© Benoit Linero
Grand Hotel Belvedere WENGEN Expanding across Europe, Beaumier applies its destinationdriven approach to the revival of a grand hotel in the Swiss Alps. Words: Catherine Martin • Photography: © Lucas Dutertry (unless otherwise stated)
igh in the Bernese Alps at an altitude
H
The remoteness of the fully refurbished hotel
of 1,274m, the picturesque village of
may come with its challenges, but for guests, a
Wengen captures the quintessential
ride on the vertiginous Wengernalpbahn – the
essence of Swiss mountain life. Snow-capped
world’s longest continuous cogwheel railway
peaks and traditional timber chalets set the
– only adds to the experience. The 12-minute
scene, while skiers step straight off the slopes
journey weaves through valleys and forests as
for the obligatory après-ski.
it climbs to the summit, and from the station,
Situated in the Jungfrau Region, the village
an electric buggy takes care of the final ascent
is best known for hosting the Lauberhorn
to the upper village, where the façade of Grand
downhill of the Alpine Ski World Cup, attracting
Hotel Belvedere comes into view.
up to 40,000 spectators per day. It’s also
Built in 1912 as Wengen’s finest hotel,
recognised as one of the few car-free resorts
the Belle Époque masterpiece combines Art
in Europe, making for a quieter and healthier
Nouveau forms and the regional Heimatstil;
environment for local residents, but a logistical
with its perfect symmetry, pastel-hued window
headache when it comes to hotel development
shutters and characteristic mansard roof, it
– as the construction and operations teams at
could easily star in a Wes Anderson picture.
Grand Hotel Belvedere will attest to. “It adds
But it hasn’t always looked this good. Over the
complexity to simple tasks,” explains Lorenz
years, the hotel lost its sparkle: the building fell
Maurer, Area General Manager of the property.
into disrepair, interiors deteriorated and upkeep
“There’s no road access, so all supplies have to
was too costly for the family-run operation.
be transported by train – not only construction
In 2024, the property was acquired by
materials, food and drink is shuttled up the
Beaumier, the Paris-based group behind gems
mountain and waste goes back down.”
such as Les Roches Rouges on the French Riviera
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