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Time-out in the Alps: Recalibrating your interior compass

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:25:00 GMT

What to take away from mountains and the people that live with them

It is the mix of timeless natutal beauty and a unique cultural landscape that make the Alps more than just a travel destination

The Alps: Timeless. Independent. Thought-provoking

There is a different flow of time in the Alps. ‘Slow’ would be the wrong description. Yet, the way time flows is surely antagonistic to the hectic and often times erratic pulls and pushes that the majority of people that are exposed to a modern lifestyle are subject to, whether by choice or involuntary.

Modernity as such, to be sure, should not simply be regarded as something negative overall. After all, modernity, with its origin going back more than 300 years (the so-called early modern age) has led to the majority of the world’s population living longer, healthier and more prosperous lives than was the case anytime before in history. But as Friedrich Schiller, a poignant analyst of his time, has pointed out, modernity is beneficial for human kind - but a rough imposition on the individual.

Such a discussion could surely fill the pages of many PhD theses, but…to break this complex socio-economic subject down to its simplest terms: modernity forces us to be ever flexible, adaptable, stress-resistant, able to juggle multiple tasks and never stop being part of a process onto which the individual itself has basically no influence.

I leave it to every single individual to resume if this modus operandi is something more positive or negative – whether it pushes you to pursue new boundaries and thus contribute to the advancement of humankind, or if it simply squashes you like a ripe orange, sucking your energy for the benefit of others.

But there is no doubt that modernity in every case necessitates times of disengagement. Of disconnect, to seek serenity and recalibration. Even corporations support such a view, even if only to have more productive ‘human resources’ later on. However, whether or not we want to use recalibration to go back in and resume with even more energy, or in order to get completely new ideas about being and life is again up to every individual.

But independent of your specific goals, the place to go for a recalibration of your mindset, of your interior compass, your battery/engine and maybe even your system of though and hence your overall soul is…the Alps (what did you think??).

Wood, granite - and ice

Lets look at typical food: Speck (bacon) is aging for months, at least if you consider the true artisanal produced varieties. Cheese undergoes a similar process. The better varieties are in addition derived from animals that are kept outside, in their natural surroundings, again over much longer time periods than is the case in modern high-tech agriculture.

All this can only mean that time has a different value in the Alps. Modernity has it that time is money. Here, time is a promise. A promise about quality, dedication and rarity. Whether the bacon has its perfect degree of flavour thanks to airdrying this week or only in two doesn’t matter. What matters is that the flavour will be perfect.

Observing alpine lifestyle and traditions is an area even more complex, but confirms the point made further above. Of course the Alps feature urban centres, such as Geneva, Munich, Salzburg, Graz, Torino and others. And the young and the old use the internet, you can see street wear being worn, Netflix watched, and hip-hop music being listened to. But by and large, these adaption to new ways of live are still grounded and rooted in a fairly stable set of traditions and traditional values. Many people consider the annual calendar of festivities and special days. Family bonds are often strong. There is a sense of community and belonging, of pride towards customs, the region and its people. Values that have come under fire in many parts of the West remain strong and more stable in the Alps. And while most people have all but ‘exotic’ ways of living, and pursue jobs in the tourism industry, as farmers, lawyers, teachers etc., it is much more the rhythm of nature and traditional customs that guide the life of individuals, rather than a smart-watch telling you how much you still have to walk today to complete your goals.

Mountains are strict teachers - and mountain dwellers have learned from nature

Winter for instance, while it has lost its terrifying power over the lives of people also in the Alps, is still cold, snowy and powerful enough to calm the average speed down between November and at least February. Yes, people have modern 4 WD cars, but snow and ice on the roads still ask for adapted speeds. You also might spend half an hour or so to uncover your car in the morning after a heavy snowfall. And while electricity in the Alps is not an issue for sure (rather to the contrary, thanks to hydropower), the smaller settlements and valleys are simply quite pitch-dark in the cold season, driving people indoors, enjoying the cosiness of the home and of family and friends.

Living near, with, or on mountains impacts lifestyles as well. Despite all technology that is available between Nice and Vienna, and between Munich and Torino, people who life and work on or with mountains know one thing for sure: Nature is not your fun-dude. It demands respect, and most alpine dwellers are prepared to give it. Life can end quickly under an avalanche in winter or through a rockfall in the other seasons, or you may simply fall of the cliffs in your car if you get it wrong.

This combination of valuing time, traditions, and nature makes people less prone to become headless subjects to the ever-changing trends and needs of modernity. By way of slow adaption, i.e. by combining the beneficial parts of modernity (such as electricity, individual mobility, the internet, etc) with their tried and tested traditions, the people of the Alps have gained something that is very much en vogue now in the centers of modernity, and referred to as ‘resilience’.

What values matter in your life?

Resilience has been more crucial for Alpine people than in most other regions, largely due to the more violent and unforgiving nature, and also by lesser options to diversify your economic or social base. Hence, customs and traditions were kept as long as they reinforced this resilience, and aspects of modernity were adopted for the same reason. Both traditions and modernity were and are constantly being checked for their potential contribution to resiliency.

Coming back to our earlier example of construction materials for the alpine chalets, wood and granite are not only beautiful and locally available – but are reliable, have high levels of resistance and guarantee for a solid house that can withstand the many attacks by nature.

