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Vogue
03-06-2025
- Health
- Vogue
Six Senses Crans-Montana
Welcome to the second iteration of Vogue's global spa guide, an index of the 100 best spas in the world, built from the expertise of our global editors and trusted contributors. There is a lot to choose from in the world of wellness, and no matter how far you're planning to travel—from a subway ride to a transatlantic flight—we want to make sure it's worth the journey. Whatever your path, let us be your guide. Why go here? Crans-Montana may be lesser known than some of its Swiss Alpine neighbors—but it's the lack of that glitzy, see-and-be-seen vibe in towns like Gstaad and St. Moritz that lends it a unique, laid-back charm. (This corner of the Alps is where Europeans go for seriously great skiing, with 140 kilometers of pistes catering to every level of ability.) So when the Six Senses brand announced they were launching a new property in the town, nestled in the peaks of the French-speaking canton of Valais, the interest of luxury travel obsessives was piqued. And while the hotel certainly doesn't disappoint on the skiing front—there's a ski-in, ski-out entrance and a rental shop within the property itself—the spa is an equally dazzling crown jewel. Spread across two floors and 2,000 square meters, its wide-ranging offering encompasses everything from ancient Alpine healing to the latest in biohacking technology; the latter is offered in a labyrinthine room with gadgets spanning everything from lymphatic drainage systems to full-body LED light therapy machines to compression boots, best enjoyed in tandem with a massage lounger that is timed to the subconsciously soothing binaural beats that are pumped through a pair of headphones. It's a wonderland for those looking to try the latest and most outré advances within the ever-evolving world of wellness. What's the vibe? The brand new hotel may have opened just two years ago, but it has the warm, inviting feeling of a classic Swiss ski institution. Upon arrival, you'll be greeted in the subterranean welcome area—and invited to select one of the traditional bells hanging on the wall to ring and mark your intention for the week ahead—before being whizzed up to the floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the lobby, through which you can see the steam rising off the outdoor pool. The rooms and suites are a masterclass in sleek Alpine style, with larch and oak wood paneling, artfully dimmed lighting, and enormous quartzite stone-clad bathrooms with tubs for a post-ski soak—and every single one has a terrace from which you can enjoy the sweeping views across the valley. (Also worth noting? The impressive array of dining options, which range from an excellent Japanese restaurant Byakko to healthier riffs on Swiss classics at the rustic Wild Cabin—don't miss the Sunday brunch at the latter, with its heaving platters of locally produced cold cuts and cheeses.) But back to the spa: The centerpiece is a gorgeously designed indoor pool area that features thousands of shimmering light rods hanging from the ceiling like minimalist stalactites, and a glass gate that opens up for you to swim through to the great outdoors; surrounding it are loungers and cabana-style private areas to sip freshly brewed blends of detox herbal teas or fruit- and herb-infused waters from the health bar next door. Head deeper into the rabbit warren of corridors, and you'll find an array of saunas—everything from Finnish to Himalayan salt—which form part of a thermodynamic circuit that also includes a hammam and a cold plunge. The hardest part? Deciding which order to do it all in. The history? The wellness-focused hospitality brand Six Senses has been going since the '90s, but their Crans-Montana outpost marks their first attempt at a ski-spa concept. The brand's illustrious reputation and history means that the wellness offering here comes with some serious bona fides, and they've clearly taken great delight in translating their signature treatments for hardcore skiers. What should you try? If you're visiting for more than a few days, it's worth signing up for one of their robust rest and recovery packages, which begin with a 60-minute high-tech wellness screening and conclude with a check-in at the end to see how things have improved throughout your stay. Other highlights included a signature deep tissue massage, which began with a consultation in which the therapist decided hot stones along my wrists and forearms would be the perfect salve for soreness after clinging too tightly to my ski poles the day before, and a facial using products from Dr. Burgener Switzerland that settled down my ruddy complexion from the icy winds of the mountain. It's the perfect place to retreat that also offers the opportunity to get active in the great outdoors. How environmentally friendly is it? In general, Six Senses is known for taking their environmental responsibilities seriously, and as the hotel is a recent build, there are myriad ways in which they've strived to reduce its impact. Within the spa, the pools use UV filters to reduce the need for chemical treatment, while it was constructed using almost entirely natural, local materials. Oh, and the entire place is powered using Swiss hydroelectricity and heated using a carbon-neutral wooden pellet system. What else do we need to know? Make sure to book in at the charming Alchemy Bar, where a local holistic wellness therapist will guide you through the process of making your own face masks and scrubs, selecting your favorite essential oils to make it. (Given I was in the Alps, I felt it was only appropriate to put some pine essence into mine.) Perfect for a post-dinner soak in your private tub. John Athimaritis Who can go? The Six Senses Crans-Montana spa is free for hotel guests, though day passes are available for visitors for a fee.
The National
03-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Before and after: Entire Swiss village wiped out by glacier
The collapse of a Swiss glacier last week destroyed most of Blatten, a tiny village in Switzerland's southern Valais region that was home to about 300 people. Footage of the May 28 collapse showed ice and rubble hurtling down the mountainside into Blatten. Residents evacuated the village in the days before the glacier came down. Celeste Saulo, Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organisation, said at a conference in Geneva that the disaster was "a potent warning about our warming world". "Early action avoided human losses," she added. "From understanding risk to effective forecasts, communication and evacuation, early warnings and early action work. They save lives." The disaster is likely to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, the Swiss Insurance Association said on Monday. The collapse was a "major disaster that is virtually unprecedented in its scale and impact on the affected population", it said in a statement.
