The wilds of Saanenland - GstaadLife print edition

GSTAADLIFE
Nr. 15 Sep 10, 2004
Bert Inäbnit Dora Inäbnit
The wilds of Saanenland
In spring 2005, the natural environment of
Saanenland will be endowed with a park for
alpine animals.
The park will be located in Saanenmöser in an
idyllic 6,000 m 2 forest landscape at 1,300 meters
above sea level. In addition to free-running stags,
there will be various enclosures and aviaries that
will become home to such mammal and bird
species as the ibex, screech-Owl, Sika deer and
golden eagle. At the park area entrance
there will be a welcome building.
This structure will house a
museum dedicated to natural
sciences, as well as
a coffee house, a kiosk
and toilets.
The entire construction
costs from the alpine
park project amount to
around 1.5 million Swiss
francs. As the Gstaad Saa-
nenland Tourism Office and the Gemeinde of Saanen
strongly support the project, part of these
construction costs will be met by public funds.
However, since the project is to also be of particular
value to the local population, the alpine animal
park will depend on private funds, and it is
hoped that ongoing expenses will be met through
a combination of donations, animal sponsorship,
and the foundation of a supporter society.
The alpine animal centre in Saanenland will be an
ideal destination for families, schools and societies.
Complimented by the nature museum, the
centre will regularly feature timely information
about events and phenomena that affect the
habitats of the region’s wildlife. Open throughout
the year and in any weather, there will also be
guided tours and lectures on a wide variety of
local nature topics.
For more information, contact
Förderverein Alpentierpark Saanenland
Postfach 44, 3778 Schönried
1

2
Goodbye for now
From The Editors
We would like to take this opportunity to
thank all our readers and subscribers.
We hope that you have enjoyed this season’s
GSTAADLIFE and that you will stay with us next
winter. We would also like to give a big thank you,
not only to our editorial staff, but to all of you who
have so generously given your time to write for
us; Prince Nicholas Romanoff, Maria Frick, Taki
Theodoracopulos, William Lovell, Lane Anderson,
local
FYI
and everyone else who helped to make
GSTAADLIFE a success.
We will be on hiatus for a few months, but we will
be back in the winter rejuvenated and full of new
information, interviews with the people that make
Gstaad what it is, letters and columns from
Gstaad-based authors and journalists, the latest
gossip, and much, much more!
We wish you all a wonderful autumn. See you in
the winter!
Wasserngrat Winter 2003 /2004
On August 20th, a General Meeting of
Wasserngrat 2000 Ltd. was held at Palace
Hotel Gstaad. The results of the last winter
season were pleasing to all – record attendance,
record operational profit.
Largely due to artificial snow-making and
favourable weather conditions, Wasserngrat Ltd.
reported an operational profit of CHF 234,508 in
the last financial year. Last season, ski installations
on the Wasserngrat were opened on the
13th December, more than one week earlier than
the previous year. At the beginning of winter, a
large number of young skiers profited from good
conditions on the mountain. As a result, December
attendance was the highest since the company’s
inception. However because of bad weather
conditions during weekends later in the season,
attendance in February and March fell below
expectations.
Nevertheless the operational profit was nearly
double that of the year before, with three sporting
events having a positive effect on the numbers.
After depreciation and several extraordinary
expenses, the company reported an overall loss
of CHF 502,887.
Generous donation for re-forestation
As a result of the construction of the artificial
snow-making facilities, the piste was enlarged
and several trees had to be cleared. This com-
bined with the lingering effects of the Lothar gale
and the unwelcome work of the bork-beetle, have
contributed to the creation of a rather bleak vista
on the Wasserngrat. The Eagle Club launched a
fund-raising drive to enable re-forestation, during
which Wasserngrat principals had expected to
raise CHF 10,000. However three very generous
donations brought the total up to CHF 40,000.
Plans are now in place to use CHF 10,000 to
begin re-forestation this coming autumn, and in
collaboration with the forest-ranger, native trees
will be planted to improve the look on the
Wasserngrat. The Chairman of the Managing
Committee, Mr. R. Spillman, pledged that the
remainder of the funds will be set aside for longterm
or unforeseen needs. by Anita Moser

