Or perhaps snuggling up in a sleeping bag to watch nature’s own shooting astronomical display. In either case, there are enough stars around this summer for everyone’s viewing pleasure.

Seeing Stars

Saanen stars in this July issue of GSTAADLIFE. Our Local News pages are filled with information on the upcoming celebrations in the village centre, marking the completion of the Sanona project. Gstaad may get most of the international press, but this jewel of the Saanenland is akin to her lovely little sister who has just come of age.

Star Wheels

Cycling’s biggest names will roll through the Saanenland on their way from Bern to Finhaut, Valais next week. Who would have thought the Tour de France would take a detour through Switzerland? Then again, with our commitment to becoming a first-class bike region, perhaps this is just the start of these athletes training here.

One local velocipede-enthusiast, Luca Cairoli, is making a star turn as cycling ambassador for for the Saanenland. At an official opening ceremony with Gstaad Saanenland Tourism in June, Cairoli opened the biking season, which will host events right through to the end-of-season fete in mid-September. Stay tuned for next month, when Cairoli and his brother Romeo will be featured on the cover of the magazine.

Rising Stars

You might say our Profile interviewee, Christoph Müller, was born under a lucky star. From professional cellist to CEO and artistic director of the Menuhin Festival Gstaad, his greatest pleasure is hunkering down in Gstaad for the summer. Away from the hustle and bustle of his busy travel schedule, Müller immerses himself in music, and mountains, letting his unique vision guide the festival to greater heights with each passing year.

In our Gstaad Living section, we take a look at the second Prix de Gessenay, during which bright lights in the world of innovation competed to win cash prizes for their extraordinary projects. From wakeboarding to giving birth, the winners run the gamut of ideas that will contribute to bettering our region.

Starring Artists

Crave a taste of the wild and wonderful? Project 1049, associated with the outdoor art event Elevation 1049, will have artists once again gallivanting about the Saanenland this month. With instructions to take our natural landscape into consideration for their artwork, the artists have developed a wide range of genres including text-based art, sculptures made from a 3-D printer, and even a performance on the Glacier 3000 Peak Walk.

The newest star on the luxury scene is the Ultima hotel. After fits and starts in construction over the past few years, the five-star property with just a handful of suites has opened to great acclaim. Contributor Januaria Piromallo spends an afternoon at the Ultima, soaking up its chic atmosphere and waxing poetic on its charms.

Starry, Starry Nights

Some claim that there’s nothing more beautiful than a sky full of twinkling stars. Yet up close, those stars are unrecognisable—after all, they’re simply giant balls of gas under immense pressure. So next time you spot a celebrity guest here in Gstaad, it may be wise to sit back and enjoy the glow. Up-close and personal, they may be just another gasbag.

Happy reading,

Alexis Munier

Editor in Chief