As such, the Alpine view on things can help the stressed and modern city dweller as well with some important questions: What does really matter in my life? What does make me stronger? How can I become a more valuable contributor to my family, community or society? Make no mistake – there is no simple answer to these fundamentally important questions. I am not suggesting that every investment banker should turn into a mountain farmer, producing 1a-class goat cheese (even though it sounds tempting). But the Alps and its inhabitants by and large have a somewhat different approach to many things, and a different hierarchy in the value-system. By spending some time in the Alp’s pristine, tranquille, and sometimes untamed nature, and observing how the local populace go about their duties – maybe have a couple of chats even, one might, after some time, see certain aspect with a different view, get some distance to things that before were regarded as indispensably important.

What I find very often is that the mountain-dweller is frequently a relaxed person, with very clear views on things. Frequently assured about their individual contribution they add to their and to other peoples lives, theirs is a certain degree of stability and happiness in their being – and spending some time in the Alps, ideally regularly, might lead you to the discovery of what their approach is – and what you can use for your own plans over the next months and years.

Why the Alps Are the Most Intimate Honeymoon Destination in Europe

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 11:42:23 GMT

In my view, the Alps offer a perfect backdrop for a truly intimate honeymoon. This is not (necessarily) because they boast a substantial amount of posh hotels, chalets, top restaurants, and some flashy high-end shopping. It is due to the way the natural and cultural landscape melt together into a complex painting of which the couple is part of, rather than just a passive observer

Plenty of wide open spaces - just for the two of you. But there is far more to a honeymoon in the Alps for the discerning couple...

Intimacy is not about isolation — it’s about space

Facts first: A honeymoon is not just another trip. As I wrote in my previous essay, it is the celebration of something new – which is two people in love as a couple. A honeymoon is also a test ground. How does living with the other, presumably and hopefully better half, actually feel? How does it feel when new sights and sensation are not only experienced by you as an individual, but by you who is now part of something bigger? How is the mutual resonance of new experiences?

There is at least two, but probably more, approaches to it. Since a few decades, the ‘freak out’ approach has gained some popularity: Sun, beach and party in well known resorts worldwide cater to this avenue. And it is an understandable desire to just enjoy and have fun before the day-to-day (the ‘train-train’ as the French like to call it) delights, responsibilities, and the offspring kicks in, all demanding time and commitment from you and the partner. Actually, such an approach is not so new after all, as also many European upper-class families used to send their young sons (less their young daughters) on a tour across-Europe to learn and enjoy life before commitment and responsibilities will take their toll.

However, there is also another approach which many couples choose, and this one value intimacy. Intimacy can mean many things, but here I refer to it as the opportunity to really focus on you two. If such a focus is supported by stillness, beauty, nature and discrete luxury which does not distract you – this can provide a very strong and unforgettable basis to your partnership. Intimacy in this sense is generated by space, rhythm, solitude and calmness. And this is something the Alps can offer in many diverse settings.

The Alps offer privacy without disconnection

Just think of an Alpine valley: Many of them are secluded, but not isolated (with exceptions of course). That means tranquillity is part of living here, especially in valleys where there is only one way in and out. Many hotels and chalets are situated above the valley ground, offering stunning views not only into the valley, but often also to the surrounding summits. And as so often in the Alps, things that we can enjoy now are rooted in culture and survival, rather than in touristic necessities:

The majority of hotels have their origin in local farms, which were built above the valley. The presence in above the bottom meant better access to the pastures, better protection against avalanches in winter (which drown everything at their ending point, which usually is the bottom of the valley), and also the possibility to note early on when something was about to happen, be it bad weather or maybe marauding soldateskas.

Space was and is limited, preventing the agglomeration of large resorts. And, from the beginning of Alpine tourism from the second half of the 19 ^th century onwards, travellers actually came to the Alps to enjoy the countryside, the mountains and the villages, rather than sticking exclusively to the amenities of the hotels. Hence, ‘enclave resorts’, that relate to their surroundings like an UFO in the desert of Nevada, and that can frequently be witnessed in resorts around the world never had any tradition in the Alps. And again, the fact that many hotels here are still owned by a family, often since generations, also promotes a healthy form of co-inhabitance of tourism and ‘natives’.

Luxury yes - segregation no. This hotel is a typical example of the Alpine hospitality history: It developed over generations from a mountain farm into a high-class 5 star luxury hotel. However, despite the change, the hotel, its staff, the food - as well as the guests, are interwoven with their sorroundings (St. Cassian, Alta Badia, Italy, foto courtesey of Hotel Fanes)

A landscape that naturally slows you down

But lets have a look at the actual highlight of the Alps. The true star of this region of course is the landscape. Often breathtaking, frequently inspiring, always able to provide you with emotions and thoughts.

I myself for example have seen the summits that flock around my valley now thousands of times. In all seasons, in all times of the day, in splendid and gruesome weather. Nevertheless, whenever I am out in the nature, be it on a longer trip, be it climbing or on skis, or just out on a 30min walk with my dog – almost every time I stop and take in the view. Because in fact it is never the same. Precipitation, humidity, the exact position of the sun and the angles of the sunrays, all influence the particular painting you see – and then we have the seasons which equally astonish us every time they arrive. You’d be surprised how many grown-up locals make heir pictures on their mobile of a mountain that they know since childhood and which they have seen countless times before on the first day of snow in the season – because this ‘new’ costume is breathtaking ever again.