The Independent
01-06-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Flooding fears eased at picturesque Swiss Alpine village buried by landslide
A river in the Swiss Alps, which was dammed by a landslide that buried much of the village of Blatten, is now flowing through the debris, authorities have said. A huge mass of rock, ice and mud from the Birch glacier thundered into the Lötschental valley in southern Switzerland on Wednesday, destroying much of the village. Buildings that weren't buried were submerged in a lake created by the small Lonza River, whose course was dammed by the mass of material. The regional government in Valais canton said that the Lonza has been flowing through the full length of the debris since Friday. Geologist and regional official Raphaël Mayoraz said the level of the newly created lake has since gone down about 1 meter (3.3 feet). Authorities had previously worried that water pooling above the mass of rock and ice could lead to further risks. 'The speed at which this lake is emptying comes from the river eroding the deposit,' he said at a news conference. 'This erosion is relatively slow, but that's a good thing. If it is too fast, then there is instability in this channel, and that could lead to small slides of debris.' 'The Lonza appears to have found its way, but it too early to be able to give an all-clear,' said Matthias Bellwald, Blatten's mayor. The outlet of a dam downstream at Ferden, which is normally used to generate electricity, was opened partially on Friday evening to allow water to flow further down the valley and regulate the volume of water behind the dam. Authorities are still leaving open the possibility of evacuations further downstream if required, though the risk to other villages appears very low. Days before most of the glacier collapsed, authorities had ordered the evacuation of about 300 people, as well as livestock, from Blatten. Switzerland's president said on Friday that the government was looking for ways to help the evacuees.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
A river dammed by a huge Swiss landslide is flowing again. That's a relief to authorities
GENEVA (AP) — A small Alpine river dammed by a landslide that largely buried the Swiss village of Blatten is now flowing through the debris, and the level of a newly created lake that raised worries about potential new destruction has fallen, authorities said Saturday. A huge mass of rock, ice and mud from the Birch glacier thundered into the Lötschental valley in southern Switzerland on Wednesday, destroying much of the village. Buildings that weren't buried were submerged in a lake created by the small Lonza River, whose course was dammed by the mass of material. Authorities worried that water pooling above the mass of rock and ice could lead to risks of its own. Still, the regional government in Valais canton (state) said that the Lonza has been flowing through the full length of the debris since Friday. Geologist and regional official Raphaël Mayoraz said Saturday that the level of the lake has since gone down about 1 meter (3.3 feet). 'The speed at which this lake is emptying comes from the river eroding the deposit,' he said at a news conference. 'This erosion is relatively slow, but that's a good thing. If it is too fast, then there is instability in this channel, and that could lead to small slides of debris.' 'The Lonza appears to have found its way, but it too early to be able to give an all-clear,' said Matthias Bellwald, Blatten's mayor. The outlet of a dam downstream at Ferden, which is normally used to generate electricity, was opened partially on Friday evening to allow water to flow further down the valley and regulate the volume of water behind the dam. Authorities are still leaving open the possibility of evacuations further downstream if required, though the risk to other villages appears very low. Days before most of the glacier collapsed, authorities had ordered the evacuation of about 300 people, as well as livestock, from Blatten. Switzerland's president said on Friday that the government was looking for ways to help the evacuees.
CTV News
31-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
A river dammed by a huge Swiss landslide is flowing again. That's a relief to authorities
GENEVA — A small Alpine river dammed by a landslide that largely buried the Swiss village of Blatten is now flowing through the debris, and the level of a newly created lake that raised worries about potential new destruction has fallen, authorities said Saturday. A huge mass of rock, ice and mud from the Birch glacier thundered into the Lötschental valley in southern Switzerland on Wednesday, destroying much of the village. Buildings that weren't buried were submerged in a lake created by the small Lonza River, whose course was dammed by the mass of material. Authorities worried that water pooling above the mass of rock and ice could lead to risks of its own. Still, the regional government in Valais canton (state) said that the Lonza has been flowing through the full length of the debris since Friday. Geologist and regional official Raphaël Mayoraz said Saturday that the level of the lake has since gone down about one metre (3.3 feet). 'The speed at which this lake is emptying comes from the river eroding the deposit,' he said at a news conference. 'This erosion is relatively slow, but that's a good thing. If it is too fast, then there is instability in this channel, and that could lead to small slides of debris.' 'The Lonza appears to have found its way, but it too early to be able to give an all-clear,' said Matthias Bellwald, Blatten's mayor. The outlet of a dam downstream at Ferden, which is normally used to generate electricity, was opened partially on Friday evening to allow water to flow further down the valley and regulate the volume of water behind the dam. Authorities are still leaving open the possibility of evacuations further downstream if required, though the risk to other villages appears very low. Days before most of the glacier collapsed, authorities had ordered the evacuation of about 300 people, as well as livestock, from Blatten. Switzerland's president said on Friday that the government was looking for ways to help the evacuees. The Associated Press
