National TV program showcases Gstaad - GstaadLife print edition

Friday, July 13 2007 

No. 11 

gstaadlife.com 

Alpina battle 

goes to 

federal court 

Opponents of the project to 

rebuild the Grand Hotel Alpina 

are making a federal court appeal 

in an attempt to stop the SFr 

150m development from going 

ahead. When asked if the appeal 

was cause for concern, coordinator 

of the project Marcel Bach 

responded: “We’ve waited over 

10 years; we can wait another six 

months.” If the project gets the 

go-ahead, construction could 

begin continued on page 3 

Saveurs Gstaad 

welcomes top 

chefs 

The 11 th Davidoff Saveurs Gstaad 

gastronomy festival begins this 

evening with an original casting 

of three of Switzerland’s top 

female chefs in the country’s 

newest five-star hotel, the 

Lenkerhof Alpine Resort. Further 

evenings will take place in Gstaad 

until July 23, and gastronomes 

will be able to indulge their 

palettes continued on page 7 

Now online… 

Preview: beach volleyball 

world championships 

and much more at gstaadlife.com 

Hans Büker 

Renowned 

balloonist dies 

page 7 

Marcel Bach 

More delays 

for the Alpina 

page 1/3 

The Gstaadplatz on the Promenade was the set for the live TV show ‘bsuech in Gstaad’ 

National TV program 

showcases Gstaad 

More than a third of all television viewers tune into live program from the Promenade 

by Diana Oehrli 

On July 2, a live primetime 

broadcast from Gstaad on SF1 

attracted almost 640,000 viewers, 

some 10% of Switzerland’s adult 

population. The show, ‘bsuech in’ 

(from the German besuchen 

which means to visit), was the first 

in a weekly series showcasing the 

customs and traditions of various 

towns and villages around the 

Bernese Oberland, including 

Kid’s Corner 

Alpenruhe 

petting zoo 

page 5 

Gstaad, Brienz, Adelboden, Spiez, 

Thun, Interlaken, and the Kleine 

Scheidegg. 

Gstaadplatz in front of the 

Posthotel Rössli served as the 

stage for the broadcast, decorated 

for the occasion with straw and 

barrels to create a country hoe 

down atmosphere. Hundreds of 

Saanenlanders came out in support 

and, unusually for this summer, 

even the weather cooperated. 

Accompanied by two Saanen goats 

and rapturous applause, host Heinz 

Margot began the show by 

greeting the live audience and 

viewers at home before introducing 

his co-host for the evening, 

GstaadLife.com’s assistant editor 

Andrea von Siebenthal. 

Throughout the evening, viewers 

were able continued on page 3 

Photo: Frank Müller

Rougemont – Gstaad 

Panoramic view on the village and the mountains 

Magnificent 9 roomed chalet, 10 minutes by car from Gstaad. This 

chalet has just been completely renovated blending tradition and 

modernity. It has a very warm atmosphere with a living surface of 400 m 2 , 

on grounds of 1500 m 2 , in a quiet setting near shops and the town centre. 

Lift and two garages. Maximum sunshine. Garden with trees, very pleasant 

setting. Price on request. 

CF Immobilier – Compagnie Foncière SA 

Tél. +41 (0)26 925 10 00 

info@cfimmobilier.ch – www.cfimmobilier.ch 

CONCERT IN 

ROUGEMONT CHURCH 

in honour of 

MONICA BURDETT-FISHER 

Sunday, July 15 th 2007 at 6.30 pm 

Batsuur Norov violin 

Reto Reichenbach piano 

PROGRAMME 

Johannes Brahms (1833-97): 

Sonata in A major; Scherzo in C minor 

Piotr Ilyich Tschaikowsky (1840-93): 

Violin concerto in D major (1 st movement) 

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921): 

Introduction and Rondo capriccioso 

Entrance free – collection to cover costs 

Your local 

Leica dealer 

Specialist for the Leica 

D and M systems. 

