Crans-Montana


Crans-Montana is a municipality in the district of Sierre in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. On 1 January 2017 the former municipalities of Chermignon, Mollens, Montana and Randogne merged to form the new municipality of Crans-Montana. Crans-Montana is also a ski resort that was created through the fusion of the two centers of Crans and Montana and belonged to six municipalities, four of which merged to form the municipality of Crans-Montana.

History

Chermignon

Chermignon is first mentioned in 1228 as Chermenon and Chirminon. It became an independent municipality in 1905 when it separated from Lens.

Mollens

Mollens is first mentioned about 1250 as Molaen. In 1286 it was mentioned as Moleing. The municipality was formerly known by its German name Molei, however, that name is no longer used.

Montana

Montana is first mentioned in 1243 as Montana. In 1905 it separated from Lens to form an independent municipality.

Randogne

Randogne is first mentioned in 1224 as Randonni.

Ski resort

The resort is located in the heart of the Swiss Alps in the French-speaking part of the canton of Valais. It is located on a plateau above Sierre at an elevation of about above sea level, allowing good view over the Valais Alps and Weisshorn in particular. The resort is a fusion of the two centers of Crans and Montana and belongs to 6 municipalities.
The skiing area of Crans-Montana is composed of of pistes, and includes the Plaine Morte Glacier. It is topped by the Pointe de la Plaine Morte at.
Crans-Montana is famous in alpine ski racing for the 1987 World Championships and is often on the World Cup schedule, usually for women's speed events.

Other activities

The area hosts the winter mountain pop rock festival, the, and a professional golf tournament, the European Tour's Omega European Masters, which takes place each September. The area has also been frequently used for bicycle racing, hosting stage finishes of the Tour de Suisse seven times and of the Tour de Romandie eight times as of 2013. In addition Crans-Montana also hosted the finish of the 20th stage of the 1984 Tour de France, won by Laurent Fignon, who also took the overall race win that year.
The has four courses, one designed by Seve Ballesteros and another named after Jack Nicklaus.

Geography

Crans-Montana has an area,, of.

Population

The new municipality has a population of.

Historic population

The historical population is given in the following chart:

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bar:1910 from: 0 till:848 text:"848" color:CH
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bar:1930 from: 0 till:1055 text:"1,055" color:CH
bar:1941 from: 0 till:1214 text:"1,214" color:CH
bar:1950 from: 0 till:1330 text:"1,330" color:CH
bar:1960 from: 0 till:1520 text:"1,520" color:CH
bar:1970 from: 0 till:1925 text:"1,925" color:CH
bar:1980 from: 0 till:2170 text:"2,170" color:CH
bar:1990 from: 0 till:2553 text:"2,553" color:CH
bar:2000 from: 0 till:2711 text:"2,711" color:CH
bar:1850 from: 522 till:739 text:"217" color:MO
bar:1910 from: 848 till:1160 text:"312" color:MO
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bar:1930 from: 1055 till:1340 text:"285" color:MO
bar:1941 from: 1214 till:1536 text:"322" color:MO
bar:1950 from: 1330 till:1633 text:"303" color:MO
bar:1960 from: 1520 till:1806 text:"286" color:MO
bar:1970 from: 1925 till:2195 text:"270" color:MO
bar:1980 from: 2170 till:2504 text:"334" color:MO
bar:1990 from: 2553 till:3095 text:"542" color:MO
bar:2000 from: 2711 till:3481 text:"770" color:MO
bar:1850 from: 739 till:1042 text:"303" color:MON
bar:1910 from: 1160 till:1707 text:"547" color:MON
bar:1920 from: 1261 till:2052 text:"791" color:MON
bar:1930 from: 1340 till:2825 text:"1,485" color:MON
bar:1941 from: 1536 till:2815 text:"1,279" color:MON
bar:1950 from: 1633 till:3348 text:"1,715" color:MON
bar:1960 from: 1806 till:3349 text:"1,543" color:MON
bar:1970 from: 2195 till:3920 text:"1,725" color:MON
bar:1980 from: 2504 till:4412 text:"1,908" color:MON
bar:1990 from: 3095 till:5284 text:"2,189" color:MON
bar:2000 from: 3481 till:5786 text:"2,305" color:MON
bar:1850 from: 1042 till:1295 text:"253" color:RA
bar:1910 from: 1707 till:2402 text:"695" color:RA
bar:1920 from: 2052 till:2948 text:"896" color:RA
bar:1930 from: 2825 till:4185 text:"1,360" color:RA
bar:1941 from: 2815 till:3951 text:"1,136" color:RA
bar:1950 from: 3348 till:4964 text:"1,616" color:RA
bar:1960 from: 3349 till:4857 text:"1,508" color:RA
bar:1970 from: 3920 till:5857 text:"1,937" color:RA
bar:1980 from: 4412 till:6203 text:"1,791" color:RA
bar:1990 from: 5284 till:8122 text:"2,838" color:RA
bar:2000 from: 5786 till:8749 text:"2,963" color:RA

Heritage sites of national significance

The Roches des Fées and the Hotel Bella Lui are listed as Swiss heritage site of national significance.

Climate

Between 1961 and 1990 Montana had an average of 110.5 days of rain or snow per year and on average received of precipitation. The wettest month was December during which time Montana received an average of of rain or snow. During this month there was precipitation for an average of 9.9 days. The month with the most days of precipitation was January, with an average of 10.4, but with only of rain or snow. The driest month of the year was September with an average of of precipitation over 6.8 days.

Notable people