Viewed through a dark, out-of-focus window frame, the landscape is reduced to a living painting. The contrast between the shadowy interior and the sunlit valley—dotted with tiny chalets and vast vertical cliffs—highlights a design philosophy centered on spatial perspective, turning the natural world into the hotel’s most significant decorative element.

Grand Hotel Belvedere: A Belle Époque Landmark in Wengen Reopens as a Contemporary Alpine Retreat

Words by Eric David

Wengen, Switzerland

Reached by a single-cog railway that has steadily climbed from the valley floor ever since 1898, the Alpine village of Wengen embodies the romantic ideal of a Swiss retreat. Low-key and quietly charming, the village is set within a landscape of rare drama, offering visitors car-free streets and narrow footpaths, lined with timber chalets and modest gardens, high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, a cinematic landscape of sheer cliffs, meadows, and waterfalls. With expansive open views that stretch towards the Jungfrau massif beyond, this destination’s  interplay of intimacy and scale has long captured the attention and provided inspiration for artists and travellers alike: Goethe responded to the power of the valley’s waterfalls in verse, J. M. W. Turner was drawn to its shifting light and sense of immensity, while J. R. R. Tolkien, who visited in 1911, absorbed impressions that later resurfaced in his imagined landscapes.

It came as no surprise when French hospitality group Beaumier chose Wengen for its first Swiss property. The newly reopened Grand Hotel Belvedere occupies two landmark hotels dating back to the village’s early-20th-century heyday, thoughtfully reimagined by Geneva-based practices Clavien & Associates and Complete Works, with a newly built brutalist spa set discreetly between them. Artfully balancing the Heimatstil and Art Nouveau heritage of the original buildings with a contemporary sensibility, Wengen’s first five-star hotel feels grounded, deliberate, and distinctly of its place.

This perspective highlights the hotel’s iconic Belle Époque silhouette, characterized by deep-red wooden gables and turquoise shutters. Nestled among towering pines, the structure’s warm palette and intricate woodwork evoke a sense of nostalgic luxury, bridging the gap between historical grandeur and the rugged authenticity of the surrounding mountain landscape.

Photography by Benoit Linero.

A vibrant sun-drenched terrace features a row of mustard-yellow umbrellas, contrasting with the dramatic, snow-capped peaks of the Swiss Alps. In the foreground, a building corner displays a bold traditional-maximalist chevron pattern in ochre and burgundy, while lush greenery and bright red geraniums ground the airy, panoramic composition.

Photography by Benoit Linero.

A breathtaking wide-angle view from a high vantage point captures the hotel’s slate roofs nestled within the dramatic Lauterbrunnen Valley. Ethereal clouds drift through jagged, forest-clad limestone cliffs, creating an immersive biophilic atmosphere. The composition emphasizes the scale of the landscape, where human architecture feels like a soulful extension of the organic terrain.

Photography by Benoit Linero.

The two buildings that now form the Grand Hotel Belvedere reflect Wengen’s emergence as a Belle Époque centre for skiing and alpine tourism at the turn of the 20th century. The former Wengener Hof dates back to 1898, while the original Grand Hotel Belvedere, completed in 1912, was once a beacon of Alpine glamour, its Heimatstil architecture and Art Nouveau interiors conceived to impress an international clientele. Rather than approaching the project as either nostalgic restoration or radical overhaul, longtime friends Arnaud Christin of Complete Works and Valéry Clavien of Clavien & Associés treated the property with a sense of continuity, preserving decorative fragments, construction logic, and material honesty while enabling the hotel to comfortably function as a contemporary five-star destination in its own right.

  • A modern outdoor pool sits in the foreground, its cool turquoise water framed by minimalist concrete edges. Beyond a soft-focus evergreen, the hotel's rear facade rises in a series of rhythmic dormer windows. The scene captures a Zen-like tranquility, where the stillness of the water reflects the monumental presence of the distant, rocky massif.

    Photography by Benoit Linero.

