Swiss Lebanese hotelier Sami Lamaa has breathed new life into an abandoned cable car station atop the snow-laden slopes of Crans-Montana. With the help of Lausanne-based architects Actescollectifs, the austere concrete and stone structure has been transformed into hotel and restaurant, Chetzeron. The cavernous mouth of the station has been closed off with glass and panelled with oak, to form an airy lounge area with breathtaking views. 16 rooms and suites, appointed with luxurious bespoke furnishings, stand in elegant contrast to the rugged Alpine landscape beyond their windows. An eponymous restaurant serves up a refined take on local dishes, made from seasonal ingredients and paired with Valaisian wines. The true scene-stealers are the expansive terrace areas, overlooking the Rhone valley; fitted out with picnic tables, loungers and sheepskins and even a pool, they are the perfect spot to laze away a sunny day. At 2112m above sea level, Chetzeron can only be reached on foot, by snowmobile or on skis, but its many attractions are bound to keep guests flowing in.
INFORMATION
Photography: Thomas Jantscher
ADDRESS
3963 Crans Montana
Switzerland
-
Van Cleef & Arpels light up London with the Dance Reflections festivalVan Cleef & Arpels are celebrating their ties with the world of choreography with the second edition of the Dance Reflections festival across London
-
Pretty on the inside: the BMW X3 M50 is a characterful but confrontational SUVThe flagship of the fourth generation X3 range, the M50 xDrive model showcases BMW’s skills at making SUVs that are delightful to drive
-
A contemporary retreat hiding in plain sight in SydneyThis contemporary retreat is set behind an unassuming neo-Georgian façade in the heart of Sydney’s Woollahra Village; a serene home designed by Australian practice Tobias Partners
-
A minimalist, off-grid Swiss cabin redefines the ski-in, ski-out experiencePerched above a millennia-old glacier, Cabane Tortin is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for athletic adventure-seekers – expect drama at 3,000m
-
Tour St Moritz hotel Badrutt’s Palace’s plush new wing with architect Antonio Citterio‘You have to feel the mountains,’ says Antonio Citterio as he walks us through the new Serlas Wing, his contemporary take on Alpine vernacular at a hotel he knows well
-
2025 getaways: where Wallpaper* editors will be travelling to this yearFrom the Japanese art islands of Naoshima and Teshima to the Malaysian tropical paradise of Langkawi, here’s where Wallpaper* editors plan to travel to in 2025
-
The cosiest alpine retreats to book in EuropeBrowse the Wallpaper* edit of European alpine retreats where to fully embrace the ski season
-
The world’s most enticing new hotel openingsExplore the best new hotels in the world, from the revival of a grande dame in Madrid to the restoration of a gothic beauty in Prague
-
The don’t-miss Swiss art museums for your next cultural flitMap these 11 Swiss art museums, worthy pitstops for the culturally curious, from Basel to Zürich and beyond
-
Chef Anne-Sophie Pic’s restaurant in Switzerland reopens following a makeoverChef Anne-Sophie Pic’s restaurant at Beau-Rivage Palace sees a redesign by Tristan Auer, curated to match her feminine and floral cuisine
-
Five Swiss hotels for design loversInspiring stays for your next trip, these Swiss hotels will appeal to design and culture fans