local
Children
We are here for the children
By Alexandra de Scheel / Staff Writer
Beatrice Baeriswyl has a slogan: “We are
here for the children; they’re not here for
us.” Mrs. Baeriswyl is the director of the
Chinderhuus Ebnit, a unique place in our
local community that offers temporary shelter
to children from problematic home situations.
Parents with severe financial, psychological
or other family problems can place
their children in the home for periods of up
to three months. There is room for twenty
children, who live in small groups, intended to
give a family atmosphere. Additionally 12 children,
ranging in age from infants up to 6 years old,
can find a day home while their parents are
working.
For some time the
facilities of the
Chinderhuus
have been in
need of renovation.
After lengthy
negotiations with the
community, work finally
began earlier this
year, with the chalet
scheduled for total
remodeling at a total
cost of 1.6 million Swiss francs. Work is expected
to be completed by October 2004.
Apart from the main remodeling project, Mrs.
Baeriswyl wishes to add a pavilion where the
children can do manual work, to be paid for with
donated money. The expected cost of the pavilion
is CHF 230,000, and she hopes that the funds
can be raised during the current construction
period, as it is less expensive to build the pavilion
while the main reconstruction project is being
executed. Seventy percent of the workmanship
will be done by local companies, and so far many
donators including the Gemeinde, have already
donated a substantial amount.
The Chinderhuus Ebnit can only continue its good
work for children in need with the help of donations.
A formal charity committee has already
been set up, and includes such local community
leaders as Ernst Scherz, Aliki Goulandris, Barbara
Burgerhout, Hans Ruedi and Nanine Spillmann
and Urs von Gruenigen.
If you would like to contact the committee or are
interested in making a donation, members can be
reached by telephone at 033-744-1534, or by
email at hansruedi.spillmann@lodh.com. Alternatively
you may contact Beatrice Baeriswyl
directly on 079-386-3051. For more information
on the work of the Chinderhuus Ebnit, visit
www.chinderhuusebnit.ch.
The plan of the pavilion where the children could do manual work.
3

In memory
A great loss for Gstaad
Nicholas Romanoff, President Eagle Ski Club
Claude Barbey passed away a few days ago. His strong personality, his great charm,
his almost youthful enthusiasm made him take part in all the most important cultural,
benevolent and social events of outstanding importance in the Sanenland. He left a
lasting imprint of his strong personality and his positive character.
I had the privilege to serve on the Committee of the Eagle Ski Club for almost twenty
years while he was our Vice President. We all learned much by listenting to him and
following his advice.
He will be deeply missed by his many friends. The Eagle Ski Club owes much to his
energetic drive, and to his wise advice, and if the Club is what it is today, much of the
merit is his.
It is a great loss for the Eagle Ski Club and to his many friends.
local
Your florist
For all events!
Promenade · 3780 Gstaad · Tel. 033 748 99 11
www.wittwerblumen.ch · wittwer-fleurs@bluewin.ch
Müller · Gstaad

Masthead
Editorial:
Antoinette de Scheel kasbah@freesurf.ch
Alexandra de Scheel
tanadescheel©hotmail.com
Frank Müller-Brand frank.mueller@mdruck.ch
Xavier Ferguson XavierF2@rcn.com
Publishing, Conception, Printing:
Müller Marketing & Druck AG, Gstaad
Subscribe now:
Tel. 033 748 88 74, Jacqueline Boschung
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Peter Kuntze-Schneider, Chalet Larix,
P.O. Box 263, 3780 Gstaad
Tel. 033 744 95 24, Fax 033 744 95 25
Mobile 079 663 74 30
gstaadlife@anzeigervonsaanen.ch
local
FYI
Once upon a time
by Maria Frick
The first time I came to Saanenland and Turbach
I came upon Gstaad. At that time, of
course, it was not the Gstaad of today’s high
society, Menuhin festivals, and the world of
tennis championships…
My world of Gstaad began at the railway station
adorned with flowers on the front. At this time it
was no problem to put my travelling basket
beside the Kiosk from where the postman,
Christian Frautschi, would load it on the car
drawn by Joggi the horse, whilst I walked the long
way to Turbach. At this time no Post bus existed
and because of the war, there were not even any
signposts. So it was that I arrived, to my terror, in
Lauenen instead of Turbach!
Normally a nice little stream wound its way along
the valley floor, but during a storm this gentle
stream would become a terrible wild torrent within
a few moments. The houses beside its banks
were in great danger, and so high up on the slope
between the sun-kissed houses a narrow, allweather
street was built.
For a long time only the postman had a telephone
and as he had children it was expected that they
would transmit messages to the other valley
dwellers, no matter if in the middle of the night or
how far away the recipient. There was no washing
machine, and the main washing was done at the
well in front of the house. There was no refrigerator,
no electric cooking stove, one great stove in
the sitting room, and, of course, no TV or radio.
Instead in the evening before the children would
go to bed, Mama or Papa told a story, together
they sang folksongs, and finally ended with the
evening prayer. In the ice-cold sleeping room
stood the big high double bed for the parents and
the “Gutschi“, a drawer-like area under the
parental bed for the last-born children.
Sunday came after a week of harsh haymaking.
Soon after an early breakfast Mama filled the
rucksack with vegetables, fruits, and cakes to
bring to relatives on the alpine pastures who were
glad to receive some variety in their eternal milk,
cheese and cream diets. Afterwards Papa shouldered
the rucksack and on top of it sat the little
one. The boys went ahead of everyone, and Mama
followed with the girls panting down the mountain.
In the Alphütte a big fire was burning under the
cheese-Kessi at which Uncle Alfred stirred. Aunt
Luisi made a big mug of coffee, fetched sweet
and sour cream and the feast began.
Although these gatherings of more than 60 years
ago are gone forever, I have so many happy
events to remember.
5

