Where The World Meets™
 
 
Burbling on the train through French Rougemont and into the Saanen Valley, I strain for a glimpse of Gstaad. The white turrets of the legendary Palace Hotel appear first, framed by the darkening sky. As I sit in my rêverie, children from Le Rosey skip past me to open doors where Chauffeurs wait respectively with idling Bentleys. And here I am in Gstaad, the elite capital of Switzerland, sister to Cannes and seconded superlatively only by St. Moritz. An ignorant tourist visiting for the first time may not recognize the exclusiveness of this place. Gstaad hides her posh status behind charming weather beaten chalets browned with time and secrets, its walls displayed with painted biblical phrases that bless all who enter. Furthermore, the breathtaking vistas of the alps surround and dwarf the village, keeping ones mind off the material. Although its elite standing may be concealed by scenery and simplicities, Gstaad is undeniably chic. Home to many of the worlds elite, including Elizabeth Taylor, Gunter Sachs, and Roger Moore, whose son opened the popular restaurant and lounge ‘Hush’ in town. The resort is visited by all the fabulous and many not-so-fabulous, all trying to cash in on someone else’s fame. However, here in Gstaad, the ‘magnificent’ rarely occasion anyone else’s second glance. Gstaad life is a simple mix of sport, celebration, and rest. The invigorating Swiss air stimulates even the most decrepit into a state of healthy exuberance. Sport thrives here, with everything from Polo to Beach Volleyball. Ballooning is also a favorite, with a world famous Balloon festival in neighboring Chateaux D’Ouex, drawing thousands to watch the inflatables disappear into the horizon. Also held in Gstaad; the Allianz Swiss Open, boasting the presence each year of the legendary Roger Federer. The highlight of the Summer Season is the Cartier Polo Silver Cup, showcasing the best talents of the Polo world, allowing for spectacular battles between Adolfo Cambiaso and the Heguy brothers. In the Winter Season, Gstaad life is measured by skiing. The Gstaad SuperSki region attracts the most advanced of skiers down to the very beginners, with the ‘après ski’ being a bit more popular. But the most established Gstaad is hiking. Long before the ski slopes became popular, wealthy British aristocrats would visit the town for their health. Walking in the bracing Swiss air was known to cure many ailments, including, interestingly enough, mental disease. Today, the pastime remains popular, and if one is smart, the hikes can be spectacular. Skipping the tourist traps of the Eggli and Wispile mountains, the experienced walkers hit the ‘wanderwegs’ of the Wasserngrat, home to the legendary Eagle Ski Club. Gstaad is so deliciously Swiss, with everything from fine watches to carefully cleaned money. However, beyond these stereotypes, it is simply a Mecca of the best!
 
 
Educated at the prestigious Phillips Academy Andover followed by the University of Southern California, Will Riordan spent his childhood between Gstaad, Switzerland and Boston’s North Shore of Manchester by-the-Sea, Massachusetts. Continuing his education, Riordan works for change through education and exposure in Southeast Asia’s Thailand and Laos, while promoting Moderate-Conservative political interests on various campaigns.
 
a Switzerland more than Chocolate
 
 by William J. Riordan III
 
In spite of all of this, Gstaad has not lost any of her charm or allure. Instead of going the route of St. Moritz and craving the crass desires of new money, Gstaad has retained its original ‘country town’ environment. Life is slow here; the paparazzi from Hello Magazine and like publications are conspicuously absent from its streets, allowing the bad and beautiful to let their hair down, both literally and figuratively. The infamous and outspoken Greek aristocrat Taki Theodoracopulos may disagree, just as he so mightily did in 2004 when Paris Hilton spoiled his winter hibernation. At its heart, Gstaad is the same as it was in the 50s, if not the 20s. Because of this accord with the past, Gstaad life is centered on its duality. The farmers and the jet set live in harmony; members of both parties enjoying a meal of cheese fondue and local Chardonnay at the town’s 170 year-old family owned inn, the Posthotel Rössli.
 
Gstaad
 
 
 
 
 
Palace Hotel Gstaad
Hush Gstaad
Allianz Swiss Open
Cartier Polo
Silver Cup
Wasserngrat
 
 
Posthotel Rössli
Chateaux D’Oeux
Balloon Festival