Your photographer for 

Events 

Private parties 

Weddings 

Sport photography 

RougemoNt 

2 bedroom attic apartment 

splendid view, spacious, sunny, 

kitchen, bath, living room with 

fireplace and balcony. 

Living space 93 m2 . 

Excellent condition. 

Easy access year-round. 

Price on request. 

FotoGstaad.ch 

André Martin 

Cheseryplatz 

3780 Gstaad 

Phone +41 33 744 13 87 

info@FotoGstaad.ch

July 13 2007 · gstaadlife.com 

Page 3 Local News 

continued from page 1 

to discover various aspects of life 

in Saanenland through interviews 

with local personalities, video 

segments, and musical 

performances by country artist 

the Monika Miller Band, the 

Saanen Vocal Ensemble, as well as 

yodeling by the four Reichenbach 

siblings of Gruben. 

A mass Scherenschnitt (traditional 

paper cutting) challenge for the 

people of Gstaad produced an 

over-sized image of a Saanen goat, 

a piece that now adorns the walls 

of the Gstaad Tourism Office. 

Michel Matti and Michael Villiger 

were on hand to explain how local 

artists, designers and high school 

art students had all worked 

Peter Schmid in front of his 

new store behind Café Rialto 

together to create the 

Scherenchnitt. In addition to their 

yodeling talents, the Reichenbach 

family was also the focus of a piece 

on the production of authentic 

AOC Étivaz cheese. There was a 

discussion with Marcel Bach about 

property in Gstaad, and Walter 

Matti described how the use of 

old wood has become de rigeur in 

new chalet construction. A 

segment by SF1’s Nick Hartmann 

provided comic relief with his 

forlorn attempts to get villagers to 

comment on what they do not 

like about Gstaad. Gripes were 

few and far between, although 

there was some consensus over the 

lack of affordable housing for local 

residents, dust in the Gstaad bypass 

Schmid TV moves 

to new location 

Top AV products, top service by Alison Chabloz 

If you’re looking for a new stateof-the-art 

sound system, or if it’s 

time to install that home cinema 

you’ve been promising yourself, 

GstaadLife recommends that you 

pay a visit to Schmid TV’s new 

location in the center of Gstaad, 

just behind the Rialto. More of a 

showroom than a store, the 

quality goods on offer will no 

doubt be a temptation to all lovers 

of high tech toys. With more than 

Photo: AvS 06/07 

25 years’ experience in the 

business, Peter Schmid is confident 

that the store’s new look, as well 

as the personalized service, will 

be invaluable to the client when it 

comes to choosing the right 

system. Pre-installed hard disk 

recorders for hi-fi and TV are 

designed for user comfort, with 

data easily transferred from a 

computer or iPod onto a hard disk 

that can store up to 400 hours 

worth of music or video. Recent 

progress in the development of 

speakers mean that units are 

smaller and more discreet, 

allowing the focus to remain on 

your choice of interior design. 

Schmid also points out that their 

installation service is a great bonus 

for customers who want sound 

and image in different rooms of 

the house without the 

inconvenience of wiring and 

cables. For clients needing that 

extra special something, speedy 

delivery by partners Sony and 

Bang & Olufsen ensures that 

ordered items arrive by the next 

day. Schmid also guarantees a full 

after-sales service, including 

repairs which are carried out in 

the company’s workshop in 

Saanen. 

tunnel, and construction noise. 

There was even a segment on how 

to make original Saanen mustard 

by Peter von Allmen, head chef of 

the Posthotel Rössli. The 

production of the show involved 

34 professionals, three trucks, four 

cameras, 30 microphones, 10 

loudspeakers, 20 spotlights, and 

10 kilometers of cabling. You can 

order the DVD of the show for 

SFr 32.90 by visiting the SF1 

website (sf.tv). By Diana Oehrli 

Visit gstaadlife.com/ 

bsuech, to view video clips 

from ‘bsuech in Gstaad’. 


next spring. On May 22 2007, an 

administrative court threw out all 

objections to the proposed plans, 

a decision that was followed by a 

30-day period during which 

objectors could appeal. Only 

three of the original 16 critics 

have chosen to take their case to 

the federal court, with Bach 

reaching agreements with other 

long-term opponents. Since the 

former historic building was 

GstaadLife’s Andrea von 

Siebenthal (right), who cohosted 

‘bsuech in Gstaad’ with 

SF1’s Heinz Margot, alongside 

Leonie Müller, who organized 

the decoration of the set in the 

Gstaadplatz 

The vision of the Grand Hotel Alpina in the Oberbort: will 

construction finally begin in 2008? 

