Gstaad, It’s in the air!

The resort's upper crust international reputation, amidst a naïve and authentic Heidiland, is coupled in Gstaad by an openness to new ideas (an electrobike, a night in the alpine pastures of Brëschen, a wild jaunt across glacier 3000) and young generations, which today make it one of the Meccas of sporting and cultural events on the planet.

TEXTE : Claire Raffenne

Breathe in "La Joie de Vivre" of the Menuhin Festival!
"The Menuhin" will be a joyful event this year, even more so than all the others. Amidst a natural atmosphere which still has a purity and a vitality on a par with the summits that surround the resort, the programme led by Christoph Müller selects music as the "expression of happiness and life." Today’s top violinists (Viktoria Mullova, Nigel Kennedy, Christian Tetzlaff and Leonidas Kavakos) will encounter the prodigious voices of Cecilia Bartoli, Sandrine Piau, Noëmi Nadelmann and Thomas Hampson.
It is not a mere coincidence that Yehudi Menuhin chose to establish his passion and his extraordinary talent in the region of Gstaad. A few kilometres away in the Arses forest in Rougemont, some precious spruces grow, whose wood will become violins in the hands of the planet's rare stringed-instrument makers. It is an extension of the mystery between the masestro’s flawless humanism and the durability of his work, recaptured this summer in particular by the young virtuosos of the violin. The instrument of honour at the 2008 edition, the festival will be attended by the best young violinists of tomorrow, as well as the more experienced Cloë Hanslip, Veronika Eberle, and Patricia Kopatchinskaja…
Mark a date in your diaries from 25th July to 7th September.
www.menuhinfestivalgstaad.com

Welcome to the "Wimbledon of the Alps"
Now a tradition in the Bern Oberland, its ochre clay court already visited by all the top names, the Gstaad Allianz Suisse Open plays host to the elite of the tennis world and their avid fans, supporters and enthusiasts. Last year, the young Frenchman, Paul-Henri Mathieu, added his name to the tournament’s impressive track record, following on from Federer in 2004, Gaudio in 2005 and Gasquet in 2006.
The "Wimbledon of the Alps" 2008 will be held from 5th to 13th July and will offer some exemplary confrontations among the key players: Stanilas Wawrinka, Guillermo Canas, Juan Ignacio Chela, Igor Andreev, Nicolas Kiefer, not to mention the title holder, Paul-Henri Mathieu.
The Gstaad Allianz Suisse Open is this year giving priority to families, with attractive rates for children (free to the under-6s) and a 50% discount for those under 16 years. Next to the Roy Emerson Arena and Court No.1, concerts, entertainment, contests, and signing sessions will complement the presence of the tennis stars. The festival will continue with an amazing competition in the tournament village on Nintendo Wii, between the tennis stars and the public. The Swiss Tennis Gala Night will be held on Saturday 5th July and the final of the singles competition on Sunday at 13 pm, preceded for the first time by the doubles finals. A festival for adrenaline junkies everywhere!
www.allianzsuisseopengstaad.com

To find out more about the delights of Gstaad order the special edition of Mountain Report about the resort and the Grand Park Hotel at www.grandhotelpark.ch/pdf/mountain.pdf (or 41 (33) 748 98 00).

Read the rest of the article in the Mountain Report magazine - Where to find ?