The old joke that “Switzerland will be a beautiful country as soon as it’s finished” seemed especially funny to me at the time. Wherever I looked, there was another seemingly perfect building being renovated, or another impeccable stretch of highway being repaved before it was even necessary.

But maybe that’s the secret to Swiss comeliness—on ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. On that note, GSTAADLIFE takes a look at all things renewed in the Saanenland in this issue.

Remaking History

Several renovations have recently been completed, from the old post office and Hotel Bären in Gsteig to Saanen Church. On four pages, we bring you all the details of these re-lookings, including a focus on traditional architecture in our Summer Series. If you don’t know much about historic shingle roofs, you certainly will after reading this issue.

Les Arts Gstaad has taken a big step forward and the dossier is now in the hands of the canton for approval. Whether you are a fan of the large project or would prefer a smaller, more traditional venue, one can’t deny the building would make architectural history here.

Inner Glow

Gstaad Palace’s Salle Baccarat has emerged from a delicate four-month operation with a fresh gleam on its historic features. Our article gives you the backstory on this unique room, the largest in the hotel.

Speaking of facelifts, one very special man has left the Saanenland. Januaria Piromallo shares her memories of celebrated surgeon Dr Ivo Pitanguy, a long-time Gstaad guest who recently passed away at age 93.

Destiny Bound

This issue boasts a profile on Corinne Evens, head of the billion-dollar Evens Group and founder of a creative line of luxury jewellery available here in Gstaad— Goralska. As a woman who believes in destiny and isn’t afraid of the hard work necessary to make it happen, Evens is proof that some women do in fact have it all.

Women are also a big topic in the region’s politics, as two women will soon sit on Gsteig’s municipal assembly. It remains to be seen how many women will sit on Saanen’s municipal assembly, but we’ll have an exact count after the general elections in October.

Athletes and Amateurs

With a focus on sports this month, GSTAADLIFE brings stories of the Ladies Cosmo Cup golf tournament, a preview of Pop-Up Fitness, and an exciting summary by Karim Ojjeh of his latest race at Spa.

If sailing floats your boat, we have a wrap-up of the Gstaad Yacht Club’s busy summer season. In addition to the club’s annual “Rallye & Yachting” competition, you can read about their Trio for Rio and their performance at the 2016 Olympic games.

Same Time Next Season

I’d like to thank you, dear readers, for your support during this summer season. Our traditional off-season lasts through mid-December, when our first issue of the winter will arrive. Though we feature only previews on our website at www.gstaad.life or www.gstaadlife.com during the summer and winter seasons and full access is available only to subscribers, we’ll be featuring several free articles per week during the off-season. If you enjoy our magazine, why not subscribe to read our full digital magazine online or have it delivered straight to your home anywhere in the world?

In the next few months, we’ll be lucky to witness what makes Switzerland one of the most beautiful countries on earth—her full embrace of the seasons. As life here in the Saanenland changes with the seasons, so do we. And that doesn't seem so sterile and regimented, after all.

Happy reading,

Alexis Munier

Editor in Chief