Calling Eagle Ski Club Members 

August 1 st 

Mountain Party 

demolished in 1995, residents 

have fought the project, citing 

among other concerns road access 

and size of the proposed project. 

For this final round of appeal, 

noise seems to be their primary 

motive. “They forget that there 

was a hotel there before,” Bach 

said, comparing their arguments 

to those of people who buy houses 

near airports and then complain 

about noise from aircraft. 


at the Eagle Clubhouse. Depart Wasserngrat 19h30 

Book early, last year was a sell-out! 

To reserve your table, please contact the secretariat: 

tel 033 748 42 32 or email: eagleskiclub@bluewin.ch 

Eagle Club Summer opening hours from Saturday July 28 th to Sunday August 

26 th , Thursday to Sunday lunchtimes and dinner groups upon request. 

Photo: Anita Moser 

Photo: AvS 11/05

SaanenBank 

tel. +41 33 748 46 46 | www.saanenbank.ch 

Le Gstaad Palace a le plaisir de vous présenter 

les soirées spéciales de la semaine 

DAVIDOFF SAVEURS 2007 

DUO DE GRANDS CHEFS 

Mercredi, 18 juillet, dès 19h30 

Notre chef de cuisine Peter 

Wyss et Othmar Schlegel de 

l‘hôtel Castello del Sole 

d‘Ascona vous invitent à 

savourer leur menu spécial 

CHF 250.– par personne 

(vin et cigares inclus) 

SOIRÉE DE SINGAPOURE 

Samedi, 21 juillet, dès 19h30 

Otto Weibel de l’hôtel Raffles 

The Plaza, Singapore 

préparera pour vous un menu 

exquis avec des délices 

asiatiques 

CHF 320.– par personne 

(vin et cigares inclus) 

Réservations: Maître d‘Hôtel; Tél: 033 748 50 00 

our clients 

…local touch… 

MMD

Photo: Alpenruhe 


Page 5 FYI / Events 

Kid´s Corner 

Alpenruhe petting zoo and playground 


“Mummy, can we go see the 

animals?” Located between 

Gstaad and Saanen, the Alpenruhe 

petting zoo and playground is an 

ideal fun activity for kids aged 

from one to 12. In the petting 

zoo, you can experience peacocks, 

chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, 

miniature and Angora goats, 

three donkeys, two pigs, ponies, 

alpacas, and llamas. There is also 

a large playground featuring a 

pirate ship, a slide, a see-saw, 

swings, a sandbox, a tunnel, a 

ping-pong table, a zip line, a 

FYI 

iMPORtAnt nuMBERS 

Ambulance 144, Police 117 

Fire-brigade 118 

Saanen Hospital 033 748 02 00 

Château-d‘Oex Hospital 026 923 43 43 

Car accident service 033 744 88 80 

Veterinary 033 744 35 31 

Medical emergency 0900 57 67 47 

Dental emergency 033 748 02 00 

For additional useful numbers please visit 

www.gstaadlife.ch/usefulnumbers 

For the latest local 

weather forecast visit 

gstaadlife.com 

ChuRCh SERViCES 

St Peter`s Englishspeaking Anglican 

Church: Sunday July 15 17h30 Service, 

Rev. Arnod Morrison. 

