Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Switzerland / Crans-Montana / Hostellerie du Pas de l'Ours
Hostellerie du Pas de l'Ours
Crans-Montana, Switzerland · Independent · Grand Luxury
Armand Bestenheider bought this 1912 chalet in 1994 and turned it into an intimate Relais & Châteaux table; today his daughter Séverine runs it with her husband, chef Franck Reynaud, whose restaurant L'Ours has held a Michelin star since 1997 and an 18/20 from GaultMillau. It's one of the oldest hotels on Crans-Montana's plateau, 1,500 meters above the Rhône Valley with views stretching from the Matterhorn to the Weisshorn.
- Opened 1994
- Neighborhood: Crans / Plans-Mayens
About Hostellerie du Pas de l'Ours
- The Cry d'Er gondola, gateway to 140 kilometers of pistes, is a 26-minute drive away.
- MICHELIN gave the hotel itself a Two Keys rating in 2025, on top of L'Ours's own star.
History
The building that houses the Hostellerie du Pas de l'Ours in Crans-Montana dates to 1912, making it one of the first hotels in the Swiss alpine resort. It was acquired in 1994 by Armand Bestenheider and reborn as an intimate Relais & Châteaux property.
Today it is run by his daughter Séverine together with her husband, chef Franck Reynaud, whose restaurant L'Ours has held a Michelin star since 1997 and carries an 18/20 rating from GaultMillau. The chalet-style hostellerie blends alpine tradition with fine dining and a boutique scale.
The setting
Hostellerie du Pas de l'Ours, the intimate Relais & Châteaux maison at Rue du Pas-de-l'Ours 41, sits within a cluster of landmark luxury properties on Crans-Montana's south-facing plateau 1,500 metres above the Rhône Valley. The hotel's preserved stone walls and wood façades anchor a resort with roots dating to 1893, when the plateau's exceptional Alpine climate first drew European aristocracy seeking views from the Matterhorn to the Weisshorn. The Cry d'Er gondola, gateway to 140 kilometres of pistes, is 26 minutes away; the medieval Château de Tourbillon and Basilique de Valère in Sion lie 42 minutes distant. The Hostellerie's Michelin-starred table and L'Alpage Spa sustain a tradition of discreet mountain luxury. 1 km from Golf Club Crans-sur-Sierre.
Restaurants and bars
- « L'Ours » — Restaurant · gourmet · Chef Franck Reynaud · One MICHELIN Star
- Bistrot des Ours — Restaurant · Chef Franck Reynaud
- Le Fer à Cheval — Restaurant
- La Cabane des Violettes — Restaurant · generous alpine cuisine showcasing local products
Experiences
- L'Ours — Gourmet restaurant holding one Michelin star (printed as 1*), led by chef Franck Reynaud.
- Cabane des Violettes — Cabin at about 2,200 metres serving generous alpine cuisine with local products; can be privatized for a day or longer.
Amenities
- Spa
- Indoor pool
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Pet-friendly
Awards
- MICHELIN Two Keys (2026)
Open Hostellerie du Pas de l'Ours in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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