These are the mountains at my doorstep. While a daily view, I never got bored - and I shoot photos at least weekly (near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria)

Apart from the endless diversity ,it is the stillness of the pictures you see, paired with a certain degree of aloofness of the mountains. Mountains fascinate us because there are huge, but also because they are old. They make everything we experience normally relative, and easily manage to minimize our hybris. They stood majestically above the valley long before we walked across the earth, and will do so long after we have gone. The combination of mountains, creeks, forests and pastures deliver a complete work of art that transports strength, health, universalism, belonging together. Inhale a few times, and it may change you more sustainably than a number of sessions with a psychologist.

Serenity is another key characteristic that is rooted in the DNA here, and this level of serenity is seizing the traveller who comes here with an open heart and soul. It is this ageless composition of nature, the way the local people work with and of the nature since generations. Everything is in an harmonious, timeless and seemingly endless flow, and such insights are rare to find in our modern world.

The great thing about the Alps as a travel destination is however that these deep and priceless insights come with all sorts of comfort if you want. No one needs to refrain from internet access, luxury beds, high-end foods and top-notch wellness areas, as they often are integral parts of the hotels which are, as described above, themselves an integral part of the cultural landscape. But all of this comes without artificial entertainment. Your urge to watch Netflix in the evening will decrease day by day, because nothing will beat the sunset enjoyed from your infinity pool.

All this will make you slow down, will help you to focus on yourself, your partner. It will provide you with fresh and creative ideas about your new mutual future, and about the live that lies ahead of you.

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Living moments instead of scheduled romance

Things tend to be less programmed in the Alps. Things happen, and they happen in the rhythm of nature and of how the locals live with nature, which used to be very unforgiving in the past.

Artificial entertainment is a form of consumption. While consumption is nothing negative per se, in my view it distracts from you as a new couple. Spending one, or better two weeks in the Alps give the honeymoon couples plenty of opportunity to swing into this rhythm, and let go of any urgency, the need for scheduled entertainment and similar form of distraction. You will be the focus, you will be in the center, and the natural landscape provides both the frame as well as the canvas for this.

But what about when you fancy some entertainment? Some city-vibes? Some urban flair? Do you in the end have to decide between these two apparently antagonistic sides? The answer is a no, and the fact that it is a ‘no’ is another top-seller of the Alps as a romantic holiday destination. Because in the end, distances are manageable. There are numerous urban centers in the Alps which offer a fantastic combination of modern city live, and old-world architecture, alpine charme, and many cultural amenities.

Fully urban - fully alpine. Salzburg is one of many cities and towns in the Alps where urban and alpine falvour mix beautifully together.

Cities like Geneva and Munich are global centers of commerce and finance. Salzburg is famed for highest-level culture, and the north Italian cities of Bozen/Bolzano, Torino and Verona are true cities as they are true Alpine cities.

And there are many smaller urban locations in between, offering a unique combination of being parts of the Alps and being connected to the modern globalized World at the same time. Vaduz, the small capital of the equally small principality of Liechtenstein for instance is a global financial center, and many banks, funds and foundations have their headquarter here).

Why alpine honeymoons feel deeply personal

All this provides couples with the option to experience a truly meaningful, personal and unique honeymoon, that will benefit your new togetherness long after it will have been completed. Chances are you will return to the Alps later, maybe with your kids. The opportunity for couples is that every honeymoon can be shaped highly individual according to your preferences. Do you prefer summer or a real winter? Traditional bulcolic food or international Michelin-level cuisine? An intimate chalet, or a historic castle turned five-star hotel? Spending your evenings in the pool while gazing at the star-covered night sky – or do you prefer the opera? Action and adrenalin while paragliding or skiing, or just deep relaxation by snow-shooing through a mountain forest covered in snow and calmness?

The alpine region offers all of that and more to you, but beyond all it offers meaning, and it will provide you with a space which with you can resonate.

Designing an intimate honeymoon in the Alps

Describing these opportunities, working with couples to understand what they’d like to take out from their honeymoon, and then helping and supporting you with creating a seamless dream-honeymoon is what we do at Mont-e-Val. This is born out of our own appreciation and love for this region, and our conviction that it can be the ideal place for young couples to grow their seeds of their new future life.

Because the intimacy that the Alps can serve you can be a great start into your new life. They offer the space and various opportunities to find your true self, and invite you to more profound and pioneering ideas for your future life.

A Privately Curated Honeymoon in the Alps – Beyond Convention

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 13:02:02 GMT

A honeymoon is not simply another journey.

Even for well-travelled couples, it marks a threshold — the first shared chapter of a new life.

Transitioning into a new life - with reflection, depth and meaning. The Alps are a fantastic destination for such an experience.

A honeymoon as a threshold

For sure, a honeymoon is not a simple trip. Even though a couple has probably travelled before – a honeymoon is the first new togetherness, a celebration of the new life that lies ahead. As such, there is quite some responsibility involved in planning this journey, as expectations are high, and a flop could create s rift in the fresh marriage.