Roman Catholic Church St josef, 

Gstaad: Saturday July 14 18h00 Holy 

Mass. Sunday July 15 11h00 Holy Mass, 

16h00 Santa Messa (Italian). Wednesday 

July 18 16h30 Rosary, 17h00 Holy 

Mass. 

football field, a trampoline and 

water games. Pony and miniature 

train rides are available every 

Wednesday from 14h00 to 16h00, 

and the train will also operate on 

Sunday July 29 and Sunday 

August 26 from 14h00 to 16h00 

(SFr 1.– for two round trips). Soft 

drinks, ice cream and popcorn are 

available in the small café. The 

Alpenruhe is a non-profit 

residency and handicrafts 

workshop for the handicapped. 

From Gstaad, take the first left 

after the Overlap store, or you can 

reach Alpenruhe 

by walking along 

the path by the 

river. For more 

information call 

033 748 72 11. 

Close 

encounters at 

the Alpenruhe 

petting zoo 

FOR yOuR nExt StAy in GStAAd 

*****Gstaad Palace: Le Restaurant, 

La Grande Terrasse, Snack & Barbecue, 

The Lobby Bar, Le Bar du Grill & GreenGo 

Nightclub, Beauty & Spa, Outdoor Pool & 

Snack, Tennis. Tel 033 748 50 00, 

Fax 033 748 50 01, info@palace.ch, 

www.palace.ch 

*****Grand hotel Park, Gstaad: 

99 luxurious rooms, exclusive Guerlain- 

Spa Chakra, Restaurants & bars: Marco 

Polo, Le Grand Restaurant, Greenhouse, 

Chalet Waldhuus, Le Bar and Marco Polo 

Bar. Tel 033 748 98 00 

www.grandhotelpark.ch 

*****Grand hotel Bellevue, Gstaad: 

GaultMillau Hotel of Year 2003, 114 beds, 

2,500 m2 SPA, Restaurant Prado, 

Restaurant Coelho with sun-terrace, 

Bellevue-Bar, Porsche 911 Club, 

Carnotzet. Tel 033 748 00 00 

www.bellevue-gstaad.ch 

In brief 

n Changes for Pernet 

Comestibles 

With the purchase of Chalet Edelweiss on 

the Promenade, Patric Lutz and Michael 

Kneubühler have secured the long-term 

future of their Pernet Comestibles grocery 

store. The store will continue to sell 

indigenous products and maintain its 

strong ties with regional gastronomy. Due 

to the store’s success and to satisfy 

increasing demand, Lutz and Kneubühler 

will establish a second outlet in 

Zweisimmen specializing in poultry and 

fish, which will also serve as a main 

production and storage site. A separate 

production warehouse will manufacture 

various regional and international 

specialties. Lutz and Kneubühler also plan 

to entirely redesign Chalet Edelweiss, a 

project which will involve the construction 

of a new storefront and apartments. 

n New director of 

Gemeinde 

administration 

Armando Chissalé has been appointed 

new director of Gemeinde administration 

for the session beginning in 2008. 

Following his apprenticeship as a bank 

clerk, Chissalé, 52, studied law at the 

University of Basel. He then went on to 

work for canton Baselland’s ministry of 

trade and commerce, before becoming 

n FRidAy, july 13 2007 

Allianz Suisse Open Gstaad, Roy 

Emerson Arena, Gstaad. Until July 15. 

Info: Tel 033 748 08 60. 

davidoff Saveurs Gourmet Week, 

various locales around Gstaad. Until July 

23. Info: Tel 033 748 88 44. 

20h30, Folkloric Evening with yodeling, 

Hotel Wildhorn, Lauenen: Heinz 

Annen and the Lauenen Wildhore 

yodelers: Tel 033 765 30 12. 

22h00, local Black Friday Party, 

Chlösterli, Gstaad: DJ Sleek Nick (Black 

music). Info: Tel 033 748 79 79. 

00h00, Party in the Grotte, Hotel Alpin 

Nova, Schönried. Info: Tel 079 475 51 28. 

n SAtuRdAy, july 14 2007 

21h30, Concert in Saanenpub, Saanen: 

Live performance by Camel-Lot, rock blues. 

Free entry. Info: Tel 033 744 34 94. 

