Switzerland's Andermatt Comes Into Its Own As A Winter Wonderland

Through a steady infusion of investments and developments, Andermatt is finally coming into its own as a winter wonderland. And now it’s also gearing up to be the classical music hub of the Alps.

- Charmian Leong

You don’t really need to convince anyone to go to the Swiss Alps. The name sells itself. The Swiss are renowned for their timepieces and chocolate, and they’ve made consuming heroic amounts of melted cheese a source of national pride rather than a cause for coronary concern. And alpine vacationing delivers on everything you’ve seen in desktop wallpapers: sparkling snow, thrilling slopes and snuggly winter wear. The question then would be in choosing a village in which to enjoy the beauty of winter. Allow us to convince you to consider Andermatt.

Just a 90-minute drive or two-hour train ride from Zurich Airport, Andermatt already has the edge on accessibility. Its elevation of 1,447m means it won’t face insufficient snowfall in spite of our overheating planet. What’s more, features such as heated chairlifts, courtesy of Porsche, and eight-person gondolas to transport skiers up the peaks make Andermatt one of the most modern ski resorts in the world.

The only reason it has yet to be overrun by tourists is because Andermatt historically served as a military training outpost during the Cold War, and its conclusion left the village neglected and in shambles. That is, until Egyptian-Montenegrin property tycoon Samih Sawiris took notice of the valley’s potential and optimistically launched a CHF 1.8 billion (S$2.6 billion) plan for its redevelopment in 2005.

Twenty-five years on, Andermatt now has all the trappings of a luxury getaway. Five- and four-star hotels, lavish apartments, golf courses, restaurants and bars have revived the sleepy village, with more developments under way in the coming years. Sawiris could have left it at that while still being credited with building one of the most alluring ski resorts in the region, but he was adamant about turning Andermatt into a cultural destination as well.