St. Moritz in the east of Switzerland is one of the most famous winter sports resorts in the world. High society meets here and winter sports enthusiasts of all kinds will find everything their hearts desire in St. Moritz.
St. Moritz is located in the east of Switzerland in the canton of Graubünden and is one of the most famous winter sports resorts in the entire Alpine region, if not the whole world. St. Moritz has about 5,400 inhabitants and is on our list of the top 10 sights in Switzerland.
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PICTURES: St. Moritz
Every year, around 250,000 visitors come to St. Moritz and stay there for an average of 3 days in summer and 5 days in winter. 70% of the visitors come from abroad and thus contribute to the attractive cosmopolitan ambience of St. Moritz. St. Moritz's landmark is the "Leaning Tower of St. Moritz", a remnant of the Mauritius Church, which was demolished in the 19th century.
Probably the most spectacular way to get to St. Moritz is the Bernina Expresswhich is the only Swiss railway to cross the Alps and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Remarkable: The name St. Moritz is so well known that it was registered as a trademark in 1986 and protected in about 50 countries.
The Champagne Climate of St. Moritz
Due to its location on the southern slope of the Alps, St. Moritz can share in the warm Italian climate. It is always a few degrees warmer here than would actually correspond to the altitude. On average, there are an incredible 322 days of sunshine in St. Moritz.
The term champagne climate comes not because of the champagne-drinking guests - there are plenty of them, of course - but because of the dry, sparkling and invigorating high-mountain climate.
Tip: The mild climate has a very positive influence on body and soul by stimulating breathing, circulation and blood formation. St. Moritz is therefore also a health resort, so a visit is also worthwhile in summer, which few people know.
Winter sports in St. Moritz
Nevertheless, most visitors come to St. Moritz in the winter months. The famous town was the venue of the 1928 and 1948 Winter Olympics. Furthermore, numerous skiing and bobsleighing world championships were held here. Ice skating and curling have also been at home here.
No matter which winter sport you tend to do, St. Moritz has the right infrastructure for it. Skiers and snowboarders can let off steam on 350 perfectly groomed kilometres of pistes at an altitude of 1,800 to 3,303 metres. Snow is guaranteed. You don't have to worry about enough ice either.
Forice skaters and curling specialists, St. Moritz offers plenty of open-air ice surface. The artificial ice rink in the Eisarena Ludains is even open from mid-July to mid-April.
If you prefer to move vertically over the ice, the "Corn da Diavolezza" ice arena is the place to go. The first technically created ice climbing wall in the Engadine awaits here. There are several climbing routes over four pitches with difficulty levels between W3 and W7.
Cross-country skiers will find a 180km network ofcross-country trails, and for walkers who prefer to explore the winter fairytale landscape on foot, a network of 150 kilometres of signposted hiking trails has been set up.
In addition to the classic winter sports, the world's oldest bobsleigh track - and at the same time the last remaining natural ice track on earth - provides the necessary winter fun. A fleet of 15 modified four-man racing bobsleds awaits the guests. These are guided by experienced bobsleigh pilots and accompanied by a brakeman. Taxi passengers can ride in positions 2 and 3. The 1,722-metre ride takes about 75 seconds, during which you whizz across the ice at a top speed of up to 135 km/h.
White Turf - snow-white horse racing
In February, the White Turf horse races are held on the frozen Lake St. Moritz on the first three Sundays. The race series is legendary and a unique meeting place for high society from all over the world. The lake is also the venue for the Polo World Cup on Snow.
Summer sports in St. Moritz
The summer season is not as glamorous as the winter season, but it attracts more and more visitors from all over the world. 580 kilometres of hiking trails invite you to walk, hike and trek. The mountain railways take you comfortably to the 3,000-metre peaks of Piz Nair, Corvatsch and the Diavolezza. The panoramic mountains such as Corviglia and Muottas Muragl are starting points for numerous unforgettable panoramic hikes.
In addition to the hiking trails, there are 400 signposted Engadine mountain bike routes. The mountain railways in St. Moritz take mountain bikers and their bikes to lofty heights, opening up completely new dimensions of riding pleasure.
St. Moritz is also considered the golf paradise of the Alps - 5 courses and over 60 holes await the players. The scenery in which the golf courses are embedded is absolutely unique.
Famous visitors
Because of its top hotels (also in terms of prices), exclusive restaurants, diverse shopping opportunities and regular world-class events, St. Moritz attracts celebrities and the jet set all year round.
Some of St. Moritz's most famous regulars are Alfred Hitchcock, Brigitte Bardot , Gunter Sachs, Herbert von Karajan, Aristotle Onassis, Charlie Chaplin, Henry Ford, Greta Garbo, Thomas Mann, the Kennedy family, the Shah of Persia, and and and ......
Related links:
Official website of St. Moritz
Official website of the White Turf