00h00, Party in the Grotte, Hotel Alpin 

Nova, Schönried. Info: Tel 079 475 51 28 

administrator of the Pratteln Gemeinde 

where he currently resides. With his 

knowledge of law and well-established 

organization skills, Chissalé is looking 

forward to working with the various local 

authorities, and to being involved in the 

successful continuation of the Gemeinde’s 

reform process. 

n Valentino celebrates 

45 th anniversary 

Last week, part-time Gstaad resident and 

world-renowned fashion impresario 

Valentino inaugurated a series of events in 

Rome to mark the 45th anniversary of his 

fashion empire. The city’s ancient center 

was the venue for the three-day 

extravaganza attended by a who’s who of 

royalty, as well as many Hollywood 

celebrities. Valentino has often described 

himself as being devoted to the aesthetic 

in all areas of expression, and he has 

dominated the world of haute couture for 

the past four decades with his bespoke 

creations. The maestro now divides his 

time between palazzos in Rome, a house 

in Holland Park London, a 152-foot yacht, 

an apartment in Manhattan, and a 17th 

century chateau outside Paris, and 

although he no longer maintains a boutique 

in the Promenade, he still often visits 

Gstaad during August, appreciating his 

peaceful chalet and enjoying the aesthetic 

of our stunning region. 

Event corner Friday July 13 until Thursday July 19, 2007 

22h00, Freak Farm Party, Chlösterli, 

Gstaad: DJ Scott (old and new funky 

grooves). Info: Tel 033 748 79 79. 

n SundAy, july 15 2007 

11h00, the Mystery of Cats Exhibit, 

Maison Balthus, Rossinière, Château- 

d‘Oex: works by Stanislas Klossowski de 

Rola. Info: Tel 033 860 22 30. 

18h00, Art Gallery Opening: 

Birgit Fechner, Large acrylic images 

and small paper collages. Gallerie Simple, 

Gstaad. Info: Tel 033 748 11 75. 

n WEdnESdAy, july 18 2007 

16h00, Saanen Summer Festival, 

Saanen village. Traditional market with 

music by folk band Bernard Henchoz and 

Boogie Radio Jazz Band. 

Info: Tel 033 748 81 63. 

09h00, Breakfast on the Alp, Alp 

Krinnen, Gsteig. Watch cheese making in 

process and enjoy a typical Swiss alpine 

breakfast. Info: Tel 033 755 81 81.



Page 7 

Hans Büker: pioneer of the Saanenland skies 

Renowned local balloonist suffers fatal heart attack by Artur P Schmidt, translated/adapted by Tim Kilchenmann 

Büker’s balloon rising over La Mancha, Spain 


courtesy of some of the world’s 

greatest gourmet chefs. Highlights 

include an evening at the 

Bernerhof with artist Brigitte 

Buck Litscher, who will be 

sharing her impressions on screen 

whilst top Zurich chef Marcus G 

Linder performs his culinary 

magic. In addition there will be a 

select barbecue on the Wasserngrat 

with Cigar Man of the Year, Jacky 

Donatz (Fifa Restaurant, Zurich). 

Richard Mebkhout, head chef at 

the Grand Hotel Bellevue, is 

delighted to briefly hand over the 

reins to Philippe Jousse (Mionney, 

Nyon, 2* Michelin), and he is 

also looking forward to 

collaborating with his peers for 

the Déjeuner sur l’herbe, a 20star 

open-air Alpbrunch prepared 

Davidoff Saveur’s gourmet week 

promises unique and unforgettable 

dining experiences 

on the Eggli by a group of Gstaad’s 

five-star gourmet chefs. Franz 

Rosskogler of the Grand Chalet 

Hotel – voted Switzerland’s best 

four star hotel for 2007 – will 

welcome famous French chef 

Patrick Henriroux (La Pyramide, 

Vienne) for an evening where the 

combination of gourmet cuisine 

and fine wines chosen by Michel 

Chapoutier will offer the perfect 

excuse for a celebration. In 

comparison to last year’s festival, 

which included such events as a 

Scottish whisky night and a 

gourmet Thai wellness menu, this 

year’s program seems more 

traditional. However, Otto 

Weibel (Raffles The Plaza, 

Singapore) will be flown over to 

treat Gstaad Palace guests to a 

flavorsome concoction of Asian 

and Swiss haute cuisine. 