  • The hotel's facade showcases a refined neo-vernacular aesthetic, blending traditional Alpine timber balconies with an elegant row of pale-green shutters. The composition emphasizes rhythmic symmetry, where arched ground-floor windows meet a textured cream exterior, all set against a backdrop of dense evergreen forests under a crisp, high-altitude sky.

    Photography by Benoit Linero.

The hotel’s historic facade showcases traditional Alpine architecture with a sophisticated color twist. Intricate dark wood balconies and a prominent gabled roof are punctuated by vibrant turquoise shutters. Large arched windows on the lower level ground the structure, while the warm yellow ochre of the exterior walls radiates under a clear blue sky, reflecting a refined neo-vernacular charm.

Photography by Benoit Linero.

Vibrant crimson velvet armchairs provide a bold, maximalist counterpoint to the rich, dark-stained timber paneling of this grand lounge. A heavy, wrought-iron lantern hangs from a beamed ceiling, while an arched doorway offers a glimpse of sun-drenched terrace umbrellas and distant peaks. The space feels theatrical yet cozy, blending Belle Époque bones with modern color.

Photography by Benoit Linero.

Large, arched windows frame a cinematic view of a lone pine tree against a snow-dusted peak. The interior mood is quiet and sophisticated, with heavy drapes and a mid-century inspired floor lamp casting a warm glow. This Japandi-inflected framing creates a seamless transition between the cozy, curated interior and the wild, Alpine exterior.

Photography by Benoit Linero.

Viewed through a dark, out-of-focus window frame, the landscape is reduced to a living painting. The contrast between the shadowy interior and the sunlit valley—dotted with tiny chalets and vast vertical cliffs—highlights a design philosophy centered on spatial perspective, turning the natural world into the hotel’s most significant decorative element.

Photography by Benoit Linero.

Largely contained within the 1912 building, the hotel’s public spaces present a renewed reading of its original Heimatstil architecture. Rooted in a romantic idea of “home” and shaped by illustrations from literature and folklore, the style privileges vernacular craft, regional forms, and local materials, principles that have guided the architects throughout. Original timber beams, hand-carved columns, and decorative wood panelling have been retained and restored to their lighter, natural pine hue, countering the darker, heavier aesthetic often associated with Alpine hotels, while once-concealed frescoes, including an Adam and Eve scene above the lobby fireplace, reintroduce a sense of narrative depth.

A carefully balanced mix of classic and contemporary furniture, including generously upholstered armchairs by Pinch and Thonet’s ‘209P’ chairs, sits alongside restored hand-blown glass chandeliers, handwoven rugs, and a restrained art collection curated by Marie Veidig for Saint Lazard, resulting in interiors that feel composed, tactile, and assured whilst never tripping hazardously into a realm of theatrics.

A detailed view of the lounge highlights the interplay between the brick-arched fireplace and geometric wood-paneled walls. The centerpiece is the decorative chimney breast featuring a traditional art motif, flanked by a built-in red textile bench. The composition celebrates craftsmanship and the "art of living beautifully" through tactile materials and historical references.

Photography by Benoit Linero.

This soulful lounge area centers on a large, tapered fireplace adorned with intricate, folk-inspired scrollwork and a circular mural. Soft, sage-green armchairs are arranged for conversation on a textured rug, surrounded by honey-toned wood paneling and exposed ceiling beams. The lighting is intimate and golden, evoking a refined, rustic-bohemian warmth.

Photography by Lucas Dutertry.

  • A poetic, biophilic moment captures the contrast between a cozy interior and a heavy snowfall visible through a large pane. Deep orange-red cushions on linear wooden armchairs echo the warmth of a glowing floor lamp, while the dense, snow-laden evergreen branches outside create a sense of seclusion and serenity within the high-altitude landscape.

    Photography by Anthony Louet.

  • Reflected in a large wall mirror, this hotel bar exudes vintage-retro glamour with a tufted cognac leather banquette and small, circular marble-topped tables. Polished chrome sconces and a glowing, tiered chandelier enhance the chiaroscuro effect of the space. The composition emphasizes depth and the refined materiality of the hotel’s social hub.

    Photography by Benoit Linero.

