The best city hikes and walks around Parc Ela

St. Moritz Station (RhB) since 1904 At approximately 400 km, the meter-gauge Rhaetian Railway (RhB), founded in 1889, is the longest mountain railway in Switzerland. St. Moritz Station serves the resort town of St. Moritz in the Upper Engadine and is located at 1,775 m above sea level. Opening of the Thusis – St. Moritz line: 1904 Opening of the St. Moritz – Tirano line (Bernina Railway): 1910 First Glacier Express journey on the St. Moritz – Zermatt line: 1930 Text / Source: Rhaetian Railway Ltd., Bahnhofstrasse 25, Chur https://www.rhb.ch/de/portrait/geschichte/

St. Moritz Station (RhB) A place where arrival becomes an experience St. Moritz Station is the gateway to the Engadine Valley and the Swiss Alps. Located in the heart of the village, it connects visitors to scenic train routes, including the famous Bernina and Glacier Express trains. With its charming architecture and convenient location, the station is not only a transportation hub but also an ideal starting point for discovering the beauty, culture, and winter sports opportunities of St. Moritz. A particular highlight of the station is the artwork "W E L C O M E" by Barbara Stauffacher Solomon (1928, USA), installed in 2022. Known for her iconic supergraphics, the artwork blends art and architecture, inviting visitors to experience it from different perspectives. Text / Source: St. Moritz Tourism AG, Via Maistra 12, St. Moritz https://www.stmoritz.com/directory/st-moritz-insider/wenig-zeit-st-moritz-in-zwei-stunden-1

Lake St. Moritz “Lej da San Murezzan”, St. Moritz Lake St. Moritz, or “Lej da San Murezzan” in Romansh, lies entirely within the municipality of St. Moritz in the canton of Graubünden. This deep blue mountain lake sits at an altitude of 1,768 meters above sea level, with the St. Moritz train station located right at its northern end. The Inn River flows through this northernmost and last of the four large Upper Engadine lakes (along with Lake Sils, Lake Silvaplana, and Lake Champfèr). The lake is approximately 1.6 kilometers long and 600 meters wide, with a maximum depth of 44 meters. The thermal springs of St. Moritz Bad are located in the southwest of Lake St. Moritz. While the fashionable Engadine village occupies the entire northern shore of the mountain lake, the southern shore remains virtually undeveloped. The Ova da Staz stream flows along the eastern shore. Stazersee flows into the lake from this direction. Text / Source: schweizersee.ch https://www.schweizersee.ch/st-moritzersee/

CONFISERIE HANSELMANN, A Sweet Paradise in St. Moritz Café Hanselmann is world-renowned for its exquisite cakes, chocolates, and pastries. The beautiful sgraffito facade dates back to 1912, while inside, guests are greeted by an elegant, nostalgic ambiance with artistic details. In addition to classic sweets, Hanselmann also offers select coffee and tea specialties – a must for all lovers of culinary delights. Text / Source: St. Moritz Tourism AG, Via Maistra 12, St. Moritz https://www.stmoritz.com/directory/st-moritz-insider/wenig-zeit-st-moritz-in-zwei-stunden-1

The Leaning Tower of St. Moritz A landmark dating back to the 12th century, the Leaning Tower was originally part of St. Mauritius Church, which was demolished in 1890. The tower is 33 meters tall and leans at a 5.5-degree angle—even more than the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa (about 4 degrees less). It is located directly opposite the Kulm Hotel. The tower is not only an impressive architectural feature but also a symbol of St. Moritz's medieval heritage. Visitors can admire and photograph its distinctive tilt from various vantage points in the town center. Its lean is due to the soft ground on which it was built—and yet it has stood steadfast for centuries as one of the most photographed landmarks in the region. The Cresta Rider The life-size bronze Cresta Rider by David Wynne is a gift from the St. Moritz Tobogganing Club to the town for its 100th anniversary. It is located at the foot of the Leaning Tower, near the first streetlamp and opposite the Kulm Hotel. CONFISERIE HANSELMANN, A Sweet Paradise in St. Moritz Café Hanselmann is world-famous for its exquisite cakes, chocolates, and pastries. The beautiful sgraffito facade dates back to 1912, and inside, guests are greeted by an elegant, nostalgic ambiance with artistic details. In addition to classic sweets, Hanselmann also offers select coffee and tea specialties – a must for all lovers of culinary delights. Text / Source: St. Moritz Tourism AG, Via Maistra 12, St. Moritz https://www.stmoritz.com/directory/st-moritz-insider/wenig-zeit-st-moritz-in-zwei-stunden-1

