Shining movie stars, European aristocrats, diplomats and Olympic winter sports champions have passed through the gates of Badrutt’s Palace.

It is certainly one of the most iconic and historic hotels along the Alps. Its imposing appearance, reminiscent of a neo-Gothic castle, the towers, the large balconies and its impressive view of the sparkling blue-green lake of St. Moritz overwhelm you from the first moment you find yourself in the famous Swiss resort. We are talking about Badrutt’s Palace, which welcomed visitors for the first time in 1896 and has been operating continuously under the management of the Badrutt family since then.

Its glorious history and fame for many begins in the 1920s, when St. Moritz also hosted the Winter Olympics (1928-1929). The entire crowd of spectators who arrive and the athletes after the end of the games find the opportunity to relax in the cozy spaces of Badrutt’s. At the same time, the British director Alfred Hitchcock visits the hotel for his honeymoon and is fascinated. From then on, he would visit it almost every year. In fact, according to information, the image of the hotel from afar on the snowy landscape would inspire him to the classic thriller “The Birds” (1963).

After a long interruption and decline due to World War II in Europe, St. Moritz begins to make up for lost time by organizing the 1948 Winter Olympics again. That was also the point in time when Badrutt’s Palace attracts the attention of the international jet set. In the following decades, the hotel is bustling with life and a demanding, wealthy clientele. The German billionaire and unforgettable playboy Gunter Sachs started it all. In 1967, he rented his hotel penthouse in a tower – where else? – and decorated it with a rare art collection, including works by Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali and Roy Lichtenstein. In the evenings, he organized unforgettable parties. He was joined by his wife Brigitte Bardot and guests included the Kennedys, Agnelli and Coco Chanel.

These wild nights would continue in the following decades, with new famous – and not-so-famous – personalities and aristocrats constantly arriving, seeing it as an opportunity to relax in style and enjoy classic winter sports. The high-standard service and the sense of luxury that spreads throughout the hotel interior, from the main entrance and lounge to the rooms and indoor pool, are just some of the elements that make Badrutt’s a timeless winter destination.