One more hotel that more than one Englishman who went to climb the Alps at the end of the 19th century fell in love with. We suppose even George VI's doctor stayed there, as did so many other visitors who didn't forget to write their exploits in the visitor's book. Built in 1862, the hotel has always been owned by the same family. Nothing seems to have changed, from the parquet floors in retro style to the soapstone oven. We must remember that here we are at an altitude of 2,000 metres and that this place was almost totally self-sufficient up to 1950, until a road was opened during the construction of the Grande-Dixence Dam. A haven of tranquillity at the foot of a 4,000-metre mountain at the beginning of the mythical race of the « Patrouille des Glaciers », the Glacier Patrol.

Contact and information:

Hôtel du Mont-Collon
CH-1986 Arolla
+41 27 283 11 91
http://www.hotelmontcollon.ch
Photo: Hôtel Splendide

What to do in Arolla:  

Un hôtel aussi historique que familial construit au milieu des années 1930 par le grand-père du propriétaire actuel. Grande demeure à la simplicité dépouillée qui met en valeur les volumes caractéristiques des palaces de cette époque, le Splendide n'usurpe pas son nom.  

Construit à proximité du fort militaire de Champex, situé sur un axe stratégique du passage des Alpes, l'hôtel a été occupé par l'armée durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Il a repris ensuite sa fonction initiale, accueillant quelques hôtes notables parmi lesquels le général Guisan et sa famille, le sherpa Tensing, José Giovanni et Lino Ventura venus y faire des repérages. De cette époque, il subsiste encore quelques meubles et un certain art de vivre. Pour les nostalgiques et les amateurs de nature.

Contact et informations:

Hôtel Splendide
Famille Richer-Lonfat
CH-1932 Champex-Lac
+41 27 783 11 45
www.hotel-splendide.ch
Photo: Hôtel Splendide

A faire à Champex :

A mystical hotel built in the beginning of the 19th C. that welcomed British mountaineers who set out to conquer the Alps. An eagle's nest at an altitude of 2,100m. A 30-minute walk, or go cross-country with snow-shoes, from the highest cable-car station, Blatten-Belalp. Ideal as a look-out post for trips towards the Aletsch glacier and forest.

Contact and information:
Hotel Belalp
Fam. Thür-Fahrni
Postfach
3914 Belalp
www.hotelbelalp.ch
From 65 francs/night, double-room, breakfast
Photo: Hôtel Belalp

To see:

It stands alone in the middle of an incredibly beautiful mountainous landscape. A familiar looking hotel, a comforting refuge, and a childhood memory too, as this is where Hergé got a few of the « Tintin in Tibet» adventure scenes.

The Weisshorn was created in 1882 to accommodate the first English adventurers who set out to conquer 4000m peaks. The hotel sinks its roots into a land of legends that is said to be inhabited by fairies and druids. Adding to the hotel's charm is an old-fashioned feel, a tendency to lean over, rooms with creaky wooden floors, a welcome so warm that it makes the outdoors feel cold, and the very famous blueberry pie. A place from your dreams that can be reached on foot or mountain bike during the summer and with « climbing-skin»  skis during the winter.

Contact and information:

Hôtel Weisshorn
3961 St-Luc (localiser)
www.weisshorn.ch
Ouvert de mi-juin à mi-octobre et de fin décembre à mi-avril 
Photos: Batimag

Things to do in Saint-Luc: