Le Nid de Martinet is situated in the charming and historic village of Grimentz. This is the skiing hub of the Val d'Anniviers, and one of the most beautiful and picturesque of the old Valaisan villages in the Val d’Anniviers. The apartment is just 70 metres from the nearest bus stop, so a car is not necessary.
In winter, the property is a short walk (c. 250m) from the main lift station which whisks you up above 2010m in a matter of minutes to either the Grimentz or the Zinal side of the valley. From there, there are plenty of uncrowded pistes to enjoy with something to suit all levels from beginner to advanced. Your ski pass for Grimentz / Zinal also covers the neighbouring villages of St Luc, Chandolin and Vercorin, giving a total of 220km of piste skiing, plus a huge area of off piste to enjoy. A free shuttle bus operates throughout the ski season to link the other villages. Verbier is 90 minutes drive, and Crans Montana one hour.
In summer, Grimentz is transformed to a delightful green haven with an abundance of mountain walks to suit all levels, mountain biking, tennis and other outdoor sports. The Moiry glacier is 20 minutes drive, just above the large Moiry dam, which has cobalt blue waters. There is a weekly themed market in the village on a Friday during high season. There are tennis courts and a childrens playground opposite
Getting here
Grimentz is found in the furthest east of the French speaking valleys in the canton of Valais (Wallis in German), situated around 2 hours from Geneva. Valais itself boasts the 10 highest mountains in Switzerland – all over 4,000m.
There are excellent train links to Sierre, the nearest town, from numerous entry points into Switzerland, including Geneva airport (see sbb.ch). There is a bus service from Sierre to Grimentz, and taxis are readily available.
Eating and Drinking
There are numerous hotels, bars and restaurants dotted around the village, with something to suit all tastes. Fondue and raclette are typical specialties served in a number of the establishments. If you fancy something a little different there is a British run company based in Grimentz who, amongst other things, will deliver home cooked food to your door ready for you to reheat at your convenience. They can also provide a complete drinks package for your holiday should you desire.
Shopping
There are 2 supermarkets, 2 bakers, and a butcher / fishmonger in Grimentz, which can cater for all your food shopping needs whilst you are here, plus sports and gift shops. There are numerous vineyards in the valley
Children
Grimentz is the perfect holiday destination if you have children. There is a creche at the top of the mountain in ski season, an excellent “snow garden” which helps teach the basics of skiing from about age 3 upwards, and then the 2 local ski schools provide group lessons for kids every week. In summer, the tourist office organizes numerous activities to keep children amused such as arts and crafts, trampoline and treasure hunts, plus there are tennis courts, a swimming pool and mini golf all within the village itself.
Further afield
There is plenty to enjoy in the region - there are several other attractive villages to explore within the Val d’Anniviers itself. Less than an hour away is Leukerbad - the largest thermal springs centre in Europe, with several thermal bath complexes. Or, in a little over 2 hours you could be sipping a coffee on the shores of the Italian lakes.
Both Zermatt and Saas Fee are within easy reach
