Le Châble is a village in Bagnes

Bagnes

Bagnes is a municipality in the district of Entremont in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.With an area of , Bagnes used to be the largest municipality of Switzerland until the formation of Glarus Süd in 2011.-History:...

, Valais

Valais

The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley...

, Switzerland

Switzerland

Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

 below the ski resort of Verbier

Verbier

Verbier is a village located in southwestern Switzerland in the canton of Valais. It is one of the largest holiday resort and ski areas in the Swiss Alps, is recognized as one of the premiere "off-piste" locations in the world...

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The local St. Bernard Express Train runs from Martigny and finishes in Le Châble. This service is regularly used by tourists from Geneva

Geneva

Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...

 airport on route to Verbier. Since 1984, Le Châble has had a sister village relationship with Mishicot, Wisconsin

Mishicot, Wisconsin

Mishicot is a village in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,422 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Mishicot...

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Transport

A four person gondola is situated next to the train station for easy access to Verbier and the ski slopes above. A bus service also runs from the train station to Verbier

Verbier

Verbier is a village located in southwestern Switzerland in the canton of Valais. It is one of the largest holiday resort and ski areas in the Swiss Alps, is recognized as one of the premiere "off-piste" locations in the world...

 and to Bruson, on the opposite side of the valley, which offers access to a smaller, quieter, ski area. The main road link to Verbier also runs through Le Châble.

Mardi Gras

Each year, around February, the local Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras

The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...

parade passes through Le Châble and finishes in the town square which is an occasion where the villages and businesses in the valley come together develop floats and costumes along a common theme. There are a number of brass bands in the region and these usually join in the parade and take part in an informal competition in the town square afterwards, performing for the general public.

Verbier also runs themed events based around the Mardi Gras but these are aimed at tourists rather than local residents.