{"id":91654,"date":"2014-12-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-12-18T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelstartblg.wpenginepowered.com\/st-moritz-romancing-winter-since-1864\/"},"modified":"2025-11-04T13:52:31","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T13:52:31","slug":"st-moritz-romancing-winter-since-1864","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/st-moritz-romancing-winter-since-1864\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Moritz, Switzerland. Romancing Winter Since 1864"},"content":{"rendered":"

When in 1864 Hotelier Johannes Badrutt of St. Moritz, Switzerland<\/strong> promised his English summer guests heaven on earth, he could not have known what the future held for the Engadin Valley. He made\u00a0a\u00a0bet that even in winter they would be able to enjoy mild sunshine on his terrace in shirtsleeves; if not he would reimburse their travel costs – both ways!<\/p>\n

The guests took up the challenge, coming back that Christmas only to return home at Easter tanned, relaxed and very happy. And so winter tourism in the Alps was born.<\/strong>\u00a0Since then, the British have flocked to the region each summer leaving their mark in the form of polo, cricket and an appreciation for the harmony between rustic tradition and upper-class service that can still be felt here today. Matched by an\u00a0average of\u00a0322 days of sun a year <\/strong>here,\u00a0providing\u00a0that\u00a0dry\u00a0champagne climate<\/em>\u00a0that the town has become\u00a0known for.<\/p>\n

\"Dawn<\/a>
Magic\u00a0Hour highlighting the surrounding Swiss Alps.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I visited in\u00a0early September 2014 and there was already a fresh sprinkling of powdery snow on the mountain tops, the sun was out and the setting picture perfect.<\/p>\n

Located at 1856 metres above sea level in the Upper Engadin lake region, this cosmopolitan town aptly described\u00a0as\u00a0chic, elegant and exclusive,<\/em>\u00a0was built on the site of therapeutic hot springs enjoyed from the start of history. It’s here at Switzerland\u2019s highest lying mineral spa that a healing energy bubbles up to benefit residents as well as visitors to the region.\u00a0Three different\u00a0cultural regions<\/strong>\u00a0converge in St. Moritz. The Romansch language of the Swiss, Italian and German. Each bring the best of their worlds.<\/p>\n

As for\u00a0the numbers, in 1830 St. Moritz counted only 200 inhabitants which has increased to about 5400 today. During high season I\u2019m told that 21 000 guests and employees join the ranks,\u00a0leaving the town bursting with the knowledge\u00a0that adventure based happiness is within easy reach.<\/p>\n

I spent the afternoon with our guide\u00a0Mario; charming, friendly, Italian and St. Moritz born. He took us on a walking tour, my favourite way to meet a place, walking down to\u00a0Lake St. Moritz\u00a0to take in the views. It was easy to see why\u00a0famous people like\u00a0Alfred Hitchcock, Brigitte Bardot, Gunter Sachs\u00a0and\u00a0Charlie Chaplin had been drawn here over the years. Also why St. Moritz has had to protect its name as a trade mark original\u00a0\u2013 the first resort to do so \u2013 in\u00a050 countries around the world. It’s a place we’ve come to know from\u00a0James Bond movies, Peter Starstedt songs and the Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n

Oh, and probably the best big brand<\/strong>\u00a0shopping<\/strong>\u00a0imaginable! Whether its designer clothing, a Maserati or fine Swiss Chocolate, you\u2019re in the right place.\u00a0All the prestigious names on the international fashion scene are lined up next to each other.<\/p>\n

Be it Winter or Summer, you will find every\u00a0sport\u00a0on offer in this outdoor paradise<\/strong>. From hiking, mountain biking, sailing, skiing, snowboarding, cresta run tobogganing to the\u00a0annual\u00a0White Turf<\/em> horse race on the frozen Lake St. Moritz. Actually they told me at the Hotel that the only thing they couldn’t organise for me was deep sea fishing \u2026 Great\u00a0humour.<\/p>\n

