Villars , the “paradise of the Swiss Alps”, is located at an altitude of 1,300 m, on a sunny mountain platform-balcony, from where a grand panorama opens, covering a vast area from Lake Geneva to the French Alps.

Villar is one of the oldest ski resorts in Switzerland . In 1913, a railway was built in Breteuil, and the development of ski tourism began here. The first lift was put into operation in 1936. It delivered tourists to the Chaux Ronde. For the first time in Switzerland, a lift was built, on which tourists were obliged to fasten themselves with a large leather belt to ensure their safety. In December 1936, a funicular in the form of a sleigh was built, which took vacationers to the top of Grand Chamossaire. It worked until 1953, after which it was replaced by a new one.

In 1938, Villar became one of the first officially recognized mountain resorts in Europe. Many ski clubs in Switzerland competed and trained on local slopes. After World War II, Villar again became a favorite vacation spot for a wide variety of guests, from Formula 1 drivers and royalty to ordinary families with children.

How to get there

The nearest international airports: Geneva – 110 km, Zurich – 210 km.

It is more convenient to get from the airport by train. The journey will take 4 hours from Zurich and 2.5 hours from Geneva. The train goes through Lausanne with a change in Aigle or Baie. From these stations, you can get to the resort by local mountain railway train, bus or taxi (20-25 minutes).

Tracks and lifts

Slope map

Villars-Grillon offers great skiing right to the doorstep of chalets and hotels, and is great for both families and thrill-seekers.

The picturesque region unites five skiing areas connected by tracks and lifts: Villar – Grillon – Meilleret – Isenau – Glacier 3000, a single contactless ski pass is valid everywhere.

Three completely different and beautiful valleys in their own way, a glacier at an altitude of 3000 meters and stunning skiing for every taste. If even this doesn’t seem enough, you can go to our neighbors, to the Leysin and Le Moss resorts: the ski pass gives you the opportunity to ride on 225 km of slopes (71 lifts). Skiing on the glacier is automatically included in any ski pass valid for 3 days or more.

Most of the runs in Villar and Le Diableret are open blues and easy reds, so the whole family should have fun.

Those who long for a good wilderness should go to the Glacier 3000 glacier, where several interesting freeride routes with an impressive height difference start at once. Heli-ski tours start from the same place.

The skiing area of ​​Villar is very diverse and picturesque. Children will like the easy slopes and special lifts, both in the resort itself and in Bretaye. Experienced skiers will be delighted by a variety of red and black tracks passing through the forest and very picturesque places.

The longest ski track – Bouquetin, 5 km (start – 2100 m, finish – 1250 m, height difference – 900 m)

Slopes for carving – 100 km

Tracks for cross-country skiing – 44 km

The longest flat track – 7 km (start – 1715 m, finish – 1800 m, height difference – 300 m)

Toboggan track – 1500 m (start – 1500 m, finish – 1300 m, height difference – 200 m)

7 routes for walking in snowshoes

Artificial snow area – 7%

Four fan parks with three quarterpipes have been built in the Villar-Grillon skating area. At Glacier 3000 there is a beautiful snow park, with jump lines of varying degrees of difficulty, slopestyle tracks and jibbing rails. Snowboarders and skiers of the new school will have a great time here.

Due to the proximity of Lake Geneva and the peculiarities of the microclimate, there is a lot of snow in Villar at the end of January and February-March. Since there are quite a lot of forest slopes here, it is possible to develop quite interesting routes of varying difficulty. Lifts connect four ski regions. A single ski pass allows you to ski on all slopes (most of them are blue and red), including neighboring ones – in the resorts of Leizan and Le Moss.

One of the most interesting routes leads from Chaux Ronde to the bottom of the gorge, in La Rasse; from here you can move to the Gryon sector, to the slopes of Le Chaux (2020 m). A very scenic skiing area for experienced skiers is located on Petit Chamossaire, in good weather you can descend off-piste towards the village of Vers l’eglise or return to the chair lift on Chaux Ronde. A more difficult off-piste route runs along the Croix des Chaux slope, to the left of the blue route. It leads to the ancient village of Taveyannaz. Off-piste skiing from Glacier 3000 above Diablere requires not only certain experience, but also the participation of a guide.

It should be noted that in the height of the season, a snow park operates in Villar, next to which there is a lounge bar with palm trees, from which it is good to admire Mont Blanc. For those who are determined, the large park Glacier 3000, aimed at freestylers and snowboarders, is open on the glacier in Diablere throughout the season (usually from the end of October until May). In the off-season, this park is often chosen by professional athletes for training.

Cross-country ski trails are laid out around Villar and above it. In a short time you can reach very picturesque areas, for example, to the ancient village of shepherds, where the houses of the 17th century have been preserved, or to the steep cliffs in the Solalex area. 30 km of tracks for classics and 15 km for skating are prepared around Diablere.

