Switzerland has drawn pleasure-seeking travelers since at least the early 19th century, and the Hideaway Report has surely been covering it for almost as long. I fall in love with the country again every time I return, whether I’m paying incognito visits to historic grand hotels or intimate mountain chalets. This time, a two-year-old resort drew me to Crans-Montana, a magnificent Alpine town in the French-speaking canton of Valais, where Zermatt tends to steal the spotlight.

Crans-Montana’s first hotel opened to tourists in the 1890s, and the area has since become a sophisticated leisure destination. It has hosted the annual European Masters golf tournament, and skiers compete in major competitions here. More surprisingly, it’s also home to high-quality vineyards. With around 300 days of sunshine per year, Crans-Montana is lovely in all seasons.

We stayed undercover at two chalet-style retreats, both surrounded by pristine forests and offering sweeping views stretching from the Pennine Alps to the Mont Blanc massif. One of them surpassed even my high-altitude expectations.