Kurhaus Cademario – sunny place to recharge your batteries

At every turn, I secretly hold my breath. There are a lot of curves and they follow one after the other. However, the postbus driver masters each one with a stoic calmness and only presses the horn at the very dicey spots. “Luckily, I don’t have to drive up there myself,” I think to myself and direct my gaze to the passing landscape. We are on our way to Cademario, which is located at 850 m above sea level, high above Agno airport. It is said to be one of the sunniest places in Switzerland and indeed, the sun shines with all its power from the almost cloudless sky. The journey from Lugano train station to Cademario takes 40 minutes. We stay seated until the final stop – the Kurhaus. The last few meters lead through the narrow streets of a residential area before we reach the end of the street. Here the post bus turns around and we have arrived at the destination of the journey.

We spend the start of our late summer weekend in Ticino in the Kurhaus Cademario, which has been welcoming spa guests on an exquisite hillside location since 1914. The striking building can be seen from afar. As durable as the outer walls, as modern as the interior design. After a construction phase of four years, the Kurhaus, which offers a four-star superior standard, reopened its doors in April 2013 with a new look. And it is precisely this look that inspires us from the first moment we step into the lobby. Fresh, down-to-earth, wood, stones, lots of light – a clear line that radiates calm and creates a feel-good atmosphere. Far and wide no dusty “Kurhaus” ambience, which I had feared a bit in advance.

After we have completed the formalities of checking in on the sofa with a glass of sparkling wine, we receive the room key. As soon as I am in the room, my gaze falls on the wide window front and the balcony, which offers a phenomenal view over Lake Lugano, the gentle hills of Collina d’Oro, San Salvatore and Monte Brè. “Wow, what a panorama!” Although the room is almost forgotten with such a view, it does not have to hide under any circumstances. In the new concept, a fine hand was demonstrated in the selection of materials. I especially like the stone-wood combination. With a glass of champagne we relax on the two deck chairs and enjoy the tickling rays of the sun on our faces. That’s exactly how you imagine a weekend start in the sunniest part of Switzerland, isn’t it?

Before dinner, we pull ourselves together and go to the DOT with the fluffy bathrobes. Spa, which is the center of the house. Here, too, the materials have been purposefully combined to form a harmonious ensemble and the large windows bring nature into the relaxation room. At the first attempt, I failed to open the barrier from the indoor to the outdoor pool. At the second attempt and with the help of a nice gentleman, I overcame this hurdle and was rewarded with a view of Lake Lugano. If I had to award the prize for the most beautiful outdoor pool, the Kurhaus Cademario would win the gold medal at the moment. But the spa also offers all other amenities from bio sauna to hammam to salt tepidarium. In addition, there is a second large outdoor pool.

Afterwards, we feast on the four-course dinner menu (there are two to choose from) and take a bird’s eye view of the Lake Lugano region, illuminated by the evening sun.

The next morning, the alarm clock pulls us out of our deep sleep. We would have loved to turn around again and continue dozing under the cuddly blanket. But wait! We can’t miss the sunrise on this clear morning. So we rub the sleep out of our eyes, sit down on the balcony and watch as the fog slowly recedes and Lugano wakes up. The magical moment when the first ray of sunshine peeks out from behind Monte Brè is over much too quickly and gives way to the glaring rays of the sun that make everything shine in a golden morning light. By the way, we are not the only ones who are up early for this morning spectacle. On numerous balconies, guests capture the natural spectacle with their smartphones. Can a Saturday get off to a better start?

And if the morning mood hadn’t almost knocked me off my feet, then the view of our breakfast table on the terrace of the hotel restaurant would have done it at the latest. You want to have a nicer breakfast? Well then, I’ve got you the ultimate breakfast top spot here! Dear Kurhaus Cademario, we will be back! Because this view, crowned with a latte macchiato and a croissant, is simply bombastic. Grazie mille!

Info and tips:

• From Lugano train station, Postbus No. 422 runs every two hours directly to Cademario Kurhaus
• Double room with lake view from 300 CHF (seasonal)
• The spa can also be visited as a day guest (price day admission incl. lunch or dinner 120 CHF during the week)
• Take the cable car to the top of Monte Lema and enjoy the panoramic view
• Walk through the Malcantone on the Chestnut Trail
• Take a day trip to Lugano and stroll along the beautiful waterfront

Note: I was invited to this stay by the Kurhaus Cademario. Thank you very much for this! As always, my readers can be sure that I always represent my views and enthusiasm.