The world’s grandest hotels invariably have the greatest tales to tell, their rich histories mirroring the development of the towns in which they are found, and their walls lined with details of their celebrated guests.
This seems particularly so in ski resorts, where plush hotels often sprang into existence in poor agricultural communities in response to the opening of a new railway station or because of the efforts of a visionary individual who foresaw the popularity of mountaineering and skiing.
In the 19th century, hotels were built from Aspen to Zermatt at extraordinary expense and installed with the latest innovations, notably electric lighting and central heating. Many of these grandes dames have survived two world wars, the Great Depression, avalanches and fires, inviting stellar guests from all walks of life to share in the simple delights of the mountains. In an age when new hotels, chalets and even palaces open at the drop of a snowflake, they remain among the most impressive high-altitude addresses.