And if you’re seeking an 

exotic touch, you can 

always indulge yourself at 

next year’s Saveurs Ticino 

or Saveurs Mauritius. Prices 

range from SFr 120.– to 

SFr 390.– per person, and 

include meals, wines, 

cognac and Davidoff cigars. 

For more information call 

033 748 88 44 or visit 

saveurs-gstaad.ch. 

Hans Büker, the German 

aeronaut who personified hotair 

ballooning in Saanenland, 

has died at the age of 67. After 

experiencing several 

unfortunate strokes of destiny 

over the past few years, 

Saanenland’s Don Quixote 

finally succumbed to a third 

heart attack on May 22 2007. 

It wasn’t the wind, but rather his 

rejection of post-war German 

policy that beckoned Büker to 

Saanenland. Born in the Ruhr- 

Gebiet in 1939, it was Büker’s 

sense of what was right that led to 

his emigration to Switzerland in 

the late 70s. The man with the 

hat, as he became known in 

Saanenland, stood out in one 

particular respect: his passion for 

ballooning. In 1969 he became 

only the third person in Germany 

to earn a pilot’s license. When 

Ernst Scherz sponsored his first 

balloon in the 1980s, Büker’s 

renown developed in and around 

Gstaad. Significantly, it was Büker 

who initiated the idea of a nonstop 

balloon flight around the 

world, and it was his feasibility 

study that was later drawn upon 

by the record holders Brian Jones 

and Bertrand Piccard. 

For all his achievements, Büker 

was a hard man to grasp. On the 

one hand his characteristic lack of 

punctuality could be infuriating. 

On the other hand, his generosity 

proved to be his most endearing 

and redeeming quality. 1996 saw 

a tragic turning point in Büker’s 

life when his son Christian was 

the victim of a fatal ballooning 

accident. Three years later 

following his divorce from his 

second wife, he suffered a second 

heart attack, and despite his 

recovery, nothing was the ever 

the same. Büker’s final months 

were marked by struggles with his 

sponsor HSBC. It was these 

struggles that ultimately led his 

firm into insolvency, and 

prevented him from flying 

passengers with his own balloon. 

In spite of his services to aviation 

and to the region, he found little 

support in Saanenland regarding 

his financial situation. But then 

Büker never really did care that 

much about money. Indeed he 

was often spotted laying out bank 

notes to dry in the sun following 

an unwitting encounter with the 

washing machine. Hans Büker 

was buried on July 1 in 

Osnabrück. 

Hans Büker in flight 

GStAAdliFE: Editorial: Antoinette de Scheel antoinette.descheel@gstaadlife.ch; Xavier Ferguson xavier.ferguson@gstaadlife.ch; Frank Müller frank.mueller@gstaadlife.ch; Diana Oehrli 

diana.oehrli@gstaadlife.ch; Andrea von Siebenthal andreavs@gstaadlife.ch. Advertising: Peter Kuntze-Schneider peter.kuntze@gstaadlife.ch. Publishing, conception, printing: Müller 

Marketing & Druck AG, Gstaad. Subscriptions: Elsbeth Wyss tel 033 748 88 74. 


Photo: Frank Müller 

Tribute 

Correction 

Due to an editing error in last week’s 

“Cheese Matters” article (GstaadLife 

#10, July 6 2007), Mr Hans-Ruedi 

Steiner was described as having “refused 

to elaborate further” with regards to 

whether cheese deliveries had been 

mixed up. The sentence should have 

read: “Mr Steiner…did not elaborate 

further at that time.” Mr Steiner has 

always been open and forthcoming with 

information concerning Gstaad Molkerei 

operations to members of both 

GstaadLife and the Anzeiger von Saanen. 

We apologize for the use of language 

that may have asserted otherwise.

9110_1143GstaadLive.indd 1 5.12.2006 14:34:55

National TV program showcases Gstaad - GstaadLife print edition

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?