Gstaad Palace Through the Ages

1913

Grand opening in winter

On 8 December 1913, the Palace Hotel opens its doors under the management of Albert Steudler and Hans Pünter. It has 250 beds in 165 rooms, of which 70 are equipped with their own bathroom. With a further 20 shared bathrooms, central heating and an in-house telegrapher, the hotel offers highest standards of convenience.

1915

No coal

The visitor numbers drop during World War I. At the same time, the cost of coal for heating rises so sharply that the annual accounts remain in the red throughout the war years. To attract additional visitors, a tennis tournament is held in the summer of 1915. The tournament goes on to become today's Swiss Open Gstaad.

1923

Back in the black

An increase in the share capital in 1921 re-balances the budget of the Palace-AG and in 1923 the annual accounts show a profit again for the first time.

1928

La Piscine is built

An open-air pool (today's «PISCINE») and Gstaad's first golf course are implemented as joint projects between Gstaad’s hoteliers and the tourist association. Both open to the public in 1928. The driving force is Wilhelm Michel, who is president of the tourist association from 1925–31.

1936

Loss despite increase in visitor numbers

To cover losses, the share capital of Palace-AG is reduced in 1936, but the situation only improves after the Swiss franc is devalued in September of that year. The effect is immediate – the guests come flocking back.

1939/40

World War II – including gold bunker

The number of overnight stays drops to half during World War II. Due to the threat of invasion, the Union Bank of Switzerland has a huge strong room constructed under the Palace terrace in 1939/40. In the event that branches closer to the border have to be surrendered, the bank's management will set up base in the Palace. Important papers and gold are transferred to the strong room. Today, the facility is home to La Fromagerie.

1947

Acquisition by Scherz family

For age-related reasons, long-standing president of the board of directors Joseph Diémand (1876–1952) sells his 45-percent share in the Palace-AG to the infamous speculator Kurt von Jahn, former owner of Schlosshotel Hertenstein in Weggis. In Gstaad there are fears the flagship hotel might close. Village doctor Fritz Kaufmann (1892–1958) supports Ernst Scherz in raising the necessary capital to buy the shares back. Over the following years, Scherz pays off all the investors in order to acquire the shares in full.

1957

Menuhin Festival première

On 4 August 1957, the opening event of the Menuhin Festival takes place in the Mauritius Church in Saanen. This re-establishes the tradition of the summer concert series that was held at the Palace from 1942 to 1947 but was discontinued for financial reasons.

1968

The second generation takes the helm

Ernst Andrea Scherz starts working at the Palace in 1968 and replaces his father as director in 1969 – together with his first wife Shiwa.

1971

"GreenGo" becomes an evergreen

The GreenGo nightclub opens on 22 January 1971. Despite a number of gentle renovations, the interior design by Teo Jakob has remained the same to this day.

1975

Iconic restaurant "La Fromagerie"

The former World War II bunker is converted. The legendary bowling alley is dismantled to make room for La Fromagerie, which opens at the start of the winter season 1975/76. On 12 September 1975, "The Return of the Pink Panther" celebrates its première in Gstaad. Starring Peter Sellers, the film was partially shot at the Palace.

1979/80

Résidence is completed

All 21 apartments of the Résidence are ready in time for the winter season 1979/80. A ten-year planning phase thus comes to an end. The first project, launched in 1969, had to be shelved in 1972, due to urgent Federal Government resolutions on the economic slowdown.

1990/91

From Chez Maxim’s to Salle Baccarat

Improvement works draw to a close in 1990 with a re-designed driveway and extension of the underground car park. The ballroom Chez Maxim’s is renovated and renamed Salle Baccarat. Resplendent with new crystal chandeliers, it is ready for the winter season 1991/92.

2001

Andrea Scherz takes charge

Andrea Scherz becomes General Manager. At the same time, long-standing director Hansruedi Schaerer retires after 43 years of service. In December 2000, our spectacular Penthouse Suite takes shape, followed by the Tower Suites a year later. Thierry Scherz is co-founder of the annual Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad, which have enriched the winter seasons with concerts ever since.

2008

District heating project

The Gstaad Palace is connected to the Saanen-Gstaad district heating network. As the biggest consumer, we are a key patron of this project. The hotel and four surrounding buildings have been heated with renewable energy from local wood ever since. In addition, the entire building is fitted with LED lighting.

2013

100-year anniversary

In a project instigated by Andrea Scherz, Gstaad schoolchildren plant new trees in a woodland on the Oberbort that was destroyed by cyclone Lothar in 1999. The reforestation is financed by the Gstaad Palace as part of its 100-year anniversary celebrations. To mark the anniversary, the Palace also publishes the comprehensive book "100 Years Gstaad Palace".

2016

New culinary director

On 1 October, Franz W. Faeh takes over the running of our hotel kitchen, marking the beginning of a new culinary chapter.

2018

90 rooms and suites

At the Gstaad Palace, we renovate our rooms on average every 10 to 12 years. In recent times, we have also combined an increasing number of rooms. This means we now have 90 rooms and suites which skilfully combine contemporary glamour with alpine cosiness.

2021

«PISCINE» in renewed splendour

Our outdoor pool is the centre piece of the Palace during summer. Guests and locals have been getting together by the poolside since 1928. So, high time to inject some renewed glamour into «PISCINE» " – a touch of Côte d’Azur with an informal food concept comes to Gstaad.

2022

Indoor pool refurbishment

Our indoor pool is rejuvenated once more. High-grade materials lend a timelessly elegant look and the pool now also has its own bar – acting as a bridge between the iconic GreenGo club and the wellness oasis.