This modern 3 bedroom duplex apartment, which sleeps up to 8 people, is situated perfectly, being less than a 5 minute walk to the village of Grimentz and a 2 minute walk to the main lift, which is open in summer for walkers and mountain bikers and in winter for skiers. The apartment is fully furnished with flat screen TV and free Wi-Fi internet access. The kitchen is fully fitted with modern appliances including oven, hob, dishwasher and fridge freezer. 3 bedrooms (2 doubles and 1 bunk room with twin beds as well), 1 en-suite bathroom with a WC, 1 family shower room and 1 separate WC. Spacious open plan kitchen, dining and lounge area. There is also a balcony with BBQ, bench and table. Au Pied des Pistes was newly built in 2009, in the charming and historic village of Grimentz. Grimentz is the skiing hub of the Val d'Anniviers, the hanging valley set high above the town of Sierre. It's not as secret as people make out, but it still has heaps of rustic charm! At 1,572m it offers an escape into nature at the gateway to some of Switzerland's most famous 4000 metre mountains, where the pure air of the Alps makes your blood tingle. Introduction Grimentz is one of the most beautiful and picturesque of the old Valaisan villages in the Val d’Anniviers. The area 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. The capital of Valais, Sion, is a delightful old city in the Rhone valley, which has numerous historic remains, including a 13th-century castle, a late Gothic cathedral and a 17th-century town hall. French is the principal language but English is widely understood. Getting here Grimentz is just over 2 hours from Geneva airport, and only 40 minutes from Sion Airport. 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. Accommodation Au Pied des Pistes offers modern luxury accommodation over two floors. This includes three bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (one en-suite), an open plan living / dining area and a very well equipped kitchen. The apartment sleeps up to 8 people (one of the twins has a sofa bed), with a balcony on the main floor. Au pied des Pistes C7 is perfect for both winter skiing and summer activities. Winter In winter, the chalet is a short walk from the edge of the piste, or a 7 minute downhill stroll to from the main telecabine lift which whisks you up to 2110m in a matter of minutes. 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 also covers the neighbouring villages of St Luc, Chandolin, Vercorin and Zinal, 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. Summer 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. 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. In the Sierre area, there is an annual wine festival and a 2 Michelin starred restaurant at the Hotel Terminus. Shopping There are 2 supermarkets, 2 bakers, a butcher / fishmonger and a gluten free delicatessen 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 a field 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