Badrutt's Palace Hotel

Under his care and that of his descendants, generations of prominent guests came to appreciate the hotel's exclusive atmosphere. After opening in 1896, Badrutt's Palace, designed by Zurich architects Alfred Chiodera (1850-1916) and Theophil Tschudi (1847-1911), soon underwent further transformations. In 1907, one full floor and a new attic floor were added, as was, a little later, a three-story tract on the west-side with a dining room and indoor tennis court. After more alterations in the 1920s and in the decades after WW II, the entire premises were extensively renovated at the end of the 20th century. Through it all, Badrutt's Palace has kept its unmistakable ­castle-like character with its location on a steep bluff above Lake St. Moritz and the hotel's silhouette with its merlons and corner towers. A distinct main tower with a pyramid-roof rises up on the west side. The hotel sits on a two-story base with walls of unhewn stones. This is topped by a light-flooded main floor with public rooms, restaurants, boutiques, a veranda and a large terrace. Then, the floors with the guest rooms. The tower, completely rebuilt after a 1967 fire, houses a private suite. From the beginning, the façades and interior incorporated a rich variety of styles. The Gothic-Revival motif of the façades, with Tudor arches, continues in the hotel interiors. Filigree wood walls and imposing Renaissance-style wood coffered ceilings as well as Neo-Baroque ceiling paintings characterize the public rooms. Despite the many transformations, much attention has always been paid to the original structural fabric; early stamped sgraffiti on the ­façade were uncovered in 2006. Badrutt's Palace has been a member of Swiss Historic Hotels since 2006.