History
The history of the Schweizerhof begins in 1869, when Walter Candrian of Sagogn, the great-grandfather of the current host family, acquired at auction the Pension Segnes following the death of its earlier owner, a widow who had died childless. His younger brother Mathias returned from Stettin, where he had worked as a confectioner, and took over operations at the inn.
read more
The family ran the inn until it was sold in 1901. Their daughter Mengia Candrian then built the new Schweizerhof with her husband Daniel Schmidt. The Historicist building influenced by Art Nouveau with its little corner turrets and large veranda was one of the first large hotels in Flims Waldhaus. Shortly after the hotel's opening, electric lights and a phone line were installed. Before World War I, tourism flourished in Flims, even Albert Einstein and Marie Curie came to stay at the Schweizerhof. In 1907/08, the two villas Helvetia and Gentiana were built as annexes. The younger son of the next generation, Arthur Schmidt, was a hotelier, ski instructor, musician, hunter and entertainer, composer of the still-popular 'Lake Cauma' and 'Arosa' songs. Another famous family member was film director Daniel Schmid, who with Zwischensaison basically documented his own life both on the hotel's stage and behind the scenes. In 1972, an indoor pool was added, a very progressive addition for a hotel at the time. Five years later, the hotel got its new dusky-pink coat, while in the 1980s the guest rooms were renovated. The various public rooms which are largely in original condition, having been skillfully restored by the owners, are particularly valuable. Admirably committed to conservation, the family have returned a number of floors and walls to their original condition. In 1998, Icomos Switzerland gave the Schweizerhof a special award for the owner family's passionate dedication to receiving their guests in their long-established hotel in the style and with the care worthy of the Belle Époque. The hotel has been a member of Swiss Historic Hotels since 2010.