Hence, I want to propose – not to any of the two spouses, but to consider a destination that might not come up in a cliché-imagination of honeymoons, but that provides unique options with a potential to knit the fabric close and tight – and that leaves memories for a lifetime.

See, this initiation rite is not simply ‘time away’, but the first shared chapter of something new, and of something that is being created together. Yet many honeymoons are reduced to destinations, checklists, and expectations that leave little room for meaning or presence.

Designing a honeymoon requires the same sensitivity as creating a work of art.
It begins with understanding — and is built on intention

When approached this way, travel becomes a medium rather than a product.

For couples who seek this level of intention, the Alps offer a rare setting — intimate, grounded, and deeply human.

Why conventional honeymoons often fall short

To start with, the Alps are intrinsically individualistic, rather than all-inclusive.

To make my point, let us consider a typical all-inclusive holiday destination, for instance an island in the Mediterranean or Carribean Sea. Travellers are brought in by plane-loads, put in busses, offloaded in huge hotels, where then they undergo a routine day-by-day experience of beach-in beach-out.

So far so good.

Designing a honeymoon, not booking a destination

Many such honeymoons are shaped by expectations rather than intention, with the expectation being something around picturesque sceneries. But…a honeymoon, in my view, should offer more than that.

Why? Because it is a chance to experience different aspects of the personality of your new mate. And personalities reflect what is happening around them. That requires experiencing ‘things’, rather than just consuming them. It requires spending the days with open eyes, hearts and souls.

What I mean is to see how your soulmate and indeed you as a united couple are shaped by new environments, sounds, tastes, views experiences – and here, the Alps are almost uniquely diverse.

Why the Alps offer something rare

Individuality, seclusion and private spaces

In a very general sense, it is difficult to find classical touristic hot-spots in the Alps. Sure, during the skiing season some resorts have specialised in drawing in the party-folks, but otherwise the mountains offer too many valleys, places, activities and sights to allow for a massive concentration of holiday seekers.

On the contrary, people most often venture to this area of central Europe to find calmness and serenity, to draw strength from a natural environment where the elements of air, snow, rocks, pastures, water, forests etc. are shaped less by human influences than in other parts of the continent. This seeking of refreshing the soul is part of the DNA of the Alps as a leisure destination. From the early tourist days onwards, emphasis has been on experience rather than just consumption.

Privacy, movement, and depth

Imagine you have a whole luxury house nestled in a beautiful valley just for yourself. A healthy alpine breakfast is brought to your door silently every morning, and after a coffee, you jump into your own pool with a breathtaking view of the nearby Alpine summits. Such luxury part-time homes, typically referred to as ‘chalet’ in the Alps, are integrated into the landscape with thought and an eye for detail – they never appear like stranded UFOs, but more often as if they have always been part of the cultural landscape of the area.

Imagine then that at the evening, a private chef arrives at your chalet, ready to prepare a dinner that levels with Michelin-star standards.

During the day, you can choose between silent encounters of Alpine wildlife such as bearded vultures, chamois or ibex under the careful guidance of a ranger, or you can experience some old alpine heritage such as for instance cheese-manufacturing at a ‘Alp’, where cattle and sheep are grazed high above the valley during the summer months.

If you prefer more classic old-world charm: The Alps boast numerous fortresses and castles, and a significant number of the latter have since been refurbished as luxury hotels – with a view. You can stroll through charming villages, or former imperial spa-towns, where facades, streets and cultural life still embody their former ranking. Alpine vineries, for instance in southern Austria (Styria), around Lake Geneva, Vallois or South Tyrol produce some of the continents finest drops, and many offer guided tours, also exclusively for couples.

In case you rather seek some adrenaline, I wouldn’t even know where to start, as the Alps have long been a destination for the brave, for those who want to reach new destinations. You may experience the Alps from a small plane, from a hot-air balloon, or maybe you want to test your bravery while paragliding.

And we haven’t even talked about the Alps in Winter.

A setting that adapts to the couple

What I mean is that this destination offers a potpourri of experiences, both intense and genuine, deeply rooted in place, and surrounded by natural beauty.

It will capture your fantasies, open your mind, bring out your deeper layers – and will thus help to shape a real experience for both of you, rather than ticking boxes of ‘things to do during a honeymoon’.

Even if you had decided to spend all your honeymoon days in your private chalet-pool – the many impressions of dusks and dawns, that look different every day might have been enough for such a ‘united-by-experience’ feeling.

A honeymoon shaped with intention

At Mont-e-Val, we design alpine honeymoons as once-in-a-lifetime journeys - shaped by place, rhythm, and the couple at the center.

The Origins of Skiing in the Alps: After 5,000 years of age - it is still young

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 19:31:26 GMT

How an ancient survival technique coined the soul and character of a whole regions - and its people

Skiing is more than a sport. It is devotion. It is nature. It is pure enjoyment. It is leaving traces. No wonder it was, is, and will be popular.

Skiing - a little introduction

Skiing and the Alps belong together. No one would doubt this, and we can also state that as skiing formed the Alps, so did the Alps form skiing.

Behind the modern glitz of skiing - think Crans Montana, St. Moritz, Arlberg, Ischgl, Kitzbühel, Cortina d'Ampezzo etc etc - lies a rich and surprising story.

