GstaadLife

From today November 1, the ice-skating season in Gstaad is on. Opening hours are daily from 10h00 to 17h00 with a late Thursday session from 20h00 to 21h30. New this year, there is also the possibility for ice-skating classes with a professional ice-skating teacher. For details see below.

 
All snow making facilities of the Gstaad Mountain Rides ski region are ready for the winter season. The Bergbahnen Destination Gstaad AG (BDG) has invested about SFr 18 million in the snow-reliability on our slopes in Saanenland. BDG project leader Samuel Matti has announced that snow-making will begin as soon as the temperatures allow.

Even though it is a long way till next summer the SWATCH FIVB World Tour - 1to1 energy Grand Slam 2010 is already in the news again with the dates for the 2010 edition - July 5 to 11. Ticket sales for 2010 began today November 1 2009.

Now it is certain - the Institut «Le Rosey» is moving to Schönried. Le Rosey has bought the property of the Fraubrunnen Amt holiday home in Erli (see map below for location) for SFr 25 million. The school is planning to build 8 to 10 new builidngs and to move in winter 2011/2012. Construction cost is estimated at around SFr 45 million meaning the school will probably have to sell at least part of its property on Ried (above Gstaad). As the building permissions are not through yet, the holiday home will continue its work for the time being.

You know how much we love these rankings but what can we do - here they are again: Gault Millau has given a total of 191 points to restaurants in Saanenland (sorry no links: you have to buy the book). We can tell you that the Gstaad Palace, the Grand Hotel Park and the Golfclub Gstaad-Saanenland were all up in comparison to last year.

The post office in Lauenen will now definitely close by summer 2010. If a partner can be found then there will at least be a postal agency - meaning another shop which will act like a post office. If not then a home service will be put in place.

In order to make sure that the igloo does not melt away, the company behind Gstaad's Igloo village has decided to move it 400 meters higher from Eggli to Saanerslochgrat. This also means that they will be able to keep it open for longer - from the season kick off on December 25 until after Easter. Prices and offers remain the same.

An increasing number of  foxes and other wild animals appear to be losing their fear of people and venturing into residential areas. The results can be quite unpleasant. The local authorities are therefore urging local residents not to feed wild animals.