Miles of pistes, more than 2000 hours of sunshine per year and decadent après-ski parties – the holiday resort of St. Moritz in the heart of the Engadin has definitely earned its reputation as a winter sports paradise. For decades, high society from all over the world has flocked to the tranquil town in the heart of the Swiss canton of Graubünden to enjoy the bright sun, deep snow and the company of like-minded people.
It is not for nothing that St. Moritz has been the scene of numerous historical film scenes over the years. James Bond roared down the slopes of Graubünden’s cult location twice (“The Spy Who Loved Me” and “In the Face of Death”), Kristen Stewart was the assistant to a vain actress in the film “Cloud of Sils Maria” and Alfred Hitchcock discovered it “The Birds” in the backdrop of the popular ski resort.
From an inconspicuous health resort to a winter Mecca
But how did the once inconspicuous health resort become a Mecca for celebrities and winter sports enthusiasts? It all started with a daring bet. In 1864 the hotelier Johannes Badrutt received guests from Great Britain. At that time, St. Moritz was already a popular summer holiday destination, but hardly any tourists found their way to the mountain village in winter. But Badrutt believed in his homeland and bet his guests that in the near future St. Moritz would be so beautiful that even in the dead of winter you’d be happy to sit outside with a jacket. If he makes a mistake, he pays for the entire holiday.
The highlight of the story: the guests from Great Britain had to come back in winter to find out whether Badrutt should win the bet or not. And so they did. The rest is history. Since then, more and more people have flocked to the popular mountain town and frolic on the ski slopes, in restaurants and hotels.
Historical ski area
But St. Moritz is not only popular with recreational skiers. Winter sports enthusiasts all over the world also know the place in the middle of the Engadin very well. It was not only the venue for two Olympic Winter Games (1928 and 1948), but also the venue for a total of five World Ski Championships and the first Snowboard World Championship in Europe (1987). Championships are also regularly held on the notorious bobsled track in St. Moritz.
Today, St. Moritz hosts more than a hundred thousand overnight guests during the winter season each year. The town center is well frequented throughout the winter, there is a “champagne atmosphere”, as visitors like to call it. Things looked different around 100 years ago, when St. Moritz slowly became a popular destination for prominent winter holidaymakers. In the picture gallery, we take you on a journey through time to the beginnings of the legendary Engadin community of St. Moritz.