The history of skiing in the Alps is a tale of adventure, pioneering, innovation, and cultural transformation. Before it became a global winter sport, skiing was a survival technique, then a curiosity, and finally a catalyst that reshaped Alpine communities.

Understanding these origins adds depth to every winter journey through South Tyrol, Tyrol, or Switzerland — revealing skiing not merely as a pastime but as a living cultural heritage of the Alps.

The Origins of Skiing — Before Franz Klammer and Après-Ski

Sorry Austria. Nope Switzerland. It wasn't you who invented it: The earliest skis ever discovered come not from the Alps but from Northern Scandinavia and Siberia! Archaeological finds show that skis were used more than 5,000 years ago for hunting, transportation, and in general made it possible to survive long winters.

These early skis were tools of practicality rather than recreation.

This ancient northern tradition re-entered European consciousness thanks to 19th-century Norwegian explorers like Fridtjof Nansen , whose Greenland crossing famously demonstrated the power and elegance of skiing. And indeed, it was this expedition which laid the groundwork for the introduction of skiing into Alpine regions.

How Skiing Arrived in the Alps — The Begin of true Winter Tourism

As this picture above of wintery St. Moritz shows - there was some form of winter tourism in the Alps before skiing. But very limited. In the end, one could freeze ones behind off in other places too. Sure, the clear crisp air, lots of winter sunshine were also favoured, but skiing really made the difference.

Skiing reached the Alps in the late 1800s. At first, Alpine villagers were puzzled by these long wooden boards. Actually, most of them had better things to do than fooling around in the snow - at first at least. But curiosity soon turned into experimentation — and the sport began to adapt to steeper, more challenging mountain terrain. And this was the merit of, no, still not you Austrians, Swiss or Italians. It was the merit of a country that by itself has little mountains:

The Role of Switzerland, Davos & St. Moritz - and that of the British

The first wave of transformation accelerated when British aristocrats, drawn by fresh mountain air and a pioneering spirit, embraced skiing during winter holidays. These folks new the Alps already from summer, as they also invested this very bizarre sport of 'mountaineering' - climbing up mountains for no use whatsoever. Tsss, these British. There as well, locals witnessed these efforts mostly by shaking their hads. However, they were soon needed as guides, since they knew the territorry, the techniques, and the weather.

But back to winter: With growing railway networks and luxury hotels, Davos and St. Moritz became early hubs of Alpine winter tourism. And skis were seen in an ever increasing number. This moment marked the beginning of something new:

The Alps as the birthplace of modern winter travel culture.

Skiing Transformed Alpine Culture and Mountain Communities

The arrival of skiing reshaped the Alps in profound ways. What had once been a quiet winter season turned into a dynamic period of activity and hospitality.

From dark, forgotten backwaters to global ski arenas:

Ski tourism led to substantial changes in the Alpine villages: New professions (ski instructors, mountain guides, hoteliers) rose; iconic family-run hotels were established - many still working today. While not all, but many started of as farms that offered a few guest rooms. Then a guest wing, and a terrace. Then a bar, a sauna etc. And here we go: Increasing competiton led to the world's highest density of 4* and 5-star hotels.

But it didn't stop there. Soon the first mechanical ski-lifts were seen. In the beginning. in the valley. And just one, or two. But people accepted that. Than another wave of pioneers had their time: Mostly locals who envisioned modern, complex - and expensive cable cars that could reach the mountain tops - opening up a whole new arena for skiing.

From South Tyrol to Tyrol, Graubünden, the Dolomites, Bavaria and the French Savoyes - many celebrated winter destinations owe their identity to these developments, which took place within a few decades, around the 1930s to 1970s.

Picture of Verbier, Switzerland.

The changes couldn't be more profound: What we see in many skiing destinations today is afluence, where there were harsh degrees of poverty before. For me, when stralling through an Alpine village, this often is a strong image: Life in secluded and remote Alpine villages was really tough. Farming was on subsistence level, and nature was even more unforgiving than in the rest of Europe. Winters were long, cold and dark. If you did not take proper care and apply solid planing - you would not have survived the four to five winter months. Period.

Now you see big houses, villas, expensive cars, shopping boutiques, posh restaurants etc. Of course, not every local is a millionaire - far from it. But most inhabitants enjoy a good life, which of course is still to be earned; but nevertheless, there is probably no other area at least in Europe where poeple enjoyed a similar economic and social transformation in such a short time. And skiing contributed a lot.

And today? Skiing connects the past and the present; tradition with modern sportsmanship; and nature with luxury

Skiing is unique. Its combination of sports, fun, subtle luxury, the feel of speed, sunshine, white snow - all of that is also for me an intriguing combination.

I can only recommend to experience it in full. And every skier unknowingly participates in centuries of Alpine tradition — carrying forward a cultural legacy shaped by explorers, visionaries, and mountain communities.

For some, skiing is a sport. For others, a lifestyle.

In the Alps, and I can confirm this every winter, no matter where you go: Skiing is identity — a cultural thread woven into villages, families, landscapes, and winter traditions.

Exploring the history of skiing in the Alps allows travelers to experience the mountains not just visually, but emotionally and culturally. Behind every modern Alpine holiday lies an extraordinary story — one that continues to evolve with each new generation of skiers.