This year St. Moritz celebrates\u00a0150 years of\u00a0winter tourism,\u00a0<\/strong>its pioneering role and long-standing tradition as the world\u2019s oldest winter holiday resort, with all kinds of festivities. It is their busiest time with people from all around the world toasting the season and taking to the\u00a0perfect pistes\u00a0and\u00a0safe snow conditions. The whole place is under snow!<\/p>\n

Over Winter and Christmas time,\u00a0St. Moritz and the village is most\u00a0alive\u00a0with\u00a0the famous shopping street Via Serlas<\/em> filled with\u00a0romantic horse-drawn carriages. Christmas Markets<\/a> are\u00a0enjoyed; La Punt,\u00a0S-chanf, Zernez, Pontresina at Hotel Walther and the St. Moritz.\u00a0The\u00a0Christmas trees of Badrutt\u2019s Palace Hotel lights are turned on\u00a0with the whole street lit up too. An event for everyone with complimentary\u00a0Gl\u00fchwein and cookies served to all in attendance.<\/p>\n

Everything about this place fuels\u00a0my\u00a0desire\u00a0for a White Christmas …<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Looking<\/a>
Looking glass over Lake St. Moritz.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lake<\/a>
Lake St. Moritz looking towards the source of the hot springs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Badrutt's<\/a>
Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, St. Moritz.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Mario,<\/a>
Mario, the Italian Guide that showed me around St. Moritz.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Hotel<\/a>
Hotel Schweizerhof was home for the moment.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"From<\/a>
From my hotel room looking towards the town square, this indication that it\u2019s pretty cold out there.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"St<\/a>
St. Moritz Church in the centre of town.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Just outside St. Moritz is Diavolezza, a\u00a0place of Eternal Ice and She-Devil legends<\/em>. At about\u00a03000 metres above sea level, the Beautiful She Devil\u00a0<\/em>is one of the most popular skiing destinations in the area. With its\u00a0eight peaks, ice-capped ridges and perfect mountain scenery set to cast a spell over all who visit. We took a bright yellow gondola to the top where the impressive views drew our\u00a0attention\u00a0to\u00a0the Pers and Morteratsch Glaciers, as well as Piz Bernina which peaks at 4049m, the highest mountain in the Eastern Alps!<\/p>\n

One of the most impressive glacial sites I\u2019ve encountered and if it comes with the risk of a mesmerising She-Devil, I am all for the risk. The top station has a good\u00a0restaurant, outdoor deck which captures the best view and the highest jacuzzi in Europe<\/strong> with\u00a0Berghaus Diavolezza<\/a>,<\/strong>\u00a0offering a\u00a0selection\u00a0of rooms should you wish to overnight here.<\/p>\n

\"At<\/a>
At Diavolezza relaxing into the beauty of the place.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The restaurant and gift store, where a hot chocolate in the warmth of the sun is a must.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Highlighting<\/a>
Highlighting the various hikes and ski run options from the top into the mountain. With Munt Pers the main one.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A<\/a>
A photobombing\u00a0moment\u00a0in the gondola on the way up to Davolezza<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Many<\/a>
Many were opting to walk up with their hiking poles, something that is only possible in the Summer months. Come winter, this is a popular ski run.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On one night, we rode\u00a0the funicular up to the\u00a0The Romantik Hotel Muottas Muragl<\/a>\u00a0just outside St. Moritz<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>for dinner in their Mountain Dining Restaurant. <\/strong>The climb from\u00a0Punt Muragl Valley takes\u00a0ten minutes ushering\u00a0you through 2201 metres of steep mountainside and\u00a0sweet smelling pine trees to this spot that has known a century of hospitality. At a\u00a0height\u00a0of 2456m above sea level\u00a0the temperatures drop with the climb, and on the night settled at -2\u00b0C on the hotel\u2019s wooden deck, with sprinklings of snow underfoot.\u00a0The Romantik Hotel is\u00a0also the first plus-energy hotel in the Alps.<\/p>\n

