About Gstaad

The vacation area of Gstaad - Saanenland - Pays d’Enhaut is located at the German-French language border between Lake Geneva and Lake Thun in an altitude of 900 to 3200 meters above sea level (2800 to 10000 feet). The villages of the area are all located on an ideal elevation of 900 to 1200 meters. Superb landscape, a mild climate, hardly any fog, major international events, prominent guests from all four corners of the earth and an unbelievable variety of leisure opportunities - no wonder that Gstaad and its neighboring areas are so well known far beyond Switzerland’s borders. Thanks to excellent means of transportation, the area can be reached in less than 2 hours from all major cities and airports in the country both by road and by train. In Saanen there is even an airport with customs services and where medium sized aircraft may land.

Despite the fact that the inhabitants of the Saanenland are German-speaking Swiss, their mentality is much closer to Switzerland’s French-speaking population. There are historical reasons for this phenomenon. The Saanen area was once part of the county of Gruyères, and was only passed on to the canton of Berne when Count of Gruyères went bankrupt in 1555.

With its wide valley and gentle slopes the Saanenland enjoys above-average sunshine - so that its region is often described as the „Sunny Country“. This may well explain why it was already a favored area for convalescence, rest and relaxation in the 17th century. Tourism really set in when the Montreux-Oberland railroad was opened in 1905, providing a direct link between Montreux on the Lake Geneva, Gstaad on the west side and Zweisimmen/Interlaken on the east. A further step, this time at international level, was taken in about 1920 when the “Institut Le Rosey“ was opened, and also the Gstaad Palace Hotel. Having spent their years as teenagers in Gstaad, many of the former Rosey students - children of royal families, of major industrialists, politicians and businessmen, of top stars in show business - retained a lifelong attachment for this region.

The area was steadily but carefully developed in line with the needs of active tourism. Between 1945 and 1970 the main focus was on opening up the region with chair lifts, ski lifts, gondolas and cable cars. Today the visitors can use with one ticket more than 60 mountain transportation installations with 250 km ski runs of all difficulties in 7 larger and 6 smaller ski areas.

The early introduction of stringent building regulations made it possible to avoid ugly developments despite lively construction activity. The hotels and houses in the Saanen style are in harmony with the surrounding countryside. The old trades have been retained, such as scissors cutting, pottery, wood carving and alphorn making. Agriculture is - beside tourism - an important pillar of the local economy,
 
in fact, there are more than 8000 cows in the area. The farmers still earn their living with cattle breeding and dairy farming. They are proud of their meat and dairy products that are exported in many countries of the world. The Saanen Hobelkäse (local cheese) was already widely in demand 300 years ago. During the summer the cattle graze in the high alpine pastures, which means that in spring and in autumn visitors to the region can watch the traditional festive ascent to or descent from the high pastures - the farmers dressed in traditional costume and the cattle adorned with flowers. Today the cattle and produce markets in Saanen, Lauenen and Gsteig are more popular than ever.

Several large events, that are taking place almost year-round, have made the area of Gstaad and Saanenland - Pays-d’Enhaut famous across the country’s borders. Who doesn’t know the  ATP Tennis Tournament or the  Menuhin Festival? Some of these events have been established in the area for several decades and nobody wants to miss them today as important social events. Besides there are many other highlights of later origins, e.g. the  FIVB World Beach Volleyball Tournament in early summer, the  Polo Gold Cup mid-August and the  Country Night in September. In winter, sporting events on the ski slopes and ice-rinks are organized every year.

The Saanenland and the Pays-d’Enhaut are also strongholds of gastronomy and entertainment. Many internationally renowned restaurants and places with traditional local cuisine offer an extremely varied delight. Many restaurants have won awards and are listed in Gault Millau and Michelin guides. The nightlife of Gstaad offers an additional choice of entertainment and, especially during peak seasons, there are live bands performing for après-ski, at tea time or in night clubs until the early morning hours.

The sports available in the Saanenland throughout the year leave little to be desired. In summer there are excellent walks, as well as climbing, mountain biking, horseback riding, golf and tennis, but also paragliding, ballooning or wild water rafting and canoeing on the Saane river. In winter there is downhill and cross-country skiing, ski mountaineering, snowboarding, curling, ice-skating tobogganing and much more. Tennis, paragliding and ballooning are available year-round. Other offers include squash, helicopter skiing, summer tobogganing and horse-drawn carriages.

The economic and cultural centre of the whole area is world known and has a magic attraction on everybody. The lovely village offers an open-air shopping experience with an attractive offer for all budgets. Since autumn 1997, a bypass allowed the establishment of a large pedestrian zone and to take out traffic from the village centre and thus make it even more attractive.

Saanen is the capital of the district, seat of the administration and marketplace of the whole Saanenland. Wise laws and the typical Bernese slowness have always put qualitative increase before mass tourism and construction excesses. The church of St. Mauritius from the 16th century became world famous as an ideal set-up for the classical concerts of the Menuhin Festival. In the last few years many small and attractive art studios, galleries and other handicraft artists have opened a business in the well preserved village center with its beautiful houses.

These two villages are considered the „sun deck“ or the „panoramic terrace“ of the region. They are located on about 1200 meters above sea level and are an ideal departure point for the beautiful hiking network in summer and winter. Ski runs and cross-country slopes are located in front of the doors. Mount Rellerli is a family mountain with easy panoramic hikes and lots of activities for children.

These two villages are located along the road to the Pillon-Pass („Col du Pillon“) and have an impressive and terrific scenery in the background. There are departure points for many long hikes in the area of the Sanetsch Pass and the romantic Lake of Arnen („Arnensee“). The nearby Diablerets-Glacier attracts skiers and hikers both in winter and in summer. The centre of the village of Gsteig with its church was put under protection. Gsteig and Feutersoey are ideal places for people that are looking mainly for peace, rest and coziness.