In Villar, those people who for some reason cannot ride alone (persons with limited health opportunities, elderly people, children…) are also treated with care. There is a tandem ski system – riding in special “ski” sleds, which are guided by an instructor from behind, usually lasts an hour or two and costs 55 francs.

Not only skiing

Ice skating, sledding, dog sledding – all this is possible in Villar. The resort has indoor and outdoor skating rinks. The first is in the sports center of the resort, the second is in Grijon, not far from the railway station. Diablere is also home to the region’s longest toboggan run (more than seven kilometers). Twice a week, night skiing is possible on it with dinner in a mountain restaurant and subsequent mulled wine. You go up on the chairlift (Vioz – Mazots), near the lower station of which you can rent sledges (CHF 14 for adults, CHF 7 for children – for day skiing). In addition, there is dog sledding on Glacier 3000. During the trip, you can not only understand how such an unusual crew is managed, but also learn interesting facts about the life of huskies and huskies. The price is 15 CHF (adult), 8 CHF (child under 14).

Vacation with children

The resort has ski schools for children and kindergartens: the Villars Ski School works with children from the age of three. Children from 2 months to 6 years old will be accommodated in La Trottinette kindergarten. The Swiss Ski & Snowboard School in Diabler offers a kindergarten and ski lessons (for children from 4 years old). Le Chamois has a children’s club, and Diablodocus Park has a part of the children’s ski school, which offers skiing lessons and childcare. Ski passes for children under 9 are free. In addition to skating, you can have a great time with the kids on an ice rink and snowshoes, you should definitely take a ride on a snowy night track on a sled in Diablere.

In the tourism office, you can rent the necessary equipment for babies – strollers, kangaroos, car seats, carriers, children’s seats, bathtubs and cribs. Above the station building in the center of the resort, there is a free skiing area for beginners, where several children’s lifts operate. To the top, to the large “kindergarten” and ski schools on the Bretaye meadow, you can go up by train. A few steps from the station, there is a large children’s ski stadium, where a baby lift and bugel are working, a mini slalom track, houses, wigwams and small trampolines are located. For those who do not ski directly in Bretaye, there are small toboggan runs, a longer (2 km) and difficult one that starts above the Sol du Soud train stop and comes to Villar. Friyansi has an open toboggan run with a special children’s lift.

 

Excursions and apres-ski

There are surprisingly many scenic spots in Villar. For example, an idyllic panorama opens from the top of Grand Chamossaire: Mont Blanc, the Swiss peaks of the Bernese Highlands, valleys, towns, lakes. From the nearby Petit Chamossaire mountain, you can see in all its glory the resort of Leisan, the beautiful valley and Lake Geneva. But Glacier 3000 can boast the most impressive panorama in the region. Once you climb to the top, you will see not only Mont Blanc and its neighbors, but also almost all the Swiss four-thousanders. Note that one of the most amazing places in the region is Solalex, located above Gryon. Millions of years ago, there was an ancient sea here, and when it left, there were vertical rocks that go vertically up and form an impressive bowl. Get ready for a little adventure when you dine at this place. The restaurant can only be reached on foot, on skitouring skis or a snowmobile (it is sent when booking a place in a restaurant). You have to complete a not too exhausting, but very beautiful way to a restaurant that offers incredibly tasty fondue, raclette and other traditional dishes.

Only half an hour from Villar are the legendary towns of Montreux and Vevey, a little further – Lausanne and Geneva with their endless possibilities for shopping and entertainment. Between Montreux and Villeneuve, there is one of the most beautiful monuments in Switzerland – Chillon Castle. In the 11th century, there was a small fortress at this place guarding an important trade route leading to Italy through the St. Bernard Pass. In the middle of the 13th century, the castle became as it is today: it rises majestically on a small rocky island, reflecting in Lake Geneva.

Near Lake Geneva, a half-hour drive from Villars, there is an Aquapark in Le Bouveret. Its area is 8,000 square meters. m. There are all kinds of slides of different height and complexity, a pool with waves, a pirate ship, a lazy river and other attractions. The park has a beauty center, saunas and a pool for adults. The price is CHF 39 for children and CHF 49 for adults.

And be sure to visit the Lavy les Bains spa center with thermal springs, pools and saunas, also located 30 minutes from Villar. Here you can not only relax after a busy day of sports, but also take a full-fledged health course.

 

Where to have lunch

The resort has many restaurants of both traditional and international cuisine. Among them, it is worth noting, for example, the unusual Le Peppino (here, to prepare dishes, ingredients are mixed in unexpected combinations, for example, they prepare salads from inflorescences), gastronomic Le Jardin des Alpes (works in the only five-star hotel of the Chalet Royalp resort, it serves exquisite dishes ), the mountain CaféRestaurant L’Etable (they prepare, among other things, excellent lamb) and others. In general, there is no place in Villar where it would be “tasteless”.