\"Funicular<\/a>
Funicular up to Hotel Romantika Muottas-Muragl.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The view towards St. Moritz from the top of the world.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Muottas<\/a>
Snow on the ground, in September.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A<\/a>
A favourite thing about this pristine country. The fluffy caramel coloured cowbell clad cows that speckle the landscape.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The clouds are different here. The waters a metallic teal that shimmers in the light. The air fresh. The snow a perfect shade of pure.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Swiss adage b<\/strong>uild high for overview and maximum sunshine<\/strong>\u00a0guarantees you the best vantage points to enjoy\u00a0<\/em>that perfect time at the end of a day, when dusk falls. Sheer panoramic indulgence\u00a0with the song of cow bells reaching you on the chilly wind \u2026 A healthy, adventure based, beautiful place to visit. 150 years of happy holiday makers can’t be wrong.<\/p>\n

Afterall, in 1864 a Swiss bet a\u00a0Brit\u00a0that he\u2019d discover Magic \u2026 He\u00a0won the bet.<\/p>\n

My St. Moritz recommendations:<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Visit the Tourism Office for their\u00a0comprehensive\u00a0maps and kind assistance, one of the best I\u2019ve encountered.<\/li>\n
  2. Book a guide if you can, well worth it to learn more about the various buildings and the\u00a0significance\u00a0they hold in the town\u2019s history.<\/li>\n
  3. In the Design Centre take the escalators down to the terrace overlooking the lake, I\u00a0took them down but walked back up. A must do is to stroll\u00a0around Lake St. Moritz to\u00a0take in the various\u00a0look\u00a0out points.<\/li>\n
  4. Visit the original Heidi Hut on the mountain just outside town. Because Heidi matters.<\/li>\n
  5. Take the funicular up to The Romantik Hotel Muottas Muragl<\/a> which at 2400m above sea level boasts the most beautiful vantage point in the area. Endless beauty, and sublime locally sourced food at their Mountain Dining Restaurant and ambiance for days.<\/li>\n
  6. Go in the Spring time when you can have the\u00a0place pretty much to yourself.<\/li>\n
  7. Go in the Winter time to find out what the\u00a0celebrations\u00a0are all about.<\/li>\n
  8. Stock up on chocolate. Its\u00a0Switzerland!<\/li>\n
  9. Try the local nut cake or\u00a0B\u00fcndner Nusstorte<\/em> –\u00a0often!<\/li>\n
  10. Download the\u00a0St. Moritz\u00a0<\/strong>App\u00a0that will help with your planning.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Useful Travel Information for St. Moritz, Switzerland<\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. Swiss Airlines<\/a>\u00a0offers daily direct flights from Johannesburg to Zurich<\/a> and during November to April, their partner\u00a0Edelweiss Air offers twice weekly flights directly between Cape Town\u00a0and Zurich. Both provide\u00a0excellent value.<\/li>\n
    2. Once you’re in Switzerland, buy a SWISS Pass\u00a0suited to the number of days that you will be there. There are flexible options available that include the panoramic routes, public transport in 75+ cities and towns, entrance to over 480 museums\u00a0and additional discounts.\u00a0Best value travel<\/strong> that makes exploring Switzerland very easy and convenient.<\/li>\n
    3. Guests staying in St. Moritz, Switzerland for more than one night can purchase a Hotel Ski Pass<\/a> for best value skiing.<\/li>\n
    4. The St. Moritz 150 year\u00a0anniversary programme<\/a> will run through the entire 2014-2015 winter season, from 5 December 2014 to late April 2015.<\/li>\n
    5. For more info look at the official My Switzerland website<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      For my visit I\u00a0was hosted\u00a0by Swiss Airlines\u00a0and\u00a0Switzerland Tourism<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>on their media trip, travelling with the\u00a0Swiss Travel System<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0Engadin St. Moritz<\/a>,<\/strong> where I\u00a0stayed\u00a0at the iconic S<\/a>chweizenhof Hotel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      For more info contact Stephanie Elmer of\u00a0Tourismusorganisation Engadin St. Moritz\u00a0<\/strong>at\u00a0stephanie.elmer@estm.ch\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<\/span>www.engadin.stmoritz<\/a>\u00a0and follow them on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>.\u00a0She’s as gorgeous as the valley she so effectively promotes!<\/span><\/p>\n

      Engadin St. Moritz<\/a> put together this video to take us through their history and formation as a winter destination.<\/p>\n