  • A vignette of the hotel’s lounge highlights the tactile interplay between a cognac leather tufted ottoman and a deep green textile sofa. A massive, linear stone hearth sits beneath a meticulously arranged cluster of framed vintage landscapes. The atmosphere is one of refined alpine rusticism, where organic textures and a muted, earthy color palette converge.

    Photography by Benoit Linero.

  • A warm, expansive lounge embodies neo-vernacular comfort, anchored by a coffered timber ceiling and a minimalist stone fireplace. Low-slung, forest-green upholstered sofas and a cognac leather tufted ottoman create an inviting social core. A curated gallery wall of alpine sketches adds a personal, soulful touch to the textured, cream-colored walls and soft amber lighting.

    Photography by Benoit Linero.

  • An airy, high-ceilinged dining room features a rhythmic arrangement of tables set against a muted taupe wainscoting and moss-green velvet banquettes. A crystal-tier chandelier casts a warm glow, while a sequence of framed line drawings adds a gallery-like feel. The Scandinavian-influenced furniture and pale herringbone floors create a serene, sophisticated atmosphere.

    Photography by Benoit Linero.

A symmetrical view of a dining alcove showcases a magnificent arched mural in golden-brown tones, featuring Art Nouveau-inspired botanical patterns. Below the arch, a round dining table is perfectly centered, flanked by warm timber chairs. The interplay of architectural geometry and decorative painting creates a sense of immersion and historical depth.

Photography by Benoit Linero.

A still-life composition of rustic culinary tools features a large hammered copper bowl and smaller copper saucepans on a white linen surface. A silver pedestal dish holds a rich chocolate mousse topped with crushed nuts and cream. The warm metallic tones and traditional materials evoke a sense of timeless craftsmanship and alpine heritage.

Photography by Benoit Linero.

This refined, locally rooted sensibility carries through to the hotel’s culinary offering. At Brasserie Belvedere, Chef Will Gordon approaches Alpine cuisine with curiosity and restraint. His menu moves fluidly between Bern, Bolzano, and the French Savoie, where schnitzel sits comfortably alongside local caviar, homemade pastas, and a precisely executed beef pithivier. Simplicity guides the kitchen, reinforced by the fact that around 80 per cent of ingredients are sourced from within 100 kilometres of the hotel.

The Sonnenbad Lounge & Terrace offers a more relaxed counterpoint, serving wood-fired pizzas, raclette, and fondue beneath yellow parasols facing the peaks. Gordon’s philosophy also extends beyond the kitchen, offering guests the opportunity to go on foraging walks in the surrounding forests in search of porcini and other seasonal finds.

A symmetrical view of a dining alcove showcases a magnificent arched mural in golden-brown tones, featuring Art Nouveau-inspired botanical patterns. Below the arch, a round dining table is perfectly centered, flanked by warm timber chairs. The interplay of architectural geometry and decorative painting creates a sense of immersion and historical depth.

Photography by Anthony Louet.

An intimate dining alcove showcases a stunning Art Nouveau-inspired mural with intricate golden scrolls and floral motifs. Arched windows frame the soft mountain light, while a circular table set with crisp white linens and midcentury-style wooden chairs offers a sense of quiet luxury. The composition balances historic ornamentation with clean, contemporary geometry.

Photography by Lucas Dutertry.

A grand hallway gallery serves as an elegant dining passage, characterized by lofty arches and intricate stenciled ceiling borders. Golden glass pendants cast a warm glow over white-clothed tables and moss-green velvet chairs. The herringbone flooring and long, flowing teal drapes create a rhythmic perspective that celebrates the hotel’s historic architectural grandeur.

Photography by Lucas Dutertry.

A luminous dining transition features a large Palladian-style interior archway that leads the eye into a series of elegantly appointed salons. Slate-blue velvet curtains frame tall windows, contrasting with the warm herringbone wood floors. The mood is sophisticated and airy, defined by the rhythmic repetition of architectural moldings and golden, crystal-tier pendant lighting.

Photography by Lucas Dutertry.

