by I was in dozens of ski areas, and the airport transfer is usually the lowlight of the week, since a packed coach tumbles around zigzag bends and represents the ultimate challenge when moving the movement. In contrast to a cinematic pleasure, the arrival in Wengen in Switzerland is the ultimate “accidentally Wes Anderson” experience.
Wengen is a car-free alpine village that can only be achieved by tourists via a charming cog railway called ‘Wengernalpbahn’, which is painted in graphically yellow and green. On board you will be spoiled with the greatest and most comprehensive view of the Lauterbrunnen valley.
While many ski villages have lost their picturesque magic to a lot of après, it is not surprising that the French Hotel Group Baumier decided to open the first five star resort in Wengen and to restore two neighboring “Andersonian” Grand Dame in the shadow of the Jungfrau as a Grand Hotel Belvedere.
Legendary place
Megève has Audrey Hepburn. Jrr Tlein remained in the original Grand Hotel Belvedere, and it is assumed that the valley inspired its fantastic middle earth in Lord of the Rings.
The surroundings were the home of a bond villain (in the secret service of her majesty, which was published in 1969) wizard for the shooting of fantastic beasts: the crimes of Grindelwald and were the birthplace of Princess Leia when the Galaxy Alderaan was shot here in revenge of the Sith.
The Jungrau region recently had an Emily in Paris confirmation from Netflix and played on them in the crash landing of the South Korean blockbuster series, which caused the area to attract many Asian visitors who now even have to pay for a photo at a lakeside film location.
However, you will not find a spectacular backdrop as my balcony in the Grand Belvedere Hotel, which has a first -class view of the valley below and is founded by nearby church bells. Yes, I spent longer than I wanted to admit to document my perfect moment.
A modern attitude to Alpine Chic
The alpine decor can easily tip into the area of Naff with wooden hearts, white furry pillows and taxididm. However, the Grand Hotel Belvedere manages to use a nostalgic cabin aesthetics in a modern and sophisticated way.
The interior design team complete works, which were cleverly played in the duality of the two restored hotel buildings, has a more modern, minimalist aesthetics from the middle of the century, during the second (which is open in May 2025) classic, with historically protected lobby with restored wood carvers, a 100-year-old fire brigade, with hand faces and the original lobby and the original chandelier. This mix of contemporary and tradition gives guests the opportunity to experience two different alpine worlds within a resort.
Each room is designed in such a way that it is like your own cabin lined with wood. Panoramic windows and strategically placed balconies make the view of the star of the show-self-self my bathroom had a wicked window, so I could still see the mountains while showering. The attics, which are located in the roof of the second, soon opened building, are best suited for those who want a traditional Swiss alpine experience with cozy, low wooden beams.
Skiers paradise
Wengen may be best known for the longest World Cup run in the world, the Lauberhorn course. Thrillseeker will enjoy starting the famous black run from a wooden starting hut in which you tap your ski pass to get a world champion countdown and can hear adrenaline rock anthems, which were starting in the sophisticated slalom stain bread from the nearby pump-one bitch from hell.
Thrillseekers will enjoy starting the famous black run from a wooden starthtail in which you have a World Cup countdown and can hear adrenaline rock anthems
Instead of having a formal service, so that the employees of the Grand Hotel Belvedere are a friend in the first night, one of the enthusiastic snowboarders of the team spoiled and published my husband in an hour of slopes chat, where we should cross our two-day trip. They really felt invested in our ski adventures and asked which number we got on the speed check and which our favorite runs were.
You certainly have the know -how to help you unlock the best mountain experience. However, this hotel is so much more than a ski bolt. This was reflected in how many of the guests were not decorated in skiwear at breakfast, which shows that they do not need a ski pass to experience the magic of Lauterbrunnen.
Year -round appeal
In view of the climate change, it is advisable that Beaumier positions this hotel as a long goal and attracts crowds long after melting the snow. It has put together an impressive selection of activities with ice climbing, tobogganing, snowshoeing and kayaking in winter and paragliding, riding, sailing and mountain biking (to just a few) in summer.
But it is not everything that is played with a high oct dancing, since the hotel also organizes history tours through the village, in the forest search for food in the forest, in which they produce the perfect pear tart tatin and authentic Swiss fresh pasta. Or there is yoga outdoors with the opportunity to take a Savasana under the trees.
Eating comfort and drink
We signed up for the mixology course, which was an entertaining alternative to the usual après drinks, where we jumped behind the mountain forest bar and made our own warm, diffusible apples and moved a lot and trembled to two of the characteristic cocktails on the menu for whip and an Apple Brandy-Sour. I also recommend that you treat yourself to a hot alpine cider from Fireside at least once during your trip and to take a book from the Hidden Library Nook.
All menus celebrate local flavors and ingredients – the Fine Dining restaurant will open in May, while the Waldrand restaurant is relaxed with a common menu with alpine classics. Älmagrons (a Swiss Mac and cheese) is the ultimate audience splinter, while the raclette-loaded burger is exactly what I wanted to visibility after completing the Lauberhorn.
The chef Will Gordon is vegan, and although I give up that I had some real concerns about the vegetable cheese fondue, it was completely surprised and was a delicious, easier turn for the classic inducing with digestion disorders, with raw green peppers and garden potatoes.
My husband’s favorite discovery, however, was the cheese toasty packed with dijon mustard and inserted cheese toasty from the all-t-snack menu-demon après bite or Midnight snack.
The spa
The only disappointment was that the spa only opened its doors in June, which will be an ambitious brutalist structure that jumps out of the hill, inspired by a Japanese onsen with an inner outdoor pool, a sauna, a hammam and an ice pool. With treatments by Susanne Kaufmann, a brand that you use with luxurious alpine ingredients from Austria and Switzerland, it is guaranteed to have the ultimate pleasure to seduce them from mountain activities. It is a good excuse for me to make another trip with the Wengeralp.