Important Numbers
Medical emergency number 033 744 86 86
General Medicine
Dr. med. Gerhard Amiet, Saanen, 033 748 66 11
Dr. med Nick Hoyer, Gstaad, 033 744 74 74
Dr. med. Ondrej Müller-Müller, Saanen, 033 744 63 73, 079 415 88 65
Dr. med Niklaus Perreten, Gstaad, 033 744 32 32
Dr. med. Walter Raaflaub, Schönried, 033 744 81 22
Dr. med. Benoît Zurkinden, Chalet Le Pommier, Les Mourets, 026 925 87 00
Surgery
Dr. med. Chr. Reuteler, Saanen, 033 744 17 16, 079 218 84 34
Dr. med. Dominique Gyger, Hospital Saanen Sonnenhof AG, 033 748 02 00
Dr. med. Thomas Fellmann, Hospital Saanen Sonnenhof AG, 033 748 02 00
Internal Medicine
Dr. med. C. Hauswirth, Saanen 033 748 66 11
Dr. med F. Scorrano, Chefarzt, Spital Saanen, 033 748 02 51
Dr. med. B. Michel-Sollberger, Gstaad, 033 744 15 62
Dr. med. B. Sollberger Michel, Gstaad, 033 744 15 62
Gynecology
Prof. Dr. med. Ulrich Gigon, 033 748 03 18
Dr. med. Sorin Fleancu, 033 748 03 18
Hospital Sonnenhof AG 033 748 02 00
Ambulance, Saanen 033 744 44 30
Air Glaciers 033 744 55 50
Hospital in Château-d’Œx 026 924 75 93
Chemists
Ahmed Ihab el Din, Gstaad, 033 744 53 60
Apotheke u. Laboratorium Gstaad, Dr. A. u. M. Kropf-Schenk, 033 748 86 26
Haroun, Grand-Rue, Château-d’Œx, 026 924 64 13
de la Tour, Grand-Rue, Château-d’Œx, 026 924 64 65
Vets
Dr. med. vet. Hanskurt Hauswirth, Gstaad, 033 744 31 41
Dr. med. vet Hannes Moor, Gstaad, 033 744 32 31
Dentists
Dentists emergency weekend service, 033 748 02 00
Dr. med. dent. Per Arman, Schönried, 033 744 90 61
Dr. med. dent. Laszlo Toth, Gstaad, 033 744 15 45
Dr. med. dent. Ch. B. Tritten, Saanen, 033 748 73 73
Fire-brigade 118 · Police 117
Car accident service
7 days, 24 hours, Tel. 033 744 88 80
St. Peter’s English speaking Anglican Church
Château-d’Oex – services every Sunday 17 h 30.
Sunday, September 12th , 17 h 30, Evening Prayer Clive Atkinson. All welcome.
GSTAAD – ROUGEMONT
CHÂTEAU-D’OEX – GRUYERE
CHALETS & APARTMENTS
FOR SALE
Compagnie Foncière SA
1659 Rougemont
Tél. +41 (0)26 925 10 00
Fax. +41 (0)26 925 10 05
www.gstaadrealestate.com
Friday September 10 until
Friday September 17, 2004
Friday till Sunday, 10th till 12th September
Country Night Gstaad
Europes leading country music festival.
Saturday, 11th September
19:30, Lauenen, Hotel Alpenland: INFO: 033 765 34 34
Folklore with the “Hählen-Perreten” chapel.
Sunday, 12th September
10:00 till 17:00, Saanen: INFO: 033 722 25 52
Public presentation of the “model railway group”
Obersimmental-Saanenland.
Thursday, 16th September
15:00, Saanen, Tourist Office: INFO: 033 748 81 81
Saanen village tour.
Friday, 17th September
20:00, Zweisimmen, Gemeinde Saal INFO: 033 748 81 81
23rd meeting of folk music. Various artists, big tombola and
“Örgelibar”, Restaurant. events
FRAMING BOOKBINDING GALLERY
Kath.
Kirche
Tennis
GSTAAD
Saanen
UBS
P
BUCH BILD GALERIE
FRAMING NEW IN GSTAAD
Promenade
BUCH BILD GALERIE
Coop
Gsteig
Bahnhof
Zweisimmen
Saanen MOB
galerie paltenghi
KIRCHSTRASSE
3780 GSTAAD
T 033 744 89 66
OPENING HOURS: TUE TO FRI 2 to 6 pm SAT 10 am to 4 pm SUN+MON closed

