When discussing the most famous counterfeiter in Valais, Saillon comes to mind. Notably, Verbier also played host to this Robin Hood of the Alps, as he took refuge in the village around 1878—clandestinely, of course. To commemorate the visit by this anarchist, who circulated his counterfeit coins among the locals, Ernest Meilland famously inscribed his name on the facade of his hotel. For those eager to learn more about the hideouts of this rebellious Italian, the story will be revealed in the pages of Verbier Chronicles, releasing in late 2025.

In the off-season at Les Moulins (a place aptly named, as Gérard Perraudin once found a millstone in the stream as a child), you typically encounter avid golfers swinging their clubs. But in 2013, some of them were in for a surprise when they faced a formidable opponent: a fox, as clever as it was cunning. A master of mischief, the sly creature waited for the perfect moment to emerge, snatch a ball, and make off with it. Initially stunned, then amused by the fox’s skill, one golfer filmed the antics of this ball-stealing bandit, naming it "Foxy," and shared the footage widely. Even the BBC couldn't resist joining in on the “Foxymania” sweeping through Verbier.

Marko Shapiro knows all too well the power of a single moment where everything changes. One day, Pascal Burri, owner of the restaurant Le Fer à Cheval, was contacted by Authier, a leading ski brand. They asked Pascal for promotional photos and he immediately thought of the perfect person for the job—his employee Marko who had a passion for photography. The setup was simple: a bathrobe belt emblazoned with the ski brand's name, which Pascal, the chosen model, tied around his head as a headband. The result? A jackpot of images that would launch Marko’s future career.

By earning his place among the galaxy of Michelin stars, Roland Pierroz (1942–2015) was the first to raise Verbier's culinary profile with the excellence of his cuisine. Not content with simply being a trailblazer, he was one of the key figures—alongside Frédy Girardet, "Chef of the Century" in 1989, and Basel’s Hans Stucki—in the revival of Swiss haute cuisine. Quite an achievement! But why did some go so far as to say he was Verbier, its very embodiment? Because beyond being a culinary magician who delighted taste buds, Pierroz also donned the mantle of an eloquent ambassador, tirelessly promoting the region he called home. As president of Verbier’s Tourism Office, this king of the kitchen proved to be the resort’s best advocate, making Verbier a recipe for success.

The dévaloir—a Swiss term referring to a chute for disposing of household waste—was a common feature in luxury chalets during the 1960s and 70s. These shafts, accessible on every floor, funneled trash to metal containers in the basement. From there, it fell to concierges or service staff to empty these bins—a grim task. Before incineration, they had to sort through the nauseating jumble, transfer the contents into bags, and haul them to small garbage collection huts. Yet, there was a silver lining to this unpleasant chore. Returning empty bottles, then worth a deposit of 50 cents each, provided a lucrative side hustle. Some industrious staff managed to supplement their income significantly, with one concierge admitting that the bottle trade—roughly 3,000 per year—funded his vacations! However, this era of dévaloirs came to an abrupt end when they were deemed fire hazards and sealed off, disappearing into obscurity.

Xtreme—that’s the name of the mindblowing event synonymous with the dizzying ballet of the world’s best freeriders. But here’s the twist: this thrilling competition has surprising aquatic roots. It all began with a passion for surfing, which in 1991 sparked a wild ideas in the minds of Nicolas Hale-Woods and Philippe Buttet: to found the Swiss Surfing Association in a land without waves or swell—a feat that no nation without access to sea had ever attempted. "We did it for fun, thinking that if the Jamaicans could form a bobsleigh team to qualify for the Olympics, why couldn’t we?" At the same time, with their new production company, they set out to make a film showcasing the parallels between surfing on water and on snow. Their decision to tackle the daunting north face of the Bec des Rosses with a camera on their shoulders would ignite the unfolding of an incredible story.

If there’s one name that shines brightly in the summer concert calendar, it’s Martin Engstroem. The founder of the Verbier Festival, he successfully launched the town onto the international stage. Sparks flew more than once as he discovered rising stars in the music world. He has also experienced some fiery moments, both literally and figuratively. One such instance occurred during a concert by pianist Yuja Wang in 2010, when a sudden lightning storm greeted her performance. Alarmed by the thunder and a heavy downpour, the Swedish director had to take drastic action (literally, as he ended up stepping on the pianist’s foot) to interrupt the Chinese virtuoso’s playing. Stopping the fiery passion of Miss Wang proved to be no easy task—after all, even lightning couldn’t manage it.

Verbier’s ambitious future has long sparked the imagination of developers and engineers with big dreams—ranging from a retreat for pulmonary patients, to whimsical neighborhoods (one even with a zoo), to funiculars set to conquer the mountains and even a metro system. While the boldness of these visionaries was impressive, their grand plans ultimately crumbled like houses of cards. For the full story behind these extraordinary, unrealized projects, you can find the details in the pages of Verbier Chronicles.