On 1 October, Dame Julie Andrews turns 90. Beloved worldwide as Mary Poppins and Maria von Trapp, she also found in Gstaad what she once called her “last paradise in a crazy world.”

A love affair with the Saanenland

Julie Andrews and her husband, Blake Edwards, first came to Gstaad in 1968. By the end of that holiday, she later recalled, “we knew we wanted to stay – and stay… and stay.” In the early 1970s, they bought Chalet Fleur de Lys and began what Andrews herself described as a lifelong “love affair” with the region.

The couple’s family life was closely tied to Gstaad. Their children attended school here for a time, and although professional obligations eventually took them back to Los Angeles, the Saanenland always remained a constant retreat.

Christmas magic, Julie-Lämpli and CineMusic
Andrews often spoke of the “most Christmassy Christmases” she experienced in Gstaad: snowy peaks, crystal-clear air, and the resilience of the local people. When she noticed how sparse the village’s festive lights were in the 1970s, she and Edwards donated strings of bulbs and even covered the electricity bill. To this day, they are fondly remembered as the Julie-Lämpli.

In 1995, Andrews and Edwards also founded the CineMusic Festival in Gstaad, dedicated to film scores. For three years it drew stars such as Liza Minnelli, Quincy Jones and Roman Polanski to the valley.

A lasting bond
Julie Andrews was made an honorary citizen of Saanen in 2014 – only the tenth person ever to receive the distinction. She thanked the community for its warmth, recalling friendships with Annemarie and Gottfried von Siebenthal and her ski teacher Walter Ludi. As a gift, she donated the sculpture The Sitting Duck, which still greets passers-by in Gstaad.

An extraordinary career
Andrews’ career began early. At 13, she sang “God Save the King” for George VI and Queen Elizabeth. She went on to win an Oscar for Mary Poppins (1964) and cemented her global fame with The Sound of Music (1965). Later generations discovered her as Queen Clarisse in The Princess Diaries and as the narrator of Netflix’s Bridgerton. Alongside her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton, she has also authored numerous children’s books and memoirs.

Though she lost much of her extraordinary four-octave soprano voice after surgery in 1997, her presence and charm never faded.

Memories from Gstaad
Over the decades, Julie Andrews left a deep imprint on local life. Residents recall her skiing lessons with Walter Ludi, her warm presence at the Palace and the Olden, or her kindness in small encounters: slipping out a back door to escape paparazzi, greeting shopkeepers, or comforting an overwhelmed fan who fainted at the sight of her on the Promenade.

As Gottfried von Siebenthal fondly remembers, when she became honorary citizen, she practised a phrase in local dialect: “Ik bin so glucklich, dass ik jetzt ee Gstaaderin bin.” The crowd was delighted. See the clip here
 

A Gstaaderin at heart
For those who met her here, Julie Andrews is remembered not only as a Hollywood icon but as an exceptionally gracious neighbour. On her 90th birthday, the Saanenland celebrates a woman whose heart has long been tied to its mountains, traditions and people.

Happy Birthday, Dame Julie – and thank you for making Gstaad part of your story.

Based on AvS | Edited by Jeanette Wichmann