14th March 2026 | James Cove, Martigny, Switzerland.
The valley city has formidable plans to change into an important cease off on the way in which to a large number of Swiss ski resorts. The most recent attraction is the 4*Quartier LôDzè. PlanetSKI spends 48-hours in Martigny to expertise what’s now on provide. NEW
Most skiers move by means of Martigny on the way in which from Geneva airport to Zermatt, Verbier, Crans-Montana and different Swiss ski resorts.
It sits simply off the motorway within the Rhone Valley and is on the principle railway line.
Just some folks used to cease, however that’s now altering as Martigny reinvents itself.
It’s a real mountain city at an historic crossroads of the Alps between Switzerland, Italy and France.
Now it affords rather more than folks might imagine.
We report in town itself and the ski resorts close by decrease down this submit, however we begin in LôDzè Quartier – the brand new jewel within the crown of Martigny that represents its modifications and its aspirations.
LôDzè Quartier Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
LôDzè Quartier is rooted in neighborhood and constructed on design, creativity and wellbeing.
A spot to eat, relaxation, join and restore – Alphonse, Les Bains Publics, Le Cercle restaurant, Borsari resort and Sauciteque.
The challenge value CHF 41.5 (£35m) and opened a 12 months in the past.

LôDzè Quartier Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
The Borsari resort feels extra like one of many boutique inns of Zermatt – however at a fraction of the value.
Rooms begin at CHF 195 (£186 per evening) for 2 folks and suites are CHF 450 (£380).

Borsari Resort – LôDzè Quartier Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

Borsari Resort – LôDzè Quartier Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
In its centre is a courtyard the place one feels one might simply be in Tuscany.

Borsari Resort – LôDzè Quartier Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

Borsari Resort – LôDzè Quartier Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
It’s extremely fashionable and the Borsari resort is the polar reverse of the standard household run Swiss resort.
Right here is PlanetSKI’s bed room, 03.1:
Some rooms nod to the Swiss chalet heritage.

Borsari Resort – Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
LôDzè Quartier has shortly change into an integral a part of the city of Martigny and displays the modifications happening.
Many locals come to eat, drink and loosen up.
“We don’t wish to be a resort behind closed doorways, however quite an integral a part of the area people,” stated the founder and proprietor, John Cretton.
Creating it has been his ardour since he first has the thought 12 years in the past.

Alphonse – LôDzè Quartier – Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

Alphonse – LôDzè Quartier – Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

Le Cercle – LôDzè Quartier – Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKIMartigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
“We aren’t attempting to be Verbier however we do wish to entice its guests as they move by on their approach to or from the Swiss resort.”
“We see a rising variety of Swiss who go to Verbier and different resorts on the weekend after which cease right here on their method residence on Sunday evening.”
“We delight ourselves on consideration to element and I’m proud to say that the builders started as labourers, however ended up as craftsmen.”
This may be seen in ‘Les Bains Publics’ within the basement of the resort.

Les Bains Publics Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
Extra of the baths later.
Then there may be the city of Martigny itself.
It sits at 471m above sea stage and has a inhabitants of round 20,000 folks.

Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
It has had some notable travellers passing by means of over the centuries.

Napoleon Bonaparte in Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

Napoleon Bonaparte in Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
It’s plagued by enjoyable bars and it has rather more of a ‘vibe’ than it used to.
Right here’s the Whitefrontier micro brewery with beer tastings on provide.

White Frontier Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

White Frontier Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

White Frontier Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
There are some top quality eating places.

Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
Maybe its most well-known vacationer attraction is Barryland – greater than only a canine kennel.
It’s residence to the St Bernard canine that in the summertime head to the St Bernard Monastery on the border between Switzerland and Italy.
There are at present 34 canine housed in a newly constructed kennels and exhibition centre.
It value CHF 25m (£21m) and opened in June 2025.
It sees as much as 1,000 guests a day in peak season.

Barryland Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

Barryland Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
Meet Edène who weighs in at 70kg.

Edène in Barryland Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

Edène in Barryland Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
And her mates.

Barryland Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
There’s extra to Barryland that the canine themselves as it’s half museum with particulars of the St Bernard Monastery and the alpine historical past of the area.

Barryland Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

Barryland Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
Then there may be La Batiaz the fort that towers over the city.

Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
It was constructed within the mid-Thirteenth century and holds a strategic place on the head of the Rhone Valley.
There’s an amphitheater on the sting of city that was constructed following the Roman conquest of the area in 57BC.

Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
It’s used as we speak for live shows and exhibitions, and this July it’s internet hosting a silent disco.

Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
There are artwork exhibitions and occasions on the Fondation Pierre Gianadda.
There’s loads to do for households, after which there may be this:

Trapgame in Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
See extra right here – TrapGame.
Folks use Martigny as a base for snowboarding the numerous surrounding ski resorts.
“We see LôDzè Quartier as a basecamp, so folks can discover the encompassing ski resorts and mountains,” stated Sophie Dommet from LôDzè Quartier.
“They’ll strive the numerous completely different ski areas and if the climate is poor, or they merely desire a time without work, there may be loads to get pleasure from in Martigny.”
Montreux and Lausanne are additionally a brief distance away by street or rail.
“What concerning the snowboarding?” I hear you ask.
It’s fairly merely the most effective alpine bases that we all know if you wish to go to a large number of resorts from an historic alpine city.
Although a lot smaller, it has a passing resemblance to these different historic alpine gateway cities of Aosta in Italy and Innsbruck in Austria that PlanetSKI is aware of properly.
The world well-known resorts of Verbier & Chamonix are might be simply reached by street and rail from Martigny.

Verbier, Switzerland. Picture © Heather Jefferies/PlanetSKI.
As is Crans-Montana with its fabulous views of the Alps.

Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
So too is Zermatt, however it’s a longer journey.
Except you go by helicopter – there’s a helipad close to the LôDzè Quartier the place you possibly can fly to the well-known Swiss resort.
Or there may be heli-skiing out there on the Petit Combin throughout the valley from Verbier for CHF 700 (£670) for a bunch of 4 folks.
There are quite a few different resorts inside attain together with Villars and Les Marecottes which might be on the Magic Cross.
From Martigny it’s one hour to Aosta by means of the St Bernard tunnel, with the fabulous resort of Crevacol on the way in which and others within the Aosta Valley together with Pila and La Thuille.
Then there may be the mighty Portes du Soleil with its 12 resorets and greater than 600kms of pistes, that may be accessed from Morgins and Les Crossets on the Swiss aspect of the ski space.
What we like shouldn’t be a lot the variety of resorts and dimension of areas, however the number of snowboarding and snowboarding on provide.
There’s something for everybody inside attain of Martigny.
Earlier we talked about Les Bains Publics within the basement of the Borsari resort within the LôDzè Quartier.
It’s a part of the resort, and like all of the areas in LôDzè Quartier is open to the general public.

Les Bains Publics in Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
We’ll let the images do the speaking:

Les Bains Publics in Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

Les Bains Publics in Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

Les Bains Publics in Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

Les Bains Publics in Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

Les Bains Publics in Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI

Les Bains Publics in Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
On our go to we by no means discovered time for a dip as we have been too busy sampling a number of the different sights Martigny has to supply.
Subsequent time.
We’ll be again and counsel you place Martigny in your record of locations to go to if you need an altogether completely different expertise within the Swiss Alps.
It received’t disappoint.
Helpful Hyperlinks:

Martigny, Switzerland. Picture © PlanetSKI
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