A Moment of Revelation

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.

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.

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.