Dream setting: Hotel Belvedere in Grindelwald and excursion tips for the Jungfrau Region)
Advertising: Contribution in cooperation with Responsible Hotels of Switzerland
The best autumn weather, a fantastic mountain backdrop and delicious regional food. Oh yes, this year’s trip to the Jungfrau Region definitely had more than one highlight in store. Best of all, we not only explored impressive glacier gorges and hiking trails with great views, but also got to know a traditional Grindelwald company that operates sustainably and responsibly.
Does that sound exciting? Perfect – in this article you will find an insight into the Hotel Belvedere Grindelwald, which has been run as a family business for over 100 years, and the appropriate excursion tips for an unforgettable stay in the Jungfrau Region.
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Newly founded at the beginning of 2022, the Responsible Hotels of Switzerland hotel group has to date comprised 33 establishments that are committed to ecological and social sustainability, ranging from down-to-earth 3-star country inns to exclusive 5-star hotels. These include hotels that we have already tried and tested, such as Schloss Wartegg, Valsana Arosa and Cervo Mountain Resort. The aim and purpose of the association is to promote the exchange of experience and knowledge transfer among its members, while at the same time giving greater importance to responsible travel. In cooperation with Responsible Hotels, we will introduce you to other member hotels we have visited here on the blog in loose succession.
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Here you can go directly to the three excursion and hiking tips presented in this article:
Excursion tip No. 1: Detour to the Grindelwald Glacier Gorge
Excursion tip no. 2: On the Höhenweg 2200 to the Bachalpsee
Excursion tip no. 3: Hike through the magical Rosenlaui Gorge
Check-in at Hotel Belvedere
Our base for the two-day stay in Grindelwald has been welcoming guests from all over the world for over 100 years, just a few minutes’ walk from Grindelwald train station. In addition to the central location, the view of the impressive north face of the Eiger and other striking mountain peaks is particularly attractive.
Sustainability in action since 1907
It is also due to this phenomenal setting that the foundation stone for the Hotel Belvedere (which, by the way, means “beautiful view”) was laid here in 1904 by the 1st generation of the Hauser family. Three years later, in June 1907, the hotel opened for the first summer season. 115 summer seasons later, the Hotel Belvedere is still run as a family business by the 3rd generation Hauser, while the fourth generation is also already involved in the hotel. It is therefore not surprising that the topic of “sustainability” in all its aspects has always been a central theme in the further development of the hotel. In 2020, the Hotel Belvedere was awarded the highest grade of Platinum by the Ibex Fairstay label for its commitment to sustainability.
As a guest, I do not even notice many of the measures taken for this purpose. Or who usually cares whether fossil energy is used for the pleasant room temperature or – as in the Hotel Belvedere – more environmentally friendly energy sources such as groundwater and wood? And this is exactly where the Responsible Hotels Association comes in. As a guest at the Hotel Belvedere, I also have the opportunity to compensate for the CO2 emissions associated with my stay on a voluntary basis. To this end, the company is working together with the myclimate foundation.
Another aspect of sustainability is that we constantly invest in further development and rely on long-lasting products for renewal. For example, during the latest renovation, which took on the redesign of the common rooms on the ground floor, they worked together with local craftsmen and used local materials wherever possible. The result is impressive. A warm wooden floor, comfortable armchairs and large panoramic windows: Actually, we could just spend the rest of the rainy afternoon here with a good book in this cozy ambience of the lounge.
The rooms also feature high-quality furniture, lots of wood and here and there an indication that the Hotel Belvedere strives to keep the amount of waste as small as possible. Single-use plastic, for example, is consistently avoided. And behind the scenes, the materials are neatly separated and disposed of.
Excursion tip No. 1: Detour to the Grindelwald Glacier Gorge
We are very impressed by this first impression. But the desire to discover still drives us outside despite the gloomy fog. We want to take the opportunity for a detour to the Grindelwald glacier gorge. This can be reached in 15 minutes by bus no. 122 from the Grindelwald, Gemeindehaus stop, which is located directly behind the hotel.
The gorge of the Lower Grindelwald Glacier can be reached over a length of about one kilometre via an easily accessible path (there are stairs and rock passages in places) and is a worthwhile destination on hot days as well as in rainy weather. Facts about the Grindelwald Glacier, the formation of the glacier gorge as well as its development as a tourist attraction are provided by vividly prepared information boards. Thrills are provided by the so-called “Spiderweb“. The 170 m2 net construction is stretched over the gorge and leads you really close to the spray of the roaring Lütschine.
Open from May to mid-November | Entrance fee for adults: 19 CHF | More info: Grindelwald Glacier Gorge
Warming up in the wellness area
While the glacier gorge offers a welcome refreshment on hot summer days, it can get quite chilly towards the end of the season. Back at the Hotel Belvedere, we head for the wellness area to warm up. This includes an indoor swimming pool, a heat gallery (45-50° degrees and may also be used by children until 18:00), a Finnish sauna as well as a glacier steam bath, experience showers and two whirlpools – one of them outside. So there is everything we could wish for after an active day in the mountains.
Fine dining in the restaurant «1910 · Gourmet by Hausers»
The Hotel Belvedere not only invests in increasing efficiency and well-considered renewal of the existing infrastructure, but also dares to try new concepts from time to time. At the beginning of this year, for example, a small fine dining restaurant was added to the culinary offer with the opening of the “1910 Gourmet by Hausers“. Jonas Messer, who I already knew from the Hotel Glacier, and Márton Zuber were hired for this purpose.
