Historic Hotel
Questionnaire
Year erected: 1913
What is the history of the property?
A local secondary school teacher named Robert Steffen recognize the potential for a grand hotel in 1905, which lead to the construction of the Palace in 1912.
In 1913, the luxurious five-star superior Gstaad Palace hotel opened its doors for the first time. Today, it is owned by the third generation of the Scherz family and is therefore one of Europe’s last family-run hotels where VIPs experience a first-class culture of hospitality.
What was the era and/or the architectural style in which the property was built?
The Gstaad Palace was built in 1913 in a château style on a hill overlooking the town of Gstaad.
Is the property surrounded by other historic buildings?
Many historic buildings can be found in the village of Gstaad, including the Olden Hotel built in 1899 and the Post Rössli Hotel built in 1845.
Has restoration work taken place?
Some major renovation has been made, the indoor pool was built in 1970 with an outdoor area, sauna and health centre.
A year after, on 22 January 1971, the GreenGo Nightclub was opened. The original interior design was by Teo Jakob and has remained the same to this day even after several gentle renovations.
As well, every in-between season, the Gstaad Palace is renovating rooms and other facilities in order to maintain the well-known standard. Other major renovations take place here and there.
Are there any elements of particular historical importance at the building?
Our fondue restaurant is set in a former bunker, where a Swiss bank, the Schweizerische Bankgesellschaft (UBS nowadays) stored gold bars during World War Two. Today, it serves Saanenland's gold - in the form of tasty fondue. Raclette is also popular in this restaurant that has enjoyed cult status in the valley and beyond since 1972.
Besides, the Gstaad Palace has many other historical features.
The palace played a significant role in the region's development as a tourist destination. The Gstaad Palace 100 Year Book features some of these anecdotes, such as the one about the 1928 construction of the «PISCINE,» which was inspired by the flair of the Côte d'Azur.
Are there any important guests or previous owners worth mentioning?
David Bowie, Princess Caroline of Monaco, Bernie Ecclestone, Roy Emmerson, Sean Connery, Paulo Coehlo, Henry Ford, Novak Đoković, Karena Kapoor, David Niven, John Travolta, Tina Turner, Olivia Newton-John, Jaques Chirac… And the list goes on.
Are there any significant events that took place at the property in the past?
In the summer of 1915 was the inaugural tennis tournament hosted in Gstaad. The goal was to attract more visitors. The event eventually evolved into the Tennis Open Gstaad.
Early in September 1947, the Union Parlementaire Européenne, one of the most significant precursors to the Council of Europe, held its inaugural assembly at the Palace. Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi, Count, was in charge of organizing the congress.
Gala dinners with international stars are the glamorous highlights of the winter season in the 1960s. Marlene Dietrich performs on 15 February 1964. One of the most glamorous occasions in the Palace’s history is documented in the annual report. The list of star guests is long: it includes Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Ella Fitzgerald as well as Maurice Chevalier, Gilbert Bécaud, Dionne Warwick and Petula Clark.
Would you describe your property as (or has it ever been in the past) a: Is there anything that you would like to highlight, add or clarify?
The Gstaad Palace has been featured in various films. One of the most famous ones is “The Return of the Pink Panther” with Peter Sellers, was filmed at the Gstaad Palace.
