Home › Travel Guides › Europe Travel Guide › Switzerland › Ski resort › Villars Ski Resort › Villars - Resort information

Villars ski lift

© Creative Commons / Bernd Brägelmann

Villars - Resort information

Villars
Resort elevation:
1300m
Top elevation:
3000m
Base elevation:
1300m
Beyond the slopes: 

Villars' sports centre (tel: (024) 495 1221) (in the northeast of the village) offers indoor tennis courts, volleyball, badminton, football, unihockey (floorball), squash and a fitness room on its main site. The centre's smaller site has an ice rink and two indoor swimming pools (in the south of the village).

For a slower-paced approach to the slopes, the tourist office provides maps for seven snowshoe routes, or you can just stroll along the 27km (17 miles) of winter walking trails.

A 30-minute train ride down the mountain takes you to the picturesque Château d'Aigle, now converted into the Musée Vaudois de la Vigne et du Vin (Vine and Wine Museum) (tel: (024) 466 2130).

A recommended day trip is a visit to Gruyère, with its strangely familiar castle (used in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Cailler chocolate factory (www.cailler.ch) (offering tours and tasting), H R Giger Museum (tel: (026) 921 2200; www.hrgigermuseum.com) (creator of the extraterrestrial beings in the ALIEN film) and the fondue lover’s Gruyère cheese museum.

Family fun: 

The variety of ski and snowboard schools in Villars is a strong selling point for families, while La Trottinette nursery, route du Col de la Croix (tel: (024) 495 8888), provides care for children up to six years old.

In neighbouring Les Diablerets, Mountain Evasion (tel: (024) 492 1232) offers a selection of fun activities including sledging and the hair-raising night-time toboggan run.

Switzerland's premium water park, Aquaparc, route de la Plage, Le Bouveret, marketed as ‘the Caribbean on Lake Geneva', is 30 minutes away by train.

Retail therapy: 

The village has a range of shops selling groceries, regional foods and wine. There are also several boutiques with fashion items, watches and antiques. Of particular note for children is the delightful toy shop, Les Paradis des Jouets, rue Centrale (tel: (024) 495 2801), while for parents the Magasin Relay, Ancienne Gare (tel: (024) 495 2621), is the place to buy international newspapers.

Splashing out: 

For adventurous visitors, Villars offers superb paragliding opportunities, available through Dimension 3 (tel: (079) 435 2123; www.dimension-3.ch) and Smith Paragliding (tel: (024) 495 4141; www.smith.li). Depart from various starting points and sail down the valley on a tandem flight accompanied by a qualified instructor.

Content Parent: 
Villars

Recommended Sites:

Protect yourself from malaria
Before you travel, find out if your holiday destination is in a malaria zone.
(An educational initiative organised and funded by GlaxoSmithKline Travel Health. UK/MARK/0173/10 September 2010)
Travel insurance
For residents of over 150 countries. High levels of medical, evacuation, emergency & most adventure activities covered.