Grand-Hotel-Zermatterhof Zermatt Swiss Bliss Travel

Grand Hotel Zermatterhof

Traditional elegance in the heart of Zermatt

Grand Hotel Zermatterof, Zermatt, Swiss Bliss Travel, Switzerland, Schweiz

Everything in this hotel, from your arrival in a horse-drawn carriage to the beautiful breakfast room, oozes old-world charm. First opened in 1879, as one of the original hotels built during the Belle Époque, the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof originally catered almost exclusively to the British aristocracy visiting Switzerland. Since then, the hotel has successfully kept up with changing times throughout the years and is due to undergo a renovation starting in April 2017.

The hotel has an unusual history. Following the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865, Zermatt suddenly became a sought-after tourist destination. The village vicar – clearly a man with a lot of foresight – suggested to his congregation, most of whom were living in poverty, that they should come together to build a hotel. As they had no resources, it was agreed that the citizens of Zermatt would undertake the construction of the hotel for free and in return each would be given a stake in the hotel. Thus, the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof was built between 1876 and 1879 and today the rights to the property are still held by a group of original Zermatt residents.

I’ve been lucky enough to stay here twice, once in the summer and once in the winter, and I must say, both times I really enjoyed my stay at the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof. The hotel is in a prime location right next to the village church. It is a rather grand building with an old-fashioned feel throughout. The décor is very elegant and many of the original Belle Epoque features have been beautifully preserved. It offers a wide range of rooms and suites all decorated to a different standard, some offering a more classical décor and others a more modern touch. Again, the bathrooms also vary in standard. Some rooms are definitely ready for a little bit of TLC and I am confident that with the scheduled refurbishments they will be brought up to a higher standard, judging from the renovations that have already been completed in the hotel.

The hotel has three lovely restaurants, the Prato Borni, Brasserie Lusi and Say Cheese. The elegant Prato Borni is all about fine dining and offers gourmet alpine cuisine showcasing produce and wines from the region and was awarded 14 points by Gault & Millau. It has a very modern, slick kitchen that guests can peer into during their meal through a glass vitrine.

Say Cheese is a more recent addition to the hotel and was opened after the management realized that so many guests were deserting the hotel at night for local restaurants in search of traditional cheese dishes. The hotel struck back by opening a super sleek and trendy cheese restaurant, in the basement. The lovely lady chef who is in charge of the restaurant is very passionate about cheese and I would recommend asking her for advice on the selection of fondues on offer. These include a champagne fondue and a winter truffle fondue.

If you want to unwind, there’s a great bar and a very smart smoking room, with an open fire and in the summer there's a deck out front with sofas for afternoon refreshments and evening cocktails with live music. It's a very enjoyable spot to soak in the atmosphere of Zermatt as people amble through the narrow streets.

Last but not least, the hotel has lovely spa and wellness facilities that include a 20-meter indoor pool with a waterfall and an impressive selection of nicely sized steam, sauna and ice rooms. It also has a lovely relaxation area. The spa offers the usual array of treatments and don’t miss out on scheduling a massage for your sore legs. I have had their sport’s massage on two occasions and both times the therapists were excellent. They were quick to identify my muscle tensions and massage my pressure points, relieving my back and legs of stiffness and leaving me feeling very relaxed. The first time I had this massage I had just climbed Breithorn, a 4000 metre peak, and my legs were very, very sore…

If you are looking for elegance, charm and tradition and you want to be in the heart of the village, you will not be disappointed by the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof.