Credit...Alessandro Della Valle/Keystone, via Associated Press
Crans-Montana is a Historic Swiss Ski Resort Town Popular With International Tourists
The town is known for its gourmet food, luxury stores, and for hosting major sporting events. The Crans-Montana Resort, which does not operate the bar that caught fire, was acquired by Vail Resorts in 2024.
by https://www.nytimes.com/by/isabella-kwai · NY TimesThe Alpine resort town of Crans-Montana, where a fire at a bar is believed to have killed dozens and injured about 100 more, is more than a century old and is known as a high-end destination popular with families and international visitors.
The town lies about 120 miles east of Geneva in the French-speaking Valais region, and offers sweeping views from a plateau above the Rhone Valley. It is famed for gourmet restaurants, luxury stores and hosting big sporting events, including World Cup ski competitions and major golf tournaments. The area was scheduled to host the men’s and women’s World Cup races later this month. Roger Moore, the late James Bond actor, had a home there for many years.
The Crans-Montana Resort does not operate the bar where the fire occurred. The resort’s managing director, Pete Petrovski, released a statement, saying, “We are deeply saddened by last night’s tragedy,” and adding that the resort would support the efforts of local authorities.
Amin Momen, the founder of Momentum Experiences, a London-based travel company that organizes corporate ski events, said that the bar, Le Constellation, was a “casual” spot, rather than the type of luxury nightspot that the town is known for. The bar was big, with an upstairs and downstairs area, he said, adding that foreign visitors often went there to watch sports, like Premier League soccer. December, Mr. Momen added, would have been a popular time for families to holiday in the town.
The bar was also popular with young people, according to SRF, Switzerland’s public broadcaster.
The authorities said the victims of the fire were likely of many nationalities.
About three million people visit Crans-Montana each year, according to its website. Most of them are from Switzerland, but about a fifth of its clientele are international tourists, led by Italian and French visitors.
Aurelien Breeden and Christopher F. Schuetze contributed reporting.