TRAVEL FEATURE: ST. MORTIZ SWITZERLAND – Golf News

Until the mid-19th century, St Moritz was a quiet agricultural village with few hotels, known primarily for its mild summers. Travellers ventured to the mountains only during the warmer months, believing the winters to be too cold and treacherous. As a result, the local hotels would close from September until June.

However, everything changed in 1864 when Johannes Badrutt, the owner of the Kulm Hotel, made a pivotal bet with a group of English summer guests.

As autumn approached and his visitors were preparing to leave, Badrutt confidently told them that St Moritz’s winters were far more enjoyable than they could imagine – arguably even more pleasant than the foggy, damp winters of London. He invited them to stay for the entire winter, promising to cover their expenses and even pay their travel costs home if they didn’t agree.

Intrigued, four guests accepted the challenge and stayed the winter. To their surprise, they found themselves charmed by the sunny, crisp conditions and stunning snowy landscapes.

Their enthusiasm not only kept them returning winter after winter, but it also inspired others to visit. Thus, St. Moritz evolved into one of the world’s first premier winter resorts, a reputation that would only grow over time.

Long before St Moritz gained fame as a winter sports haven, it was revered as a vital health retreat. Archaeological evidence, now displayed at the local Engadine Museum, reveals that as far back as the Bronze Age – more than 3,000 years ago – people travelled to St Moritz to drink
from and bathe in its mineral-rich springs.

Located across the lake from the village, these springs are among Europe’s richest in carbonic acid. When absorbed through the skin during bathing, the carbonic acid stimulates circulation and revitalizes the body.

The appeal of these therapeutic waters led to a surge in visitors once the first guesthouse was built beside the spring in 1832. By 1859, St Moritz could accommodate 450 guests, solidifying its status as a prominent health destination.

Yet, following World War I, the town’s focus began to shift as skiing and other winter sports became the primary draw, relegating its health spas to a secondary role.

St Moritz’s fame as a winter sports destination was cemented when it hosted the Winter Olympics in 1928 and 1948, along with numerous world championships. Many iconic winter sports found their footing here, including the

legendary Cresta Run, the world’s first man-made sledding course, constructed in 1884. St. Moritz also became home to unique sporting events like skijoring, where horses pull skiers across snow, and the world’s first bob run on natural ice.

From a modest village to a world-renowned destination, St Moritz’s transformation owes much to its rich history, natural beauty, and, of course, one historic bet that changed everything.