GstaadLife

This year the Ascension “Auffahrt” holiday is marked by a local celebrity’s climb into the skies--the Schönried-Rellerli gondola.  Today the gondola begins daily summer service through October 27.  It will also conveniently run until 9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays between July 5 and August 11.

Residents and tourists alike are warmly invited to attend the inaugural festivities, which include the live folk band Thunerbuebe and delicious grilled fare at the Berghaus Rellerli.  Reservations are recommended, and can be made via rest.rellerli@gstaad.ch or 033 748 8722.

From the Berghaus, a world of beautiful trails opens up for both beginning and experienced fans of hiking and mountain biking.  Jaun Pass, Abländschen and Save Moss are just several of the destinations reachable from the gondola’s end point.  Families will enjoy the 620-meter long summer toboggan run, as well as fat-tire scooters to zip about the valley.  On June 1, Children’s Day, youngsters ages 8 to 16 ride free (those 7 and under always ride free with an accompanying adult) Both activities are dependant upon weather conditions; please visit www.gstaad.ch to confirm current offerings. 

 

Did you realize that the old kiosk in the Promenade is no longer a kiosk? Gone are the newspapers, gone are the magazines, and in their place is the Würzbar, finally removed from its former storage room location behind Matti Interiors and out in the sun where it always should have been. Check it out - they have great spices, oils, teas, chocolates, an other specialties. 

Have you seen the new ticket offices of the Gstaad train station yet? Simple, fresh, white walls, exposed wood, a few shiny golden (pass) touches, yet still elegant. Finally a railway welcome worthy of our village. Yes we know many of you still bemoan all the concrete and glass of the new platforms. But even those have blended into the environment over the last year. Let us know what you think about the ticket office next time you pass through.

 
After 4 months of renovation, Credit Suisse Gstaad is moving out of the containers in the railway parking lot and back into their newly-renovated chalet HQ on the Promenade this coming Monday July 27 2011. The inside has been completely changed - colored floors, wood furniture and leather surfaces. There will also be a new hospitality concept, with a floor manager to greet you as you enter the building to help you with your needs. Top stuff if they can do it effectively, but it could be quite a challenge to staff up for the extremes of low and high season in Gstaad...

 
The Hotel Landhaus Saanen recently unveiled its newly-renovated hotel rooms. Not bad, not bad, we have to say - we like the local 'Scherenschnitt' art and the use of special materials. Interior designer Andreas von Siebenthal is the man behind this simple but effective alpine chic decor.

The time has come for actors Isabelle von Siebenthal and Hans Schenker to reopen the Hotel Wildhorn in Lauenen. This is one to be excited about, even if Web2.0 hasn't quite made it to Lauenen yet... 

 
Even though as we write this it is far from swimming weather - drizzle and temperatures in the low teens -  the outdoor swimming pool in Saanen is pressing ahead with its 2011 summer season this Friday June 10. In their ad in our sister publication, the Anzeiger von Saanen, they even say "Abtauchen ins kühle Nass" - "dive into the cool waters" - finally acknowledging that the pool is indeed damn cold, even on a hot day! Brrrr!!

 
We really don't know where to start with this one, and seeing as we already know what you're thinking, we'll save ourselves the effort.

 
The sports center in Gstaad with the indoor swimming pool will be closed from Monday May 2 2011 until Sunday May 22 2011 for repairs and cleaning. The tennis courts and the mini golf will remain open, though only from Monday to Friday. The restaurant will be open from Monday to Friday from 9h00 till 14h00, and on the weekends only by request for at least 15 people on. Hmmm, so that limits weekend activity choices because what is the playground without the minigolf, a drink, and an ice-cream?

 
Very shiny - the new riding center Gstaad was presented to the public a week ago. Full-on pampering for the beloved horses - solarium room included! More picutres after the jump.