After just under a year, it can be said that they have successfully mastered the ambitious goal of building a gourmet restaurant. GaultMillau rewarded the tasteful combinations, in which Grindelwald products are also in the spotlight, with 14 points. We were also impressed by the 6-course menu (which is served with fish/meat or in a vegetarian version). My highlight of the evening was the smoked crystal bread with beetroot and goat cheese – earthy, sweet, fresh; what a perfect flavor combination!
“Mission accomplished with flying colors,” you might say. And so there is a change of staff for the winter season. Dávid Imre Rózsa and Dóra Halász take over, while Jonas Messer and Márton Zuber move on. However, we are confident that the 1910 Gourmet by Hausers will continue to be a first-class address for fans of creative Alpine cuisine in the future.
Regional start to the mountain day
After we had finished the culinary evening at Gourmet by Hausers with an espresso made from coffee beans from the local micro-roastery “EigerBean”, we continued the next morning in a local way. The breakfast buffet includes a number of products from Grindelwald producers that have been awarded the “Eigerness Label“. These include the excellent bread from the bakery-confectionery-café Ringgenberg and butter, which is served directly from a wooden barrel to the plate in the perfect “consumption size”.
Excursion tip no. 2: On the Höhenweg 2200 to the Bachalpsee
The clouds from the day before have cleared. We have a wonderful autumn day ahead of us, which we would like to use for a panoramic hike from the First mountain station via Bachalpseen to Bussalp. For this, we join the queue at the valley station of the Firstbahn. Fortunately, this is not too long. But it turns out: The internationally diverse crowd of guests is back in the Jungfrau Region! Before we set off on our hike towards Bachalpsee, we take a tour of the First Cliff Walk. It’s no wonder that this grandiose postcard motif attracts so many foreign visitors to Grindelwald.
Afterwards, however, we are glad that we can quickly leave the hustle and bustle around the First mountain station behind us on the “Faulhornweg” in the direction of Bachalpsee. At the latest after you branch off to the Höhenweg 2200 at the Bachalp lakes, you will definitely have the magnificent mountain landscape practically to yourself.
Key data of the hike First – Bachalpsee – Bussalp
On the following map you can see the route of the hike from the First mountain station via Bachalpsee to Bussalp. From Grindelwald First to Bachalpsee it is an easy-to-walk, wide gravel path. The section from the Bachalp lakes via Spitzen/Fernandeshitta to Bussalp, on the other hand, is signposted as a red-and-white marked mountain hiking trail and also has slightly more steep sections in places.
The hike can be undertaken during the operating hours of the Firstbahn from the beginning of July to the end of October (usually the second last weekend in October).
| Starting point | Grindelwald-First mountain station (2,165 m above sea level) |
| Reachability | With the Grindelwald-First gondola lift |
| Length | 8.4 kilometres |
| Elevation gain | ↗ 370 m 735 m ↘ |
| Duration | 2:45 p.m. |
| Destination | Bussalp (1,795 m above sea level) |
| Catering | Bussalp mountain restaurant |
End of the day at the Hotel Belvedere
Back at the Hotel Belvedere, we enjoy the last rays of sunshine of the day with a Grindelwald platter on the sun terrace in front of the lounge. Gorgeous, I’ll tell you! Later, we enjoy the half-board menu in the main restaurant of the house – the restaurant “Belvedere”.
Excursion tip no. 3: Hike through the magical Rosenlaui Gorge
We use the third day for an excursion that has been on my bucket list for what feels like an eternity. We take the bus over the Grosse Scheidegg to the “Schwarzwaldalp” stop. Here in the enchanting Rychenbach Valley, time seems to have stood still 50 years ago. Our actual destination is a good two kilometers further down the valley. Instead of waiting for the connecting bus coming from Meiringen, we follow the signposted hiking trail in the direction of the Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge. 30 minutes later we are at the entrance to the Schluchtenweg.
Like the Grindelwald Glacier Gorge, this is subject to a fee, although the entrance fee for adults here is “only” 10 CHF. The Rosenlaui Gorge is also accessible via a well-developed and secured path. In contrast to the Grindelwald Glacier Gorge, however, it is not mostly flat, but leads uphill 115 metres in altitude over a length of almost 600 metres. But «Wow», the beauty of these rock layers formed by the unbridled power of water leaves me speechless. Definitely one of the most beautiful gorges I’ve ever visited!
Open from mid-May to mid-October | Entrance fee for adults: 10 CHF | More info: Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge
Originally, we had planned to combine a visit to the Rosenlaui glacier gorge with a hike to the Engelhorn hut. For this tour (Rosenlaui – Engelhornhütte – Gschwandtenmaad) you have to calculate just under three hours. Unfortunately, the hut was already closed and the sky was becoming more and more cloudy, so we decided to follow the Via Alpina further down the valley instead. For the remaining 8-kilometre route to Meiringen station, a good 2:15 hours of walking time should be planned.
Practical tips for your stay at the Hotel Belvedere Grindelwald
- An overnight stay at the Hotel Belvedere costs from 278 CHF including breakfast for two people. Prices vary depending on the season and room type. An overview and current price information can be found here: Rooms and Suites
- Depending on the season, the Hotel Belvedere also offers various packages with other inclusive services (now in winter including snowshoe rental).
- The Hotel Belvedere, unlike many other establishments, is open almost all year round (with the exception of a break between mid-November and mid-December). If you are flexible in terms of time and want to visit Grindelwald outside the high season, you can benefit from attractive offers.
- Every guest who stays overnight in Grindelwald receives a guest card with which you can use the local bus free of charge and receive various discounts on mountain railway tickets as well as entrance fees (e.g. to the two glacier gorges).
- On my blog you can find even more tips for seasonal outdoor activities around Grindelwald here: Excursion tips Jungfrau Region
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