The Alpina Gstaad

Gstaad

Gstaad, located in the Swiss canton of Berne at an altitude of 1050 meters is a village of 3200 inhabitants surrounded by rounded shaped mountains, adding to the town’s seemingly gentle and peaceful atmosphere. Today however, Gstaad is internationally famous as a high class ski resort for celebrities and jet setters. Far from the hyperactivity and glitz of a mountain area Saint Tropez, Gstaad’s greatest qualities are discretion and a typical, authentic alpine “art de vivre”. This way of life is the reason for Gstaad’s success, and in the words of actress Julie Andrews: “Gstaad is the last earthly paradise in a world gone mad!” The idyllic Eden like scenery is reinforced by 200 working farms and 80 mountain pastures still in use, with the presence of 7,000 grazing cows. Gstaad is a perfectly preserved dream like site. It’s interesting to note that the village’s reputation is in part due to the presence of numerous prestigious international schools including the Institut Rosey which since 1917 has established its campus here for 10 weeks every winter, the John F. Kennedy School in Saanen and the Gstaad International School. The students here and their parents are actually the leading ambassadors, attesting to the charm of the village, which lies in its pastoral occupations and way of life, its gentle mixture of celebrities and an active agricultural world. Gstaad can be described as being somewhere between glamour and the labors of the soil in a magnificent setting, where vacationers can re-energize themselves. And nothing seems to disturb this subtle balance.

A new star in the firmament

It’s not every day that a new five star hotel opens in Gstaad. A hundred years had gone by before 2012, when the Alpina opened its doors. This ultra luxurious establishment is a contemporary interpretation of traditional Swiss architecture, blending the alpine style with local materials. Guests arrive at the hotel via a tunnel, an introduction worthy of a James Bond film. The adventure continues at the reception area with a stunning work of art made from the trunk of an ash tree. This warm, calm and hospitable area is spacious, with lighting that adds a touch of sophistication to this intimate, discreet and exceptional establishment. The large staircase leads to the lobby, bathed in natural light. The distinct lines and the materials used here are accented, including natural wood and old pine. A totally restored Baroque style painting on wood decorates the ceiling and is placed there to invoke the divine paradise. Pine wood recovered from old farms and which has acquired a patina with age, is everywhere. Gstaad stone is also highlighted. These natural elements are in harmonious contrast with the contemporary paintings and statues and create a grandiose but cozy space. The same spirit reigns in the 56 rooms and suites but especially in the magnificent Panoramic Suite on the top floor with a fantastic view of both the hotel’s garden and the entire valley. Once again, we find the blend of regional wood and stone. The Six Senses spa takes its inspiration from Asian wellness traditions. Treatments are based on detoxification, energizing, holistic and oriental philosophies. In addition, there is a gigantic, organically shaped swimming pool, a very mineral site, linking stone and water, with a blend of natural and artificial light that regularly changes colors. The Alpina’s Sommet restaurant is headed by Chef Marcus G. Lindner and serves local gastronomic dishes using modern techniques. Another particularity of the hotel is the Megu, one of the rare Japanese restaurants in Gstaad.

Almost immediately after it opened, the hotel received a number of awards from specialized trade magazines, a sign that the quality of luxury hotels in Gstaad remains high, thanks to its ability to satisfy a very upscale clientele.