Walig Hütte: rustic Gstaad Palace branch

The Gstaad Palace, which stands out from the uniform villagescape with its extravagant architecture on a hill above the village centre of Gstaad, is a Swiss hotel icon. Accordingly, we are delighted to take a look behind the scenes of the legendary hotel and at the same time get to know another side of the Gstaad Palace. The rustic, romantic Walig Hütte, which is located a good 600 metres higher up in the mountains and scores with a phenomenal panorama over the Saanenland. An alpine hut experience in a class of its own.

Brilliant since 1913

Our weekend begins at 1,050 metres above sea level in the unique ambience of the Gstaad Palace. Here, on a hill in a privileged location above Gstaad, the hotel has been welcoming guests from all over the world for over 100 years and has made an excellent name for hospitality and discretion during this time. Regardless of whether you are a celebrity or not, all guests are welcomed in the same friendly and courteous manner. And so our first day at the Gstaad Palace starts with a magnificent view of the mountains and breakfast outside on the terrace.

Even though the house has many years under its belt, there is constant investment in the renewal of the interior. Approximately every four years, the rooms and suites are renovated in keeping with the times. For minor repairs, the Gstaad Palace still has an in-house carpenter’s workshop, which we get to know on a short tour behind the scenes. I am enthusiastic about the color concept of our Deluxe Room – beautiful pattern concepts with appropriately placed splashes of color. I find it remarkable that newly prepared rooms for regular guests are restored to the original look for the duration of their stay, if this is desired by the guest. For this purpose, there is an extra warehouse with old pieces of furniture and wallpaper.

Three, two, one – off to the mountains

Summer in Gstaad means getting out into nature. The Gstaad Palace is surrounded by numerous hiking trails and mountain peaks, as well as the idyllic villages of the Saanenland. The first thing we are drawn to is the Wasserngrat. Since a longer hike is planned for the next day, we take it easy and take the chairlift to the “summit of enjoyment”. The Wassergrat mountain restaurant, run by brothers Nik and Simon Buchs, has become a popular destination for gourmets. The friend orders cheese slices. I opt for mushroom toast. A good choice! As an encore, there is this magnificent view over Gstaad from the restaurant terrace. In my opinion, the Wasserngrat easily fulfills all the components for an enjoyable afternoon in the mountains.

Relax and enjoy

Back at the Gstaad Palace, the enjoyment goes into the next round. A relaxing Jardin des Monts massage awaits me at the Palace Spa. The wonderfully fragrant massage oils come from the mountain herb garden on the steep southern slope above the village of Rossinière in the Pay d’Enhaut. After the many hikes this summer, a blessing for my stiff muscles. Meanwhile, the friend is working on his summer tan in the extensive gardens around the Gstaad Palace. This includes a public outdoor swimming pool with a 50-metre swimming pool.

The all-round beautiful day is rounded off with an aperitif on the terrace and a fine dinner in the “Le Grand” restaurant. The cuisine is down-to-earth and surprises with large portions. On Saturday evenings, a large buffet is served. Half-board guests are free to choose between the menu proposal and à la carte. The chef is also happy to fulfill individual requests that are not on the menu. We stick to the à la carte suggestions and order one tartare and a mango-avocado-burrata combination as a starter. For the main course, I opt for trout with a house sauce.

Quaint, beautiful alpine hut life

The next day, a contrasting program is announced. Early in the morning we shoulder our backpacks and make our way on foot to the Walig hut. The Gstaad Palace has beautifully restored the rustic alpine hut from the 18th century and offers it as a hideaway for meals or overnight stays (maximum two people and two children). What makes it special is the authenticity of the place. Even though the hut has been gently renovated, there is still only cold water, a cooking stove heated with wood and an outhouse, as you know it from simple alpine huts.

We hike via Col du Pillon and Arnensee to the Vordere Walig and reach the hut in the early evening. What a postcard view! The cows graze in front of the hut, behind them in the distance we see Gstaad and directly in front of us the mighty summit of the Spitzhorn.

Maurizio, who commutes back and forth between the hotel and the Walig hut in summer, takes care of our physical well-being in order to offer guests a unique hut experience. An alpine night at the Walig hut is available including a 3-course dinner according to the guest’s wishes. Not everything is equally easy to prepare on the wood-burning stove. We keep it classic and start with a fine platter, followed by a spicy fondue. To round off – and my enthusiasm – Maurizio serves fresh wild berries with double crème for dessert. I had missed it on the breakfast buffet the day before.

After a short instruction on where to find the cooler with our breakfast and how to make coffee at the hut, Maurizio leaves us alone at the hut with a “good night”. However, we don’t get too much sleep that night, despite the wonderfully cuddly bed. At first, the star-studded night sky keeps us from sleeping, and soon after, the play of colors of the early morning beckons. And for breakfast, there are the leftovers of the double cream from the night before – small, big moments of happiness. The Walig Hütte will probably make us rave about this unique “glamping” experience in the Bernese Oberland for many years to come.

More tips and information about the Gstaad Palace

• An overnight stay in a Classic double room including half board costs from around 700 CHF per night/room
• An overnight stay including a 3-course dinner in the Walig Hütte costs from 1,600 CHF for a maximum of 2 people and 2 children (the Walig Hut has only one bedroom – if you stay there, you can enjoy the hut to yourself)
• Gstaad offers numerous exciting events during the summer months
• An alternative route to our Col du Pillon-Arnensee tour leads from Lake Lauenen via Valais Wispile and Gsteig to Vordere Walig (around 1,100 metres in altitude and 5.5 hours walking time)
• Another beautiful hike leads via Launensee to the Geltenschuss

The Gstaad Palace invited us to this stay. All impressions/opinions are, as always, our own.

Merken