A sun-drenched sunroom features a row of mid-century modern lounge chairs in burnt orange, arranged along a wall of tall, arched windows. Brass pendant lanterns hang from the ceiling, casting a warm glow that complements the natural light. The long perspective and rhythmic placement of furniture create an elegant, tranquil space for contemplation.

Photography by Lucas Dutertry.

This serene bedroom captures the Zen-like quality of the hotel’s private quarters. Bright sunlight streams onto a green carpeted floor, highlighting a low-slung wooden bench and a textured green armchair. The integration of natural materials—from the knotty pine wardrobes to the wool textiles—creates a tactile, grounded sanctuary overlooking the mountains.

Photography by Lucas Dutertry.

In the hotel’s’ 90 rooms, the design is deliberately restrained, allowing the dramatic setting to take precedence. Finishes are kept simple and tactile: lime-washed walls, pine panelling, and thick wool throws echo the tones and textures of the surrounding landscape, while bespoke furniture designed by Arnaud Christin reinforces a sense of functional simplicity. Large windows and balconies also play a defining role, opening out onto expansive views of the surrounding mountains and the Jungfrau massif beyond.

A soulful guest room corner blends Alpine warmth with mid-century modern sensibilities. A low-slung, timber-framed armchair upholstered in moss-green bouclé is paired with a checkered wool pillow. Beside it, a blue-grey stone pedestal table holds a glass carafe, illuminated by soft natural light filtering through heavy cream drapes. The atmosphere is one of quiet, curated comfort.

Photography by Lucas Dutertry.

A guest room embodies alpine minimalism, featuring a large bed dressed in a bold forest-green and cream plaid wool throw. Floor-to-ceiling pine wood paneling adds warmth and texture, while minimalist wooden bedside lamps provide soft, focused light. The palette of mossy greens and natural timber reflects a biophilic design philosophy.

Photography by Lucas Dutertry.

Viewed through a glass door, a guest enjoys a quiet moment on a private balcony with an ornate white wrought-iron railing. Beyond, the dramatic, snow-capped Swiss Alps and deep valley vistas create a breathtaking backdrop. The composition emphasizes the spatial relationship between the intimate interior and the expansive, majestic mountain landscape.

Photography by Lucas Dutertry.

A guest relaxes in a minimalist indoor pool, where the cool turquoise water meets the austere beauty of board-marked concrete. A small, circular porthole window and a larger glass pane invite natural light and forest views, creating a contemplative, monastic atmosphere that prioritizes silence, texture, and the elemental relationship between light and water.

Photography by Anthony Louet.

Viewed from the water’s edge, a guest gazes out from a pool toward the hotel’s traditional architecture and the towering, sun-drenched peaks beyond. The composition emphasizes the contrast between the crisp, white minimalist pool rim and the classic Swiss chalet-style balconies, capturing a moment of immersive, high-altitude tranquility.

Photography by Anthony Louet.

Set between the two historic buildings, the spa is the project’s most assertive contemporary gesture. Designed by Clavien & Associés, the low-slung brutalist structure is built into the landscape, its concrete volumes softened by a planted roof and views over gardens and forests. Inside, the atmosphere is meditative and deliberately sparse. An indoor-outdoor pool inspired by Japanese bathing culture forms the heart of the space, complemented by a sauna, hammam, and four treatment rooms. Treatments by Susanne Kaufmann, formulated with Alpine botanicals, reinforce the sense of communion with the surrounding terrain, making the spa feel less like an escape from nature than a deepening of it.

  • A close-up of a wellness treatment focuses on a curated selection of Susanne Kaufmann apothecary jars on a minimalist steel cart. The warm, amber-hued oils and clean white packaging reflect a commitment to authenticity and sensory luxury, set within an atmosphere of soft, diffused light that emphasizes a holistic approach to well-being.

    Photography by Anthony Louet.

  • A serene spa reception area showcases a masterful mix of textures: a heavy, raw concrete counter topped with light-toned wood, set against warm timber cabinetry. Soft, integrated task lighting highlights artisanal pottery and botanical accents, while a blurred figure adds a sense of hushed, intentional movement to this Zen-like, tactile environment.

    Photography by Anthony Louet.

