When I first saw a photograph of the Kurhaus Bergün, surrounded by the Swiss Alps, it reminded me of a location from a Wes Anderson movie. Tucked in the Albula Valley, this historic hotel occupied the top spot on my list of hotels I most wanted to visit in Switzerland for a number of years. Last summer, I finally got to spend a few nights there during our family vacation, and it did not disappoint.

Dining in an Art Nouveau Setting

In the mornings, the sun-filled lobby held the breakfast buffet featuring local, seasonal foods. These included fruit juices from Valposchiavo, locally-made cheese and yogurt and Bündnerfleisch, thin slices of dried beef. The buffet also had crusty loaves of fresh bread and inviting pretzels hanging from a wooden rack. Every morning, we lingered around the breakfast table, savoring our first meal of the day and planning out our hiking routes.

Yet another reason for my interest in visiting the Kurhaus Bergün, was its stunning light blue dining room. It’s the same room that appears on the cover of author Anita Brechbühl’s book, Kulinarische Zeitreisen: Genuss in historischen Hotels der Schweiz. The hotel hosts special events in this breathtaking space, its high ceiling decorated with Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) paintings.

Even if you don’t stay at the hotel, you can stop in for a slice of cake in the afternoon on the terrace in nice weather. Or, you could make a reservation for a three-course dinner at the Kurhaus Bergün’s restaurant in the evening. The hotel also hosts special dinners as part of its Table d’hôte offerings during the winter season.

An attic fire in 1949 left the future of the hotel uncertain, but it has persevered over the years, and thankfully maintained its historic character, so that future generations may experience this architectural treasure.

Albula Railway Line

The Kurhaus Bergün was developed in connection with the Albula railway line, today recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The village of Bergün, located at 1,376 meters (4,514 feet) above sea level, is also home to the Albula Railway Museum.

How to get there:

• By car: About 2 hours from Zürich.
• By train: It takes about 5 minutes to walk to the hotel from the Bergün train station. From Zürich, it takes about 2.5 hours by train.

Hotel Kurhaus Bergün, Puez 112, Postfach, CH-7482 Bergün
+41 81 407 22 22, info@kurhausberguen.ch