Off to Switzerland!

Given the motivation of previous visitors to our country, it would be going too far to speak of early tourism.

For example, Lord Byron was on the run from several scandals when he took refuge at Lake Geneva in 1816. Rumor has it that composer Richard Wagner fled to Switzerland to escape his creditors. Others saw climbing our mountain peaks as the only reason to come here and do political advocacy for their country at the same time. For example, in the race for the first ascent of the Matterhorn, which the Englishman Edward Whymper won for the Italians in 1865, the dubious glory – four of his companions lost their lives – went to England.

Despite claims to the contrary, the first ascent of the Eiger through the difficult north face in 1938 by a German-Austrian team was, in addition to the enormous achievement of the four climbers, also welcome propaganda from the German Reich. After two fatal attempts, Heinrich Harrer, Andreas Heckmair, Fritz Kasparek and Ludwig Vörg successfully crossed face and thus stood – according to the interpretation – for the successful reunification of the two countries.

Numerous mountain clinics were established in Davos and Leysin from the 19th century, not so much because of the fascination of the mountains as because of the altitude. Countless people suffering from tuberculosis, the so-called “consumption”, traveled for weeks or months to the Swiss mountains to be cured. With his magic mountain, the German writer Thomas Mann created a monument for Switzerland’s highest city. Not so much to the delight of Davos residents. If only they had preferred to see themselves associated with positive traits rather than the often deadly lung disease. Like the Engadine, for example.

No one really knows what is true about the story of the clever hotelier Johannes Badrutt from St. Moritz. But the story is told as follows: In the autumn of 1864, a handful of English guests lamented the inevitable winter to come. However, Badrutt promised them an Engadine with sunshine, pleasant temperatures and a dreamlike “winter wonderland”. In the spirit of the times, bets were made. Badrutt urged the English to come back in December. If he has promised too much, he will pay the full travel expenses. Legend has it that he won, marking the beginning of winter tourism in the region.

With his story Climbing the Riffelberg In 1878, the American Mark Twain wrote a witty parody of the madness of being first up the mountain everywhere. In the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries, illustrious guests stayed for weeks in relevant tourist centers such as Graubünden or Central Switzerland. Society sometimes ran out of ideas. Lying in the sun and breathing in the pure mountain air can be quite boring. Some wrote world literature, others let themselves be carried up with the newly built cable cars.

“Feels like home.” Those responsible for tourism took up the matter and offered a varied entertainment program: skiing, sleigh rides and concerts in the spas of the chic resorts were part of the offer. In addition, all kinds of bizarre actions were carried out. In Flims and Maloja, for example, a casino was built in the forest. Business was going well until the two world wars. These put a heavy damper on the fast-growing industry. A setback that certain regions never recovered from. However, other tourist attractions such as Lucerne or Zermatt remain eternal favourites. Even without Mark Twain or Edward Whymper.