St. Moritz in the Swiss Alps is thought to be the cradle of wintersports. And everything began in the year 1864 with a bet that four British tourists could only win. They were asked to visit the village once in winter and either the hotelier would pay for the return travel - if they did not like it - or for the whole stay - if they enjoyed it. The holiday-makers stayed from Christmas to Easter - the usual season of wintertourism was born. And Switzerland got a huge piece of the cake. In the winter 2008/2009 the villages in the Swiss Alps are again a good choice for unforgettable days in snow, for wintersports and a suiting all-round program. We give you an overview:

Located between Wengen and Grindelwald you find the skiing region of Maennlichen/Kleine Scheidegg which is part of the Jungfrau Top Ski Region. Here you can ski in front of the amazing background of Eiger, Moench and Jungfrau on 110 km of family-friendly slopes. Winter hiking paths with impressive panoramic views invite the less sporty holiday makers and slopes for sleighs with a length up to 15 km are highly attractive. The car-free Wengen is to be found on a terrace opening to the southwest which guarantees long hours of sunshine. At the Romantik Hotel Schoenegg René Berthod, a former member of the Swiss national skiing team, welcomes you. Enjoy the tradtional cosiness of the restaurant and the reading room and get some insiders' tips on the best slopes. Already at the end of the 18th century Grindelwald attracted its first visitors - mainly from England. The Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof opens the winter season with a new wellness area. Enjoy the warmth of the Finnlandian Sauna after the sporty activity in the cold and relax with some stimulating massage.

Thirteen mountains higher than 4,000 metres encircle the Valais glacier village of Saas-Fee, a European snowboard mecca. The absolut plus of the aera is its snow guarantee. The slopes cover the whole spectrum starting with wide for carvers via humpy to plain for beginners. Do not miss the largest ice grotto in the world where you can dig deep into the secrets of glaciers. The Romantik Hotel Beau-Site thinks of itself as "hotel for happy people" and therefore gaiety, unforced joy of life as well as the love for beautiful things and the lust for regional delicacies is seen as important. So you can for example enjoy typical Valais atmosphere and dishes at the "Fee Chaeller". 

At the foot of the Matterhorn, the most photographed peak in the world, Zermatt welcomes its guests. The ski area with snow guaranteed covers 300 km of slopes and a funpark for snowboarders where competitive athletes train as well. In case you want a little diversification try dog  sleighing or heliskiing with professional help. Shiny colours and unusual details combined with plain old wood make the guest rooms of the Romantik Hotel Julen an unforgettable treat. The ambiance at the "Schaeferstuebli" is rustic, the food of regional origin.

St-Luc is to be found on the sunny Eastern hillside of the Val d'anniviers. Here the pompous Belle Epoque past comes to life again - the Romantik Hotel Bella Tola is a good example. Behind the thick stone walls of the 19th century guests will find a hotel where unobtrusive elegance dominates. The guest rooms with their lovingly chosen furniture and well-balanced details have a flair of glorious past. The "planets' path" is something very special inviting you in summer and winter to hike to the stars. 

Chur is the only capital of a Swiss canton that has its own wintersports area. Brambueesch is a clearly arranged, family-friendly ski area with a marked snow shoeing trail and spacious slopes. Located in the centre of Chur the Romantik Hotel Stern is well known for its excellent cuisine and great wine cellar.

"Flims - Laax - Falera" - with a lot more than 200 km of slopes around the Crap Sogn Gion is one of the largest connected ski areas in Switzerland. Besides alpin skiing and carving activity lovers can choose from cross-country skiing, curling, winter hiking or paragliding. The professional Snowboard Freestyle Academy provides ideal surroundings for boarders. Admire the panorama of Flims from the balcony of your guest room at the Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof. Experience relaxation in the hotel pool filled with Grander water after a day on the slopes. 

If you do not like the larger wintersports' centres Bever at the heart of the Oberengadin is the place to be. Beautiful winter hiking paths, 180 km of well prepared cross-country ski run and a lit natural ice rink offer many possibilities to be active, the village itself is authentic and traditional. One highlight of the region is the Engadin ski marathon on the second Sunday in March with tens of thousands of competitive and "normal" sportsmen and -women every year. At the Romantik Hotel Chesa Salis every guest room is singular with high-end details like wall paintings, wood panelling made of Swiss Stone Pine and stucco work. The wine card of the restaurant covers approximately 350 positions with some world-famous wines as well as some regional rarities.

Every year Sils in the Engadin with its spacious valley and a special light becomes a winter paradise. The freezed up Silser Lake and the Flex valley invite on idyllic hikes, to do some cross-country sking or to go on outing with a horse-drawn sleigh. A very special experience is the world's only natural ice bobsleigh run in the near-by St. Moritz. The historical Romantik Hotel Margna gives the impression of the cosy, rural elegance of an exclusive country house of the 19th century in a typical style of the Engadin. A clear design with precious material of the region dominates the wellness and fitness area - a welcoming relaxation possibility at the end of a sporty day.

If you now caught fire for snow, winter hiking, skiing and horse-drawn sleighing - the Swiss Romantik Hotels & Restaurants still offer free capacities in the winter season up until Easter. Let yourself be infected with the winter fever.  

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