It is one month since the fire that killed 40 and seriously injured over a 100 in Switzerland. 

Crans Montana is a ski resort still very much in mourning. This weekend the Swiss municipality is hosting the annual FIS Ski World Cup. No festivities, no fan zone celebrations and a minute's silence before the races.

Tributes to the victims reading "our thoughts are with you" in different languages are displayed along the course and at the finish line, instead of advertisements. The mood is sombre among thousands of visitors and locals attending the race.

The small community is still reeling from the shock of the New Year fire at Le Constellation bar. The building is now boarded up by the police and the road is open to traffic but people keep bringing flowers to the site. There are candles and tributes outside the terrace of the bar.

At the front of Saint Christopher Chapel, just five minutes down the road from the bar, a memorial has been set up for people to pay their respects to the victims. There are flowers, candles, teddy bears and tributes inside a special tent. A book of condolences invites people to leave their messages.

Following the Crans Montana fire, 70 injured people remain hospitalized with severe burns, facing a long road to recovery. Forty nine injured people were transferred abroad, including 19 Swiss citizens. They were sent to France, Germany, Italy and Belgium. Many families' lives continue to be disrupted.

News that Le Constellation bar in Canton Valais had gone six years without a safety check quickly prompted officials to ban some practices, including the use of sparkling candles blamed for the tragedy.

Investigations and business concerns

In early January Crans Montana saw some cancellations for its hotel bookings, especially from Swiss tourists and those coming from nearby countries. Most people who came from afar kept their reservations. 

As a result, according to Bruno Huggler, Director of Crans Montana Tourism & Congress, January was a steady month overall.

Young people have been shaken, though, and while some restaurants are returning to life, bars remain quieter, said Cedric Berger, head of the Association of Apartment and Chalet Owners of the Crans-Montana Upper Plateau.

"January is a month to forget, a lost month for everyone," said Berger.

Crans Montana apartment owners from Italy and France are angry, said Berger, who is also a lawyer.

"People go to Valais not because it's the 'best party', but because it's Switzerland, and you think it's safe. If that quality disappears, then Switzerland's 'fortress' is a bit shaken," he added.

Swiss prosecutors continue with questioning defendants and witnesses in the case. 

Further hearings are planned next month with bar owners Jacques and Jessica Moretti. They are not in police custody but are under investigation for negligent homicide and other crimes. They both deny any criminal wrong-doing.

The Crans Montana fire has also led to an increase in fire safety checks across bars and clubs in Switzerland, particularly in ski resorts. 

The checks focus on potentially flammable materials, escape routes and the availability of fire extinguishers, all issues now investigated in the deadly New Year's Eve fire.