|
61km (38 miles) SW of Thun; 42km (26 miles) SE of Bulle
Against a backdrop of glaciers and mountain lakes, Gstaad is a haven for
the rich and famous. Frequent visitors include King Juan Carlos II of
Spain, Elizabeth Taylor, and Julie Andrews.
Built at the junction of four quiet valleys near the southern tip of the
Bernese Oberland, Gstaad was once only a place to change horses during
the grueling voyage through the Oberland. But as the railroad lines
developed, it grew into a resort. After the opening of the deluxe Alpina
Grand Hotel, wealthy Russian and Hungarian families started coming,
bringing their entourages of valets, nannies, and translators. In 1912,
2 years before the outbreak of World War I, a hotel that was to become
one of the most legendary in Switzerland, the Palace, opened, promising
the ultimate in luxury. In 1916 Le Rosey school (listed in the Guinness
Book of World Records as "the most expensive prep school in the world")
opened its doors in the satellite town of Tolle. The school contributed
to the fame of Gstaad, as prestigious visitors, including King Leopold
of Belgium, came to see their children.
The town, by far the most chic in the Bernese Oberland, retains much of
its turn-of-the-20th-century charm. Some first-time visitors, however,
say that the resort is a bore if you can't afford to stay at the Gstaad
Palace or mingle with the stars in their private chalets. Yet the town
has many moderately priced hotels, taverns, and guesthouses with an
allure of their own. Many of the bistros and cafes close from late April
to mid-June and from October to mid-December. |