Go for it. You haven't been in the Alps when you didn't go skiing!

The Dark Spirits of Alpine Winter: Krampus, Percht & the Myths of the Underworld

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 16:14:08 GMT

The Alpine Soul and its Inhabitants

It is early December. You are in a small Tyrolean village, weeks before the Christmas tourist season starts. In fact, the nearby ski resort hasn’t opened yet, most hotels and restaurants are closed during this time of the year. The locals have the village for themselves.

But not so. They are not alone when dark falls. And the dark during these weeks is real darkness. Pitch black. You only see a few windows lit. The orange lights cast a warm light around the windows, but still, most of the village is dark. The air is ice cold, below freezing points is the norm for the nights during this season. With the cold and the calmness you notice that stars above you, and the stars with the moon expose the contours of the wintery landscape.

You can see surprisingly well even without artificial light, because the moonlight is reflected in the snow. You can see the silhouettes of the surrounding mountains.

But suddenly your hear steps. Not light steps, and not of an individual person. But of a group, and the steps are heavy, stomping, and worse, the noise of the group is not that of humans, but a deep growling sound, and with the growl you seem to note the tingling of cow bells.

But these are not cows.

No animals. No humans either. As the group comes closer, you see these beasts go on two legs. They carry long horns, and long thick fur. Now they spotted you! The group got silenced for a second or so when they realized there is a human nearby. But only for a second, because then all hell brakes loose, the horde runs at you, growling you see the grim faces which look more frightening and grim than anything you have see in your life before, you are encircled by this terrifying group.

Why Krampus & Percht are real

Nonsense you claim? I am just a terribly bad writer of creepy blogs you say? Well, you are wrong. Maybe you are right in that I might be a terrible writer, but the subject of the intro is not a cheap B-level phantasy. You can actually encounter these creatures in the Alps, between end of November and well into the first ten days or so of December. What you have seen in this little Tyrolean village is a group of Krampus and Percht.

In my previous blog I outlined that a number of pre-Christian traditions have survived in remote alpine valleys, simply because the eyes of the authorities couldn’t control whats going on behind all these summits. So villagers kept some of their traditions, while other were mixed with the new Christian faith.

The group of Kampus and Percht belong to the former – there is nothing in Christianity that would match with such creatures which can only have been emerged right away from hell. Or is it not? Look again? This must be one of the most terrifying sights possible

Good and bad can't always be seperated so easily - and sometimes it is not always as it may seem...

But wait – who is that old man at the edge of the group? An old, apparently honourable gentleman, wearing a long, white beard. White gloves, a stick, a bishop’s mitra..well, no doubt, this must be St. Nikolaus. But what does this holy man, famous for caring for the poor have to do with these creatures of hell?

As with many things in the Alps, the answer is not so straight forward. Centuries of different influences mix. Celtic and Germanic traditions. Local rites. Christian customs. Sacred figures of old religions being transformed into Christian saints. And there are as many layers in between as there are valleys in the Alps.

Believe it or not, and if you are into modern educational methods for children, stop reading immediately, but…in many homes in Austria, Southern Bavaria and South Tyrol, St. Nikolaus enters the home of peaceful families and their kids with at least one Krampus on his side.

Ok, this could fill a PhD thesis in anthropology. But rest assured that one of the mainstream explanations of ghostly creatures (they are here to fend of the ghosts of winter) is wrong. Ghosts normally don’t fight ghosts.

A ‘Percht’ (or Berta, in Trentino La Berta) reads and analyses fate during the long winter nights, and has traditionally be seen as an ally to humans and human souls. And Miss Percht has also traditionally been giving present to children. One form of transformation of Percht is that ‘she’ is now often embodied as an angel-girl which is accompanying St. Nikolaus in many of the holy man’s public appearances. But Miss Percht also had a favourite domesticated animal, a type of goat. This is one of the origins of the horned, furry beings that you have seen in the night at the brink of the village.

Krampus on the other hand has been described as a ‘Wild Man’ or ‘old Man’. The ‘Old Man’ was a ghost who, during the long nights between Christmas and Epiphany, scavenged over the barren, frozen and snow-covered fields – a cornfield ghost. In Bavaria, Krampus is closely related to ‘krampn’, meaning old, dried, also giving reference to a straw-like figure, again closely linked to the cornfield-ghost of the mid-winter.

As you can see, it is not easy to draw a clear line from origin to the present. But for me, the groups of Krampus and Percht belong to the most fascinating emblements of the Alpine soul. Rough, untamed, mystic, but also, and this becomes clear when looking at the hellish appearance and their benevolent mythical origin, multi-layered – more than what can be seen at first glance.

While Krampus processions enjoy growing interest year by year, and more and more Krampus-Clubs are being founded (which actually is great), there is also a tendency of ‘Disneyfication’, of too much Bengal lights, too much noise, too big of an emphasis of being scary, while the mythical and multi-layered past gets neglected.

However, in the smaller, more remote villages, the old spirit of the Percht-St-Nikolaus-Krampus groups is still more mythical, fascinating and deeply energetic. I recommend every friend of the Alps to visit such a ceremony at least once. In the Alps in early winter, not only do season flow from one into another, but also mythical ages, traditions, and centuries of human culture and mythological and spiritual thought. In the middle of Europe. How fascinating is that?

