GstaadLife

The construction up at La Videmanette has moved into its second phase. After a highly successful first winter season, work has begun (with minimal disturbance to summer guests) on the next step, a tunnel that will offer immediate access to the slopes from the top station of the gondola rather than having to schlep skis and kids through the maze of outdoor diners on the terrace. There are also plans to improve the restaurant but we don't have the details on that yet.

This year sees the 11th edition of the music festival La Folia in Rougemont from June 9 to 13 2011 featuring Sebastian Bach. For the detailed program click here or call the tourist office in Rougemont - 026 925 11 62. 

Just in case you thought that the butcher in Rougemont has disappeared - no worries - André Reichenbach is still very much there - just across the road in the old Hotel Valrose until his old shop is completely renovated. So you can still get the finest cuts of meat and Birgitta's special home made frozen goods.

 
Fantastic kids program at earlybeck - last Wednesday April 6 kids were able to decorate an Easter bunny and make their own out of chocolate at the factory between Saanen and Rougemont. They only advertised this great idea with flyers in their shops but we hear there are still a few places left for the same thing in Le Grand Café in Château-d'Oex on Saturday April 16 2011. It is SFr 15 per participant, takes about an hour and a half, and is really a ton of fun. They even learn quite a bit. For reservations call 033 748 70 48. Kids should be 5 years-old but we saw younger ones doing it with the help of an adult. More pics after the jump.

Here are the cable car closing dates for the 2010/11 winter season in Gstaad-Saanenland:

Glacier 3000 Pillon, May 8
Glacier 3000 Reusch, already closed March 20 except for weekends in April
Rinderberg, April 3
Saanerslochgrat/Hornberg, April 25
Horneggli, April 25
Rellerli, closed back on February 27 (was it actually open this was season?)
Wispile Gondelbahn, already closed on March 6 
Eggli-Videmanette, March 27

closed La Braye
closed Skilift Lauenen
closed Skilift Gsteig
closed Lengebrand / Parwengesattel
closed Wispile Rütti and Zückerli
closed Wasserngrat

We hope you enjoyed your season and if empty slopes are your thing, now is the time!

Just one careful German owner. Never even lived in. Taki's gonna love this ...

 
It's in the shade pretty much all day right now but the new base station of La Videmanette in Rougemont shines by itself. The station looks great, the small bar in the Overlap rental area is simple but nice, the new gondolas are super-quick, and with their floor to ceiling glass cabins, the ride up feels like being on a magic carpet. If you've not skied this side for a while, its time for another look. Connect over with the new chairlift from the Eggli and make a morning of it -- it's much better than the Rinderberg Ronda, which has anyway been closed most of this year.

 
Last Thursday December 23 2010, just five months after the start of the construction (and many, many helicopter runs up and down the mountain), the new gondola to La Videmanette was inaugurated.

 
They are still building hard, the helicopters are still flying up and down the Videmanette but here's an architectural rendering of the new Overlap Sports shop which is scheduled to open on December 23 in the new Videmanette base station. Looks very cool - real photos to follow when it opens.

The time has come and the snow is here in abundance. Here are the opening dates for the skilifts in and around Gstaad-Saanenland:

1.12.10 Saanerslochgrat-Hornberg-Horneggli
11.12.10 Gstaad-Wasserngrat
11.12.10 Château-d‘Oex-La Braye
18.12.10 Zweisimmen-Rinderberg
18.12.10 St. Stephan-Parwengesattel
18.12.10 Gstaad-Eggli
18.12.10 Lauenen
22.12.10 Schönried-Rellerli
22.12.10 Gstaad-Wispile (Skilift Rütti from 18.12.10)
22.12.10 Gsteig
23.12.10 Rougemont-La Videmanette (could change)

Check the maps and webcams before you go as these things are subject to change in the early-season.