Champéry is one of Switzerland’s oldest tourist destinations and the first Olympic site in Valais, after hosting the curling events at the Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games. The village combines charm and authenticity with its centuries-old chalets.

Framed by the spectacular peaks of the Dents du Midi, the alpine village of Champéry in the canton of Valais is one of the most charming destinations in the Swiss Alps. Located at an altitude of 1,050 metres at the bottom of the Val d’Illiez, it combines the authenticity of a traditional village with the energy of a renowned tourist resort. Strolling along the main street, you are greeted by a succession of carved wooden chalets, flower-filled balconies and picturesque signs reminiscent of the region’s long tradition of hospitality. Champéry’s origins date back to the Middle Ages, when the valley was mainly inhabited by farmers and herders. The community retained its rural character, linked to sheep farming and transhumance, until the 19th century, when the beauty of the landscape began to attract the first travellers and mountaineers. Thanks in part to its proximity to the French border, the village developed into an international tourist resort: as early as 1857, the Hôtel de la Dent-du-Midi, one of Switzerland’s first large mountain hotels, was built. Today, Champéry is an integral part of the vast Portes du Soleil ski area, which links twelve resorts in Switzerland and France and offers hundreds of kilometres of slopes. But the village’s charm is not limited to winter sports: in summer, it is a paradise for hikers and mountain bikers, with trails winding through pastures, alpine lakes and shady forests. The Palladium, a modern sports and leisure centre, is the beating heart of community and tourist life in the village. It is here that hockey and skating champions train, but also where families and visitors can enjoy sports in all seasons, from indoor climbing to swimming. The Palladium is not just a place dedicated to physical activity: it is a meeting place that hosts events, concerts and cultural events, perfectly embodying the spirit of Champéry, where sports tourism intertwines with Alpine conviviality.