Interior Design Lenzerheide Switzerland
A weekend at the Maiensässhotel Guarda Val is like stepping into a Swiss fairytale.
When I was a little girl I had two favourite books; ‘The Jungle Book‘ and the ‘Schellen-Ursli‘ (A bell for Ursli). The latter is one of Switzerland’s most famous children books (after ‘Heidi’). It tells the story of a little boy in the Lower Engadine and talks about his adventures with regards to the traditional annual event of the ‘Chalandamarz‘ in particular and the simple life in the Swiss Alps in general.
As if time had stood still..
At the Maiensässhotelhotel Guarda Val, you will experience such simplicity, but in combination with luxury – a truly delightful combination if you ask me. The charming small hotel, which is located at the Maiensäss Village Sporz (1600m), just above Lenzerheide, oozes authenticity and relaxation. This Swiss mountain retreat is the ultimate getaway and at under 2 hours from Zurich, a true hidden gem!
Grand, yet cozy bedroom design with this rustic four-poster bed and fireplace.
For those unfamiliar with the term ‘Maiensäss‘, a Maiensäss is a small alpine settlement, consisting of basic huts and stable barns. These alpine pastures are typical in the region of Graubünden and usually located at around 1500 m above sea level. In the old days they were used as a mid-station habitat for the mountain farmers attending to their cattle, before bringing the herd down into the village for winter.
Lovely details create a welcoming ambiance…
If you like rustic interiors, you will be in heaven at the Guarda Val! The village consists of 11 buildings, some of which are up to 300 years old, housing 50 rooms and suites aka ‘Stube’ (living rooms), a reception, two restaurants, meeting rooms and a spa.
After a very warm welcome, where we were given lots of information and tips on how to make the best out of our stay, we were escorted to our ‘Stube’ in the building Simonet.
From cozy to luxurious, but always rustic with lots of attention to details.
Given the architecture of the individual huts and buildings at the Guarda Val, each room and each Stube is somewhat different in style. They range from smaller double rooms to entire chalets offering you every imaginable luxury (at the corresponding price tag), including a large jacuzzi tub, a private sauna and a home cinema.
Our ‘Stube’ had everything we could have asked for. Spread across the ground floor of one of the authentic old buildings, it featured original floor boards as well as the original small wooden windows, low ceilings with wooden beams and breathtaking views from the balcony.
The balcony was my favourite spot first thing in the morning with a cup of tea in hand…
The interior design is rustic contemporary. Natural materials, such as wood, wool, jute, wrought iron, stone and linen create a cozy atmosphere. The bedroom featured a lovely rustic wooden bed with linen bedding, simple wooden stools as bedside tables, wrought iron wall lamps with lampshades made of jute and an iconic ‘Bündner’ chair with a heart carved into its backrest. The overall design is simplistic, but with great attention to detail and a high level of comfort.
Our living room came equipped with a blue velvet sofa bed and various pieces of rustic wooden furniture enhance that feeling of cosiness. The bathroom design was plain and modern with a touch of alpine chic. My handsome companion (my godson Gabriele) and I were both smitten by our little abode and although we could have spent hours in our cozy mountain hut, the mountains were calling us.
Enjoying the fresh air, the views and quality time, whilst burning some calories.. (We had great quality bikes from www.pesko.ch)
With the Rothorn (2865m) to one side, the Piz Scalottas (2323m) to the other and countless trails, peaks and lakes nearby, it’s easy to stay active. We decided to explore parts of the region by foot and other parts by mountain bike.
On the first day we took an easy walk around the lake ‘Heidsee‘ and were very impressed with the huge amount of leisure activities on offer. In the morning of day 2, we found out why mountain biking is considered an extreme sport…
The hot pot – the luxury of simplicity…
In the afternoon, we somewhat naively, decided to hike up to the Rothorn, or as we call it ‘the mountain that grows’, because regardless whom we asked along the way, the peak always seemed to be another 2 hours hike ahead of us. Needless to say, it was an adventurous day, but one we wouldn’t have wanted to miss.
After hiking some 9.6 km and climbing 961 m in altitude, the thought of a hot tub and sauna never sounded better. In fact, that thought became my driving force on those last few hundred metres to the peak (not to mention the pressing desire to catch the last cable car down the mountain…).
Back to basics – these ultra comfortable hay beds are designed for napping (as long as you don’t suffer from hay fever I suppose…)
Minutes after we got back to the hotel, I was in my bathrobe walking through the village, feeling slightly awkward until I spotted another lady doing the same. We looked at each other in relief and both burst into laughter.
The spa at the Guarda Val is not your typical hotel spa, yet I’d consider it one of the best hotel spas in Switzerland. The unique spa design features a beautiful two-level relaxation area, which includes a couple of haybeds that I can highly recommend, a separate blockhouse converted into a sauna and an outdoor hot tub. The latter is a large wooden barrel and the water is heated by a wood oven. Sinking into the hot water, surrounded by stunning mountain scenery, fresh mountain air on my face and the sound of cow bells in my ears… made every single step up that peak worthwhile.
Culinary delights and heartfelt hospitality await you…
Following an action packed day and a bit of relaxation, there’s quite nothing like a delicious meal. At the Maiensässhotel Guarda Val you can choose between a hearty meal in a traditional alpine setting at the Restaurant Crap Naros (named after the mountain behind the hotel) or a fine dining experience at the Restaurant Guarda Val, awarded with 1 Michelin star and 16 Gault Millau. We indulged in a selection of local specialties at the Crap Naros, including some rich and tasty ‘Capuns’, without feeling the tiniest bit of guilt.
Peace and serenity…
After a restful night with the fresh mountain breeze entering the room and the soft sound of the occasional cow bell (I had no idea cows eat 24/7!), we were ready for our last day. Following a sumptuous breakfast, we headed up to the Piz Scalottas (this time we took the chairlift…) to enjoy the mesmerising panorama. Admittedly, we couldn’t help but stare at our monstrous hike from the day before across the valley in awe.
Getting completely soaked by a torrential downpour on our hike down, was excuse enough to head to the spa one last time, before leaving behind the comforts of a ‘simple, but luxurious life’… I can confidently say that the Maiensässhotel Guarda Val is one of the best hotels in Switzerland to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life!
Happy stylish discoveries,
Simone xx
P.S. I’ve selected the Maiensäss Guarda Val as one of the best hotels in Switzerland. Find out more about the others that made it onto the list of my favourite hotels in The 7 Best Hotels in Switzerland.
Useful links:
www.guardaval.ch
www.arosalenzerheide.swiss
www.pesko.ch
Photography:
Simone Aïda Baur and courtesy of Guarda Val
Note: This blog post was created in collaboration with the Maiensässhotel Guarda Val, the Arosa-Lenzerheide Tourism Office and Pesko Lenzerheide – your one stop shop for sports, fashion and rental gear (press trip).
