St. Moritz is considered one of the birthplaces of winter tourism, and its reputation comes from a mix of history, luxury, and natural beauty. But where did it all start? Let’s take a look back at the fascinating story of how winter tourism began in St. Moritz.
Historically it all began when hotelier Johannes Badrutt made a legendary bet in the Year 1864, which marks the birth of winter tourism. He invited some of his English guests who summered in St. Moritz every year, to come back in December. He promised the English men if they should not enjoy their stay, he would reimburse them the full cost of their winter vacation. The men accepted his offer and ended up staying in St. Moritz until easter as they enjoyed it so much. When they returned to England, they spread the word, and a new travel trend was born.
Before this, summer was the preferred season to travel to the Alps in St. Moritz for its health benefits. At that time the valley was famed for its healing springs and spa culture. Since the Bronze Age, these mineral-rich waters attracted visitors, and by the 19th century, spa treatments had become a trendy pursuit among Europe’s wealthy elite.
Following the success of Badrutt’s gamble, St. Moritz quickly began to shape itself into a winter destination. Some of the first ski lifts in the Alps were built here, activities like tobogganing, curling, and bobsleigh became popular pastimes, transforming the resort into a meeting point for alpine adventure.
One of the most important milestones came with the construction of the Cresta Run, the natural ice track dedicated to skeleton racing. Built in 1884, the Cresta Run attracted the thrill-seeking elite from across Europe. To this day, the Cresta Run remains one of the most famous, challenging and exclusive ice tracks in the world.
St. Moritz’s soon caught international recognition. The town had the big honor of hosting the Winter Olympics twice, in 1928 and 1948. These events solidified St. Moritz as a winter destination and became a popular place for winter vacation for celebrities like Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Coco Chanel, Alfred Hitchcock, Audrey Hepburn, Gunter Sachs, and Brigitte Bardot.
Photo credit: St. Moritz Tourismus, “150 Jahre Kulm Hotel”, Kulm Hotel
