paradise for cyclists, hikers and artists who make the most of the winding mountain roads and rugged forest paths after the last snowflake has melted- although this is arguably replaced by the blanket of edelweiss which coats the mountainside in its delicate flowers.
Verbier music festivals
Music fans have been well aware of the joys of Verbier in the summer and have been flocking to the month-long Verbier Classical Music Festival for thirty years. Taking place during July and August, I was lucky enough to grab tickets from the extensive programme, and although I must admit, I do not own any big band or orchestral music, seeing the crowd of eager onlookers go gooey for Welsh Bass baritone, Bryn Terfel, who put on a very charismatic show, was quite an experience. Plus having a birds eye view of Harry and Megan’s wedding day cellist and Young Musician of the Year, Sheku Kanneh-Mason who brought some sass to the stage. There was also an intimate ‘Concert Club’ series, an after hours event, featuring artists such as Pulitzer Prizewinner, Caroline Shaw, who is breaking the walls on genre, having toured with Kanye West and appeared in the hit series Mozart in the Jungle.
Locally, there is another ‘festival within a festival’ which piggybacks on the main event, and focuses on the region’s young creatives. Founded by Sébastien Olesen to showcase what the region has to offer, the annual Palp festival prides itself in finding curious venues to exhibit its work. Centred around the heart of the Val de Bagnes, in the PALP Village, it takes place from June to September and visitors flock to enjoy immersive art, workshops and music. In its thirteenth year, the unique mountain festival invited artists to create works that celebrate the theme of death – inviting visitors to experience artworks around the theme of ‘death in life’. With immersive artwork such as “Gore des Alpes” which allows you to write your own obituary, ‘A coffin for life’ by Marie Antoinette Gorret, where you can climb in and try out a coffin for size, being educated on flowers that can kill or learning more about death in metal music, it is nothing like you will have seen before. Alongside the art is a programme of eclectic music gigs, taking place in the area vineyards, ski lifts, private apartments and at the top of the mountain.
Verbier for artists
From immersive art, to open air art, Verbier is littered with creativity; taking inspiration from the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden in South Africa, where internationally renowned sculptor Dylan Lewis created a seven-hectare sculpture garden surrounding his house. Verbier’s Sculpture Park has a slightly different ethos and was founded in 2010 by New-York artist Madeleine Paternot and Verbier-based artist Kiki Thompson, to reflect themes of global warming. Every year, selected international artists in residence are challenged to create a narrative using the mountainous environment of the Alps as inspiration. Overseen by the 3D Foundation, it is worth taking a hike through the fresh scenic countryside from the La Chaux and Ruinettes gondola stops to admire these larger than life artworks which are a nod to the eroding ozone layer. The Foundation has also recently launched the ‘Creative Space’ in the village, which will host exhibitions, film screenings, a boutique gallery and workshop space; and visitors and locals can enjoy everything from pot glazing to hiking and drawing wildflowers with one of the professional, local artists.
Nightlife and Cuisine
If you’re not creating your own art or catching live music, you’ll probably be enjoying a DJ set, as there is no shortage of nightlife throughout the year. The W Hotel is probably the most swanky place to lay your head, nestled in the heart of Place Blanche, at the foot of the slopes, the Off Piste Bar is open all year.
Foodies will be able to enjoy all manner of cuisine; from the 5* Chalet d’Adrien with its Michelin Star, or perhaps enjoy a taste of Italian, in the town square, where La Nonna’s serves a hearty range of home cooked food, and even provides sun hats, should you need some shade from the blistering sun.
You can even make your own cheese in Verbier. Book a session with ‘cheese-master’ Marc at L’atelier Fromage, where you will learn all about the production of the local cheeses, and create your own round which you can take away on the day of the course for a creamy fresh cheese, or come back a few weeks later for a soft “tomme” cheese. However, if you’re all cheesed out, you can sample some other artisan products at the working farm shop.
VIP Pass
Whatever brings you to Verbier in the summer, make sure to pick up your Verbier Playground Pass” which offers “VIP” access to anyone staying at least one night in the region (after paying the tourist tax). This provides free access for all bus journeys (bicycles included), throughout Val de Bagnes as well as for the use of several gondolas (50% reduction for mountain bikes), and the swimming pool at Verbier’s Sports Centre. I can’t guarantee you’ll see Jude Law, Leonardo Di Caprio or Jamie Oliver in a pair of Speedos, but they’ve been spotted in their salopettes, so you never know!
————–
FACTBOX
Sara Darling