The Return of Silence: Alpine All Souls Traditions & the Awakening of the Underworld

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 15:36:33 GMT

Alpine All Souls Traditions: The Underworld Awakens

When the daylight retreats - the underworld opens up. And with it the Souls of the Ancestors.

As so often, the senses in the Alps are often sharper than in many other cultural and natural settings.

And this is also true for feeling the change of seasons. And within the seasons, this is evident as well. While September still carries with it the warmth of summer, and is also a month of festivities, often dealing with thankfulness for a ripe harvest, October brings unusual colours, paired with all the gold, orange and caramel-brown colours of the alpine forests. You feel that change is going on, that nature, people, everything is preparing for another state of life and of mind.

And then November enters. While in this month too we can enjoy some dry, crisp, sun-loaded days, as in this year for instance, the inherent characteristic is different: It feels as if some caring hand is slowly turning out the lights. The day starts late, and dawn arrives early. Nights get cold, and winter knocks on. The spirits of live and light seem to have gone…somewhere else, and some other spirits are entering the scene:

All Souls, Alpine Spirits & the Art of Rememberance

What makes the Alps so unique from a cultural perspective is this: This region was, as the other parts of central Europe, settled by Germanic and Celtic people. We know not everything, but quite a bit about their cultures, cults and rites. Many traditions from old Germanic rites for instance are still vivid in Central European Christmas traditions. However, with the adaption of Christianity, many of these traditions either vanished or became assimilated.

In the Alps however, this process of assimilation and christianisation of traditions and rites took much longer, and was also accomplished to a much lesser degree. Secluded Alpine valleys just were much more difficult to control than cities.

Hence, more of these old traditions survived, and also those that have been assimilated still seem to carry more of their old untamed heathen ‘wildness’.

November Escapes for Inner Peace

And this is why the late fall, and the early winter are in fact literally fantastic times to visit the Alps, especially for those who seek calmness and serenity. The wonderful sceneries that switch between autumn and winter and back on a daily basis help you to let go, and to hear your inner voices.

We recommend to visit the calmer valleys. You will see few other people, let alone tourists. Most mountain cable cars have stopped their service. Summer is over, winter has not yet started.

It is the time not of the party- or adventure seeker, but of those who want to get into contact with the Souls and Spirits – their own, of their loved ones, of their ancestors. It is the time of memories and reflection.

Not all hotels will have open during November, but some do. We can recommend a few places that will let you calm down and re-energize. Concentrate on the quite things.

A gentle walk through lone valleys and forests, with a view of the mountains covered in first snow. Enjoying some deer, as it is hunting season in the Alps. Relax in the Spa areas of the Alps best hotels with fewer guests around – and often more moderate prices.

5 Hidden Alpine Retreats for the Modern Traveler: Boutique Escapes in the Heart of the Mountains

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 14:53:19 GMT

Where silence, design, and authenticity meet in the heart of the Alps.

Quiet places, crafted for those who seek the extraordinary with style, exclusivity, and sophistication:

Yes, there are still many corners of the Alps where silence feels untouched — where mornings begin with mist curling above pine forests, and evenings end with the scent of woodsmoke and mountain herbs.

These are not the places you’ll find on glossy lists or crowded travel feeds.
They are the sanctuaries of slow luxury — discreet, authentic, and deeply restorative.

“Luxury stripped to its essence — no noise, no hazzle”

Here are five alpine retreats that capture the Mont-e-Val spirit: intimate, lots of character, design-driven, and quietly unforgettable. A former medieval residency sourrounded by vineyeards, a 5-star+ chalet in a splendid ski resort, a 19th centrury high-alpine former shelter, a small secluded hotel overlooking a hidden-champion valley, and a true escape, where romance and the vision of its owner created a place of remarkable character.

1. Ansitz Steinbock – Villandro/Villanders, South Tyrol

In the small village of Villandro, a 15th-century noble residence has been transformed into an elegant hideaway that feels like time itself slowed down. South Tyrol boasts a number of these 'Ansitz', which in principle means (noble) residency, mostly belonging to knights or similar land-owning families of the nobility. Needless to say, these places inherited an almost natural 'genius loci', the spirit of the place, or a very unique and authentic feeling that new hotels, however stylish the might be, can't replicate.

Ansitz Steinbock combines centuries-old wood beams and stone walls with serene contemporary interiors and one of South Tyrol’s most refined restaurants - which means quite something, as there are many top-quality restaurants in this part of the Alps.

A few suites overlook vineyards rolling down to the valley; others open to the quiet shhhh of the mountain air.

Mont-e-Val note: Ask for a corner suite and book the tasting menu — it’s a love letter to the region, paired with local wines from hidden estates.

2. Aurelio Luxury Chalet – Lech, Arlberg, Tyrol

Admittedly, 'simplicity' is not what characterizes these 5-star+ chalets, tucked away in one of the most famous ski resorts of Europe: Interiors boast the fines materials and luxury is an obvious companion in every corner. However, this top-of-the-rank feeling of quality never feels 'too much' or superficial. It just blends perfectly with the overall philosophy of the place and the Lech ski resort in general. With panoramic windows, a cedar-wood sauna, and an open fireplace, Aurelio Chalet is designed for couples seeking absolute retreat - in the truest sense of the word.