This brutalist-inspired indoor pool area features raw, board-marked concrete walls and ceilings that create a cave-like sanctuary. The minimalist geometry is softened by the turquoise glow of the water and horizontal ribbon windows that frame a lush, biophilic view of the surrounding forest, creating a seamless connection between the subterranean interior and nature.

Photography by Benoit Linero.

An outdoor infinity pool is framed by sharp, cast-concrete architectural lines that mirror the mountainous horizon. The cool, grey texture of the concrete contrasts with the vibrant green of the pine-covered slopes and the brilliant blue sky, epitomizing a neo-vernacular design approach that respects the landscape through bold, geometric simplicity.

Photography by Benoit Linero.

A winter portrait of the valley floor shows the hotel as a warm, red-accented anchor in a landscape of white and shadow. The low winter sun illuminates the frosted peaks and the mist rising from the valley floor, reflecting a Scandinavian-inspired appreciation for light, seasonal change, and the quiet beauty of a remote mountain destination.

Photography by Lucas Dutertry.

A sprawling biophilic landscape features a dark evergreen forest in the foreground, giving way to monumental limestone cliffs partially obscured by swirling mist. The monochromatic grey of the rock faces and the deep green of the pines create a somber, cinematic atmosphere that underscores the hotel’s dramatic location within the Lauterbrunnen Valley.

Photography © Grand Hotel Belvedere.

The hotel's foraging excursions form part of a wider programme of experiences that position the Grand Hotel Belvedere as a genuinely year-round destination, a shrewd move considering that the ski season seems to be growing shorter year after year. Winter of course still allows access to the legendary slopes of Grindelwald, including the Lauberhorn descent, the longest downhill courses in the Alpine Ski World Cup, alongside snowshoeing through nearby forests. In the warmer months, hiking, horseback riding, paragliding, and kayaking on the turquoise waters of Lake Brienz com to the fore. Closer to home, the hotel offers quieter rituals such as early-morning outdoor yoga sessions on the lawn, pasta-making workshops, and mixology classes.

  • The hotel's secondary facade rises through a dense snowstorm, its balconies and gables coated in white. A small blue shuttle bus navigates the snow-covered path in the foreground, emphasizing the destination’s remote, immersive atmosphere. The composition highlights the contrast between the building's warm architectural bones and the raw, wintry elements.

    Photography by Anthony Louet.

  • Framed by a dark window interior, a view of Wengen unfolds across a snowy slope. Traditional timber chalets with heavy snow-laden roofs are scattered along the hillside, partially veiled by low-hanging clouds. This perspective creates a quiet, observational mood, celebrating the traditional Alpine vernacular and the region’s serene, vertical geography.

    Photography by Anthony Louet.

  • A deep-blue vintage transport van branded with "Grand Hotel Belvedere" stands amidst a heavy Alpine snowfall. The scene captures a moment of authentic mountain service, with a figure in a dark parka clearing snow from the vehicle's roof against a soft, monochromatic backdrop of frosted pines and white-out conditions.

    Photography by Anthony Louet.

A close-up of the hotel’s upper stories through snow-laden branches reveals the rhythmic pattern of turquoise shutters and dark timber balconies. The soft, diffused light of the storm flattens the depth, turning the neo-vernacular architecture into a graphic study of texture and color against a pale, winter sky.

Photography by Anthony Louet.

At the Grand Hotel Belvedere, heritage is not staged but rather inhabited. By allowing architecture, landscape, and contemporary hospitality to speak in measured harmony, the hotel offers a model of Alpine luxury that feels both rooted and quietly forward-looking, providing those lucky enough to visit an invitation to slow down, look outward, and stay awhile.

A sweeping architectural vista captures the hotel’s traditional gable roofs and creamy facades nestled against the dramatic, snow-capped Jungfrau massif. In the foreground, the clean, linear edge of a modern pool structure introduces a contemporary contrast, while dense evergreen forests ground the scene in the authentic, rugged beauty of the Swiss Alps.

Photography by Benoit Linero.

Grand Hotel Belvedere: A Belle Époque Landmark in Wengen Reopens as a Contemporary Alpine Retreat