a room with tables and chairs

History

Discover the Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski St. Moritz, which features a wonderful blend of Mediterranean Revival-style architecture.

Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski St. Moritz was constructed during the historic reign of the United Kingdom’s famed Queen Victoria, who sat on the British throne from 1837 to 1901.

The Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains is steeped in tradition and can look back on an illustrious past: the hotel was originally built in 1864 as the Grand Hotel des Bains. The destination originally became famous for its mineral spring, which was discovered some 3,000 years ago. At the beginning of the 19th century, high society from all over Europe took the voyage to St. Moritz to enjoy the healing properties of the spring. Hotel guests can access the spring via a fountain, located in the spa area of the hotel.

The first renovations of the building took place in 1887, which aimed at giving the edifice the appearance of a sleek Mediterranean palace. In 1906, the corner towers were enlarged. Several amazing editions were added nearly two decades later, such as the Ca d’ Oro (the hotel’s Michelin-star accredited gourmet restaurant), as well as portions of the lounge and entrance area. The last renovations began in October 2001, when the facade and interiors were completely renovated with great emphasis placed on restoring the palace-style structure to its original elegance.

a building with trees in front of it

Hotel Timeline

The mineral-rich Mauritius Spring became renowned for its healing properties and established St. Moritz as a wellness destination long before the hotel existed.

European aristocrats and high society began traveling to St. Moritz to experience the therapeutic waters of the Mauritius Spring.

The hotel was constructed and opened as the Grand Hotel des Bains, directly adjacent to the famous mineral spring, quickly becoming one of Switzerland's premier spa resorts.

The building was remodeled to resemble a grand northern Mediterranean palace, enhancing its prestige among elite European travelers.

Distinctive neo-Baroque towers were expanded and enhanced, becoming defining architectural features of the hotel.

New sections including portions of the entrance, lounge, and the future Ca d'Oro area were added and redesigned in various historic styles.

The property operated for many years as the Parkhotel Kurhaus, continuing its role as a major St. Moritz resort hotel. Following the restoration, the property reopened under the Kempinski brand as the Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski St. Moritz.

A major restoration project commenced under Viennese architect Franz Schnabel, focused on preserving the building's historic grandeur while modernizing the facility.

After approximately 14 months and an investment of 80 million Swiss francs, the facade and interiors were fully restored using historic photographs and architectural references.

Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski St. Moritz was inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide. Historic Hotels Worldwide is a prestigious collection of historic treasures, including more than 300 legendary historic hotels including many former castles, chateaus, palaces, academies, haciendas, villas, monasteries, and other historic lodging spanning ten centuries.

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