Beaumier Announces Opening Of Grand Hotel Belvedere, Wengen

Opening on Friday 6th December of Grand Hotel Belvedere – the first Swiss hotel by the French hotel group, Beaumier, and the first five-star hotel in the alpine resort of Wengen.

Nestled within the Bernese Highlands and set across two interconnected buildings that face the majestic Jungfrau summit of the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Grand Hotel Belvedere is situated within its own private forest. Its lofty position in the secluded car-free alpine village of Wengen offers vast swathes of skiing and hiking terrain, accessible only by the historic Wengernalpbahn cog railway.

Combining the property’s Art Nouveau heritage with modern design by Complete Works Studio, the hotel features 90 state-of-the-art rooms and suites. Two restaurants will take the best of Swiss cuisine traditions and rework them with contemporary touches, meanwhile the spa (coming early 2025) is designed in a Swiss Brutalist style and will be a serene retreat for guests to enjoy the hammam, an indoor and outdoor infinity pool, and treatments designed by Susanne Kaufmann.

Nestled within the Bernese Highlands of Switzerland is the Lauterbrunnen Valley and its jewel, the secluded village of Wengen. Wengen’s pristine, car-free serenity is preserved by its unique position high up in the alps – only accessible via the Wengernalpbahn cog railway, ensuring it remains in tune with the mountain rhythms.

Here, the Grand Hotel Belvedere – Beaumier’s first foray into the Swiss market – has been reborn in a place that once stirred the imaginations of romantic artists and luminaries such as J. R. R. Tolkien himself and was one of the first places Britons pioneered skiing. It is now transformed into a celebrated ski retreat and year-round hiking destination.

Combining tradition with sophisticated modernity, the Grand Hotel Belvedere is Wengen’s first 5-star hotel. The property was redesigned by the renowned Complete Works Studio and Gallery in collaboration with Clavien & Associés, with two cascading buildings that face the majestic Jungfrau summit.

In the new Grand Hotel Belvedere, modernity meets tradition through the architecture and design.

Swiss architects of Complete Works and Clavien & Associés drew their inspiration from the plunging natural views of the Jungfrau and the rich heritage of Heimatstil and Art Nouveau styles. The hotel’s design intricately weaves early 20th-century décor elements into the property’s restaurants and lobbies.

The rooms, designed to reflect their alpine surroundings, are adorned with handmade carpets, bespoke pine furniture, wood panelling and serpentine green bathrooms. The thoughtful architectural approach establishes a bond between the hotel and the mountain while ensuring the guests’ utmost comfort.

Great lengths have been taken in the restoration of the hotel to bring it back to its original Belle Epoque state, for example the crystal chandeliers have been carefully restored, paint has been stripped back to reveal the original wood and painted frescoes beneath.

The hotel features 90 state-of-the-art rooms and suites, each offering panoramic views of the surrounding Alps from their balconies, allowing guests to commune directly with nature.

The on-site spa, a destination in itself, has been meticulously crafted with a minimalist and mineral-heavy design by the esteemed Saint Lazare. Guests can find much-deserved escapes in the treatment rooms, hammam, indoor and outdoor infinity pools, all while surrounded by the property’s gardens and surrounding private forest.

The Grand Hotel Belvedere boasts two exquisite restaurants and two vibrant bars, each cultivating distinct joie-de-vivre atmospheres. Guests can also unwind on the terrace to indulge in gourmet cuisine alongside alpine views. Both the food and wine are locally produced, with ingredients often sourced from the vegetable garden and foraged from nearby forests, all brought to life by Executive Chef Will Gordon assisted by Head Chef Andrea Zambrano.

• LA BRASSERIE BELVEDERE is a classic brasserie serving dishes such as roasted cauliflower with miso from the Black Forest, rösti with caviar from the Bernese Alps and beef cheeseburgers with Swiss Gruyère. An elegant and opulent setting to while away a leisurely lunch or dinner.
• RESTAURANT WALDRAND is set in a more relaxed and casual atmosphere, with dishes including älpermagronen - or macaroni - and potato gratin with alpine cheese and crispy bacon, schnitzel and organic fried egg, tarts with wild blueberries and Swiss meringue. Here, a Swiss- style counter offers specialty coffees and traditional alpine zigercake.
• SONNENBAD TERRACE is a place where guests can find themselves immersed in platters of charcuterie, fondues and grilled barbeque lake fish – all against the backdrop of daily live performances

At the Grand Hotel Belvedere, body and mind work together and taking care of both is essential.

Indoors, guests are invited to rejuvenate at the spa, enjoying treatments, hammams and pools. Outdoors, in the heart of nature, guests can engage in a range of sporting escapades, both in summer and winter.

In winter guests can go trail running in the snow, climb the surrounding glaciers, go ski hiking with an experienced guide or, in warmer months, attend forest yoga sessions, mountain biking and canyoning.

For those who seek a more serene stay, cultural escapes offered by Lake Thun, Zentrum Paul Klee and the Ballenberg Museum may be a great draw too.