Where to stay

Among the hotels of the resort, it is worth highlighting Domaine de La Croix de Javernaz 4 * and Eurotel Victoria 4 * (both in traditional Alpine style), Hotel du Golf 4 * (family hotel with a wellness center), Chalet RoyAlp Hôtel & Spa 5 * , Les Mazots du Clos (boutique hotel with spa complex), Alpe Fleurie 3 * (design hotel), Chalet Petit Roc 4 * (family) and many others.

Domaine de La Croix de Javernaz 4 star hotel

Chalet La Croix de Javernaz is 500 meters from Villars Train Station and offers apartments with stunning south-facing views. Deer and mountain goats are frequent visitors in this alpine area.

Access to the sauna in the chalet is free all year round, and the swimming pool is open from 15 May to 15 October. Guests can also relax while admiring the beautiful view from their private balcony.

All apartments have a Nespresso machine with free capsules. Bed linen is included in the price of accommodation.

Upon request, a basket with products for breakfast can be delivered to the apartment. Gluten- and lactose-free products are offered. You can also order everything you need to prepare the national Swiss dish raclette. Please place your order at least 48 hours before arrival. Fresh dishes can be ordered with delivery to the apartments.

Chalet Petit Roc 4 star hotel

Chalet Petit Roc is located in Villars-sur-Ollon, 1 km from the Roc d’Orsay ski lift. It offers a balcony, a garden and free Wi-Fi. Private parking is available on the territory. The Villard-Grillon / Le Diablere ski lift is 1 km away.

The chalet has 5 bedrooms, a TV, an equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and a microwave, a washing machine, and 3 bathrooms with a shower.

Lovers of active recreation can go on a bicycle ride in the surroundings.

Chaurond 1 and Lac Noir Chau Rond ski lifts are 6 km from Hotel Petit Roc Villars Ollon.

Chalet RoyAlp Hôtel & Spa 5-star hotel

The five-star Chalet RoyAlp Hotel & Spa is located close to the ski slopes and the Villars Golf Club, which will allow guests to have a great time both in winter and in summer. You can ski directly to the front door of the hotel. In addition, the hotel has 2 restaurants and an exclusive spa salon.

The hotel also has an indoor pool with an outdoor fireplace, a hot tub, a sauna, a steam room, a fitness center and a relaxation area.

Le Chalet RoyAlp & Spa, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World consortium, combines the charm of a mountain lodge with the sophistication of a modern luxury hotel. All rooms are individually decorated in Alpine style. Bathrobes and toiletries are provided in the private bathroom.

The Jardin des Alpes restaurant with its cozy atmosphere is suitable for visiting with children. The chef specializes in French cuisine and prepares dishes from fresh products delivered from the farm. Exquisite modern dishes from the chef are prepared with a careful selection of each ingredient.

Snacks can be ordered at BeAr’s Bar, which has a terrace with mountain views. In winter, the Grizzly restaurant, decorated in the style of an alpine chalet, serves traditional Swiss cuisine.

In addition, in the hall adjacent to the main kitchen, dishes are prepared to order, and guests can dine in the company of chefs.

In summer, the price of accommodation includes a Free Access card, which entitles you to a free visit to various events in the village of Villar.

Les Mazots du Clos

Hotel Les Mazots du Clos is located 700 meters from the Rock d’Orsay in Villars-sur-Ollon. It offers direct access to the ski slopes, ski storage, a Turkish bath and a spa center. Free Wi-Fi is provided.

A continental breakfast is available daily at the bed and breakfast.

Les Mazots du Clos hotel guests have a sauna and a hot tub at their disposal. Guests can play table tennis or use the business center.

Guests can swim in the outdoor pool, go hiking or skiing, relax in the garden and use the barbecue facilities.

The ski resorts of Villar-Grillon / Le Diableret are 700 m from the hotel, and the Chaurond-1 ski lift is 6 km away.

Eurotel Victoria 4-star hotel

Hotel Eurotel Victoria is located near the center of Villars-sur-Ollon, in the canton of Vaud, and offers you comfortable rooms, a free rich breakfast buffet and a swimming pool.

All rooms have a balcony overlooking the valley. The hotel rooms are very spacious and are perfect for couples with children.

Buffet breakfast and 4-course dinners are offered to you in the Quatre Saisons restaurant. The Eurotel Victoria also has an à la carte restaurant that offers fine French and Italian cuisine.

In winter, more than 120 km of ski slopes and 45 lifts are at your service. Eurotel Victoria is 400 meters from the Roc d’Orsay cable car and a 5-minute walk from Villars Train Station.