The Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen in Andermatt is styled as a contemporary Swiss chalet. Wake up to stunning snow-capped peaks then take in the scenery and breathe in the crisp, fresh air on the hotel’s terrace, freshly-brewed coffee in hand.

The spacious rooms are decorated in natural tones and fabrics and fitted with modern amenities including free Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service and LED TVs.

There is also on-site Spa & Wellness Centre, complete with fitness facilities, a sauna, steam room, and a pool with a spectacular view to pamper and restore body and soul.

Dine in the cosy and sophisticated restaurant, Spun (Spun means 'spoon' in Romansh, the language spoken predominantly in south-eastern Swiss cantons), which serves modern takes on regional specialties that fuse Romansh, Italian, and French cultures. The lounge bar, Bärbar, evokes the cosy intimacy of an Alpine lodge. Sample gourmet bites and sip Alpine-inspired cocktails created by the in-house mixologist using local berries and herbs.

 
Andermatt’s most famous son is Bernhard Russi, a goliath of the downhill and giant slalom and former Olympic ski champion, winning the gold medal in Sapporo in 1972 at the age of 22 and a silver four years later in Innsbruck. 

Ahead of his Olympic and World Championship wins, Bernard appeared as a stuntman in the Bond movie 'On Her Majesty’s Secret Service' . In the alpine chase scene, James Bond quips of his stunt ‘he has a lot of guts’.

Russi was born in Andermatt’s railway station, where his father worked, and like many locals he took to skis at a very early age, making his professional debut at the age of 19 at giant slalom in Adelboden. Following his career as a professional skier, Bernard carved an enviable reputation for designing elite downhill courses, including those at the Winter Olympics in Aberville, Lillehammer and Nagano. Russi has served as chairman of the FIS Alpine Committee and as a FIS technical advisor for downhill course design. He remains a resident of Andermatt and is a passionate advocate of his home town: “In Andermatt, you’re not looking for caviar and Champagne, Andermatt is more sausage and bread—an easy-going, red-sock crowd… We call it ‘alpine chic.’”

Ski fans may like to try the Bernhard Russi Run which runs from the summit of the Gemsstock, with its panoramic view, steeply down to the cable car station at Gurschen. Russi describes the runs as “one of the best free-ride mountains you can imagine anywhere—not only in Switzerland but worldwide”
 

As was fashionable in his day, the English painter Joseph Turner visited Andermatt, sketching and making notes of the dramatic landscape for future works. 

This painting, 'Devil's Bridge' (pencil, watercolour and gouache on white wove paper prepared with grey wash) depicts the view looking up the Schöllenen Gorge and the Reuss Valley, with the Reuss Falls beyond. Turner also developed this drawing in landscape format as a plate for his collection of prints 'Liber Studiorum'. Wine merchant John Allnutt is said to have commissioned the paintings 'The Pass of St. Gothard' and 'The Devil's Bridge, St. Gothard' from Turner’s drawings.

The original Devil's Bridge was destroyed during fighting between the French and the Russians in 1799, and when Turner saw it in 1802, it was newly rebuilt. In the commissioned painting for Allnutt, he included pack-mules and soldiers in white uniforms on the tracks on either side of the bridge which indicates Russian infantry, while in the drawing only a few figures appear and these have a hint of red, the French military colour.

This drawing was accepted by the nation as part of the Turner Bequest in 1856 and is part of the Tate 
 

CC-BY-NC-ND 3.0 (Unported) D04626 Turner Bequest LXXV 34, Pencil, watercolour and gouache with scratching out on white wove paper prepared with grey wash from his St Gothard and Mont Blanc Sketchbook  image, Tate, London

It is said that over each hill in the Ursen valley is a different dialect. This makes Andermatt unique, a blended culture with influences coming from neighbouring countries. You will be surprised at the number of languages spoken: the local dialect of Romansh, the language of south-eastern Swiss cantons, alongside French, German, Austrian and Italian.

Andermatt is a fabulous place to visit all year-round. We love the winter landscape and special festive traditions but, because it offers so much throughout the year, we have decided to also offer June tour programmes, when the hilltops are covered in lush grass and wildflowers. Activities include fishing in the many crystal clear lakes, golf on a magnificent course and walking on the endless mountain trails bursting with spring song and fragrant with the scent of pine. We are working on the this programme now - why not sign up and be the first to hear when the holiday opens for booking?

Discover more about the charms of Adermatt on this video featuring our local guide and expert Bernhard Russi.

Founded in 1178, Lucerne is one of the world's prettiest cities and boasts a wealth of sights and attractions. Our highlights are: 

The world famous, medieval Chapel Bridge with it's unique painted ceiling, zig zagging across the river (read all about it on our blog

The Water Tower which stands 43 meters tall and is not a water tower at all. The Swiss name, Wasserturm, comes from its location in the river, right beside the Chapel Bridge. Over the years Wasserturm has been a prison, a torture chamber, a municipal archive and is now a local club. It isn’t possible to climb the tower, but there is a lovely souvenir shop inside.

Musegg Wall with its nine towers, forming a striking crown around the Old Town. Part of Lucerne's historic fortifications, which were begun in the 13th century, this 800-meter-long wall, dotted with towers, was erected in around 1400 as the town continued to expand beyond the narrow confines of the fortifications following the Battle of Sempach.

The Jesuit Church, inaugurated in 1677 and Switzerland's first major sacred building built in the baroque style. Standing next to the River Reuss, this magnificent building is a treat for the eyes - don't miss the high altar, organ and treasury.

Spreuer Bridge, Lucerne's second timber bridge, located slightly downstream of its slightly more famous sibling. Built in 1408, the southern half is perpendicular to the River Reuss, while the northern portion veers off at an angle. Its name comes from the word 'Spreu', meaning chaff, because the town's flour mills were permitted to dump their waste into the River Reuss from this bridge.

Lion Monument, a memorial to the some 1,000 Swiss Guards killed on 10 August 1792 when French revolutionaries stormed the residence defending King Louis XVI . Larger than life-size and carved from sandstone, the lion stands beneath a rock face under the Wesemlin and, according to the American writer Mark Twain, is "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world."

KKL culture and convention centre, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel and located right on the shore of the beautiful Lake Lucerne, this is a stunning example of the city's contemporary face.