local
FYI
St. Peter’s English-Speaking
Anglican Church
On the 28th June 1899 the foundation stone
of St. Peter’s Anglican Church was laid in
Château-d’Oex by the Right Reverend. T.E.
Wilkinson, Anglican Bishop of Northern and
Central Europe.
St. Peter’s was one of about thirty English
churches built in Switzerland during the last quarter
of the 19th century, when thousands of British
people began to discover the beauty of this country.
They first came as tourists, but then settled
in significant numbers. Château-d’Oex was one
such area, and with their arrival came the desire
for familiar English services amidst familiar
church architecture.
In January 1898, the Berthod brothers made a
gift of land to the then Colonial and Continental
Church Society (now the Intercontinental Church
Society) for the construction of St. Peter’s. This
was funded by public subscription, which was
greatly encouraged by the energetic efforts of a
local English resident, Mrs. Claudine Scott. The
church was opened in September 1899, but by
the winter of 1905, the congregation had become
so large that plans were drawn up for an additional
aisle, to increase the seating capacity.
The extension was dedicated in 1911, but even
this proved inadequate for the estimated 300
people who packed into the Christmas service in
Featured Hotels in Gstaad
*****Palace Hotel Gstaad
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Beauty&Spa, 4 tennis courts, Olympic outdoor pool, and squash.
Tel: 033 748 50 00, www.palace.ch
*****Grand Hotel Bellevue, Gstaad
GaultMillau Hotel of Year 2003, 70 beds, 2,500 m 2 SPA
“Restaurant Prado”, “Restaurant “Coelho” with sun-terrace,
“Bellevue-Bar”, “Porsche 911 Club”, “Carnotzet”.
Tel: 033 748 00 00, www.bellevue-gstaad.ch
*****Grand Hotel Park, Gstaad
99 rooms, Spa/Fitness Centre, Restaurants: “Le Greenhouse”,
“Die Panoramaterrasse”, “Le Grand Restaurant”, “Le Grill”,
“Le Chalet Waldhuus”.
Tel: 033 748 98 00, www.grandhotelpark.ch
1922. This was despite the fact that many English
people had returned home at the outbreak of
World War I, which also halted tourist travel. However,
the Swiss government had negotiated with
the warring powers for the humanitarian work of
interning sick and wounded prisoners of war until
the end of hostilities. A significant proportion of
the 4,000 or so internees were in the area around
Château-d’Oex, and this helped to maintain the
Anglophile connection.
Records from the early 1930’s showed that there
were around 200 English residents in the region,
despite the impact of the depression. Indeed
three and sometimes four services were held on
Sundays, with a total annual attendance of 8,671
in 1932. Despite the effect of Alpine winters, the
building has been kept in good repair, with electric
heating installed in 1931 and a new roof in
1964. As well as the regular congregation, countless
visitors have worshipped in St. Peter’s,
including in April 1958 the then Archbishop of
Canterbury, and his wife, Mrs. Fisher. The Centenary
was held on 27th June 1999 in the presence
of HE the British Ambassador and the Bishop of
the Diocese-in-Europe who officiated.
Every Sunday at 5.30PM a Service of Evening
Prayer or Holy Communion is held. All are welcome
for these services. The congregation
includes members from Saanenland, Charmey
and Les Mosses, as well as seasonal visitors from
many parts of the world. It is the only church in
the Saanenland/Pays d’Enhaut regions where
services are held in the English language. The
Christmas Eve “Carols by Candlelight” Service is
particularly well attended.
For more information contact the Chaplain-
Reverend Clive Atkinson at 021 943 22 39
or Churchwarden Mr. Basil Bloodworth at
026 924 60 92.
7

K&K © CH patent
During the summer months, we would be very pleased to welcome you to our Spettacolo and Oh de vie restaurants. On our sunny terrace you will enjoy our
excellent menus, the special summer creations of Urs Gschwend’s 15-point Gault Millau kitchen and the view of the magnificent Wildstrubelmassif. Or how
about some rejuvenation at our 7 Sources day spa? From 9am until 7:30pm you can relax in our outdoor sulphur pool, in the sauna or the refreshing igloo.
Enjoy a Royal Hydro Bath and at lunchtime savour the tapas menu at the Oh de vie restaurant. CHF130.- per person without beverages for the lunch.
We are available by telephone at +41 (0) 33 736 36 36 or at www.lenkerhof.ch
BOUTIQUE CHOPARD - PROMENADE / ALTE POST - 3780 GSTAAD - TEL. +4133/744 90 44 - www.chopard.com