Badrutt's Palace Hotel, St. Moritz In the mid-1880s, Caspar Badrutt purchased the Hotel Beau Rivage in St. Moritz, built in 1872. Over a four-year renovation, he transformed the small inn into the palatial Badrutt's Palace Hotel, which opened in 1896. His father, Johannes Badrutt, had already been active in the hospitality industry: as the proud owner of the Kulm Hotel in St. Moritz, he was the founder of the Badrutt hotel dynasty. For decades, prominent guests from around the world appreciated the hotel's exclusive atmosphere. Following the construction of Badrutt's Palace Hotel by the Zurich architects Alfred Chiodera (1850-1916) and Theophil Tschudi (1847-1911), the hotel underwent several expansions and renovations. In 1907, the building was raised by one full story and an attic; a little later, a three-story west wing was added, housing a dining room and tennis hall. Extensive renovations were carried out towards the end of the 20th century. Its location on the steep slope above Lake St. Moritz and its distinctive shape, with crenellations and corner turrets, give Badrutt's Palace Hotel its unmistakable, castle-like character to this day. A striking main tower with a pyramidal roof rises on the west side. The building rests on a two-story base of rustic stonework. Above this is a light-filled ground floor with public areas, restaurants, boutiques, a veranda, and a large terrace. The upper floors contain guest rooms, and the tower's apex houses a suite that was rebuilt after the tower fire of 1967. From the very beginning, the facade and interior have displayed a great diversity of design. The neo-Gothic motif of the facade, with its English pointed arches, continues inside the hotel. Intricate wooden walls and imposing Renaissance-style coffered ceilings, along with neo-Baroque ceiling paintings, characterize the public areas. Despite numerous renovations, great care has always been taken to preserve the original structure; for example, the original stamped graffiti on the facade was uncovered in 2006. Badrutt's Palace Hotel has been a member of Swiss Historic Hotels since 2006. Text / Source: Badrutt's Palace Hotel, Via Serlas 27, 7500 St. Moritz https://swiss-historic-hotels.ch/hotels/badrutts-palace-hotel

The story of St. Moritz begins in 1864 The story of St. Moritz, as we know it today, begins in 1864, when hotelier Johannes Badrutt made a bet with his guests from Great Britain. He promised that not only the summer, but also the St. Moritz winter would be so pleasant that on sunny days one could enjoy the sun on the terrace without a jacket. Should his promise prove false, the hotelier would pay for their travel and winter stay. Wrapped head to toe in furs, the group of men crossed the Julier Pass the following December. Upon arriving in St. Moritz, the sky was clear, the sun warm, and Badrutt stood before them to greet them without a jacket and with his shirtsleeves rolled up. Winter tourism was born. More: Pioneer History | St. Moritz, Switzerland (stmoritz.com) Text/Source: ENGADIN ST. MORITZ TOURISMUS AG Via Maistra 1, CH-7500 St. Moritz, www.stmoritz.com https://www.engadintourismus.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/Fakten_ueber_St._Moritz_DE.pdf

Café, Bakery & Confectionery Hanselmann, St. Moritz HANSELMANN - TRADITION SINCE 1894 HISTORY - Over 125 Years of Café Hanselmann More than 125 years of traditional café and bakery – a business that can be said with satisfaction and pride. Anyone entering the café in its prime St. Moritz location on the main street, right next to the St. Mauritius Fountain, knows exactly what we mean. A refined ambiance, cultivated over decades, is garnished with a touch of turn-of-the-century charm and complemented by a culinary offering that meets the highest standards. Text / Source: Hanselmann, via Maistra 8, St. Moritz https://www.hanselmann.ch/