Breakfast is served in silence — just birdsong (in summer) or the sound of silence in winter - and the crackle of the fire.

What makes this special?

The answer would be - everything. Where to even start? The location? The quality of the ski resort if you are visiting in winter? The air?

Some facts, even though we believe that 'facts' can't really describe the aura this place is offering to its lucky residents: How about, in general, luxurious privacy, with a private chef (great choice - but also a difficult one, given that Lech boasts more award-winning restaurants per 1,000 capita than anywhere else in Europe).

Access to the 5-star + hotel amenities? This includes also a dedicated spa area with an 18-meter indoor pool, private cinemas, libraries, and personalized butler services. Did we forget anything? Hm, the ski instructors, but that would be a different story.

3. Berliner Hütte, Zillertal, Tyrol

And now to something completely different - or not. We leave what is normally considered 'luxury', only to enter something that is - well, luxury, but of a different sort. This luxury is authenticity. Is acknowledging a spirit of pioneering. Is complete serenity, especially in the evenings, nights, and mornings.

Because this 'Hütte', or 'hut', actually a former refuge, is much more than that: Originally built in the 19th century by the Berlin section of the German Alpine Association, it was meant to offer a shelter to mountaineers, but also from early on, a place for tourists from which they could enjoy the high alpine region, and specifically the glaciers (which, when the refuge was built, descended well beyond this remarkable place).

And because Berlin at that time was an imperial residency - this is reflected indoors: The main hall doesn't have anything to do with a 'hut' or a shelter, but carries clear imperial associations of greatness and 'can-do' attitude. Because whoever carried the chandelier into the very end of the Zillertal valley, and then uphill for hours to reach the glaciers - well, that person knew what 'can-do' means.

Rooms are cozy and pragmatic. Food is hearty. As is the service. But the true luxury is what we described above: When the day-travellers are gone, you have it for yourself: Serenity. The wind of the glaciers. The occassional whistle of an ibex or mountain goat, maybe the deep grawling noise of falling rocks in some majestic mountain wall. And that is luxury at its highest end.

4. Eriro, Ehrwald, Tyrol

Selecting 'five' special retreats in the Eastern Alps is never easy, as the supply of top-notch places is high, with many boasting unique character, luxury and style. However, a decision had to be made for this article, and since I did not want to do any scientific modelling, I just fell into a simple thing: personal bias.

Because this hotel, which in terms of size could also be a chalet, featuring a mere nine luxury suites, is located rather lonely abover the Ehrwald valley at 1,550m, just below the southern face of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain - and I live just on the other side of the same mountain, which belongs to Bavaria, Germany.

Nine suites, in a small luxurious hotel, some 400m above the equally small viallge of Ehrwald guarantee one thing: remoteness, serenity and luxury. In winter, you are in principle right nearby the skiing slope of Ehrwalds ski resort, while summer guests don't need a lot of hiking to feel and be right in alpine wonderland with mountain pastures, below inspiring summits of the Tyrolean alps.

While a lot could be said about this small and exclusive hideaway, I'd like to close this paragraph whith what the hosts are saying about Eriro, which I believe fits well to this hidden champion:

Eriro invites you to leave everything familiar behind and experience the mountain in its archaic originality.

5. Schloss Elmau, Bavarian Alps

This now is quite the opposite of a hidden champion: The Schloss Elmau was twice the host to the G7 Summit, in 2025 and then again in 2022. This is unique. However, while surely a proof that something must be quite alright with this jewel at the foot of the Wetterstein Range, it is not the reason why I have picked it for this small selection.

It is also not the fact that I know this one quite well, being located just 24 km from my place. I come here regularly, so far not for lodging, but to attend some of the fantastic concerts that are staged here normally a number of times each month, ranging from jazz to classic, and also including lectures of some famour people. I have seen Reinhold Messner here giving a talk.

But the true asset of this 5star+ "Luxury Spa & Cultural Hideaway" as it it named is a real strong 'feeling of the place'. The histrory of this place is truly unique: Early in the 20th century, it was a meeting place for philosophers and theologicans, who would gather in natural surroundings for classical concerts, dance evenings and lectures.

During the Nazi era, it was leased out and served as a recreation centre for soldiers on leave from the front, while after the war, injured US troops and survivors from concentration camps were brought here for recreation. Later it became again a hideaway for intellectuals, before being transformed into the luxury hideaway in 2005. And this history, the aura and truly fascinating personal histories of its visitors and guests lend this inspiring atmosphere to Schloss Elmau.

At this point, we haven't even touched the James-Bond like sourroundings, the impeccable service. We also did not talk about what Merkel and Obama have discussed when this famous bench photo was shot. But then again, this is Mont-e-Val and not Politico.

If you wish to wander where silence is curated and stays feel personal, Mont-e-Val will guide you there.

Designing a Journey Like a Work of Art: The Craft of Curated Alpine Travel

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 18:41:17 GMT

When travel becomes an act of creation

Every true journey begins long before the first step is taken.

It begins with a feeling — a whisper of curiosity, a longing for stillness, a need to see beauty in a new form.

At Mont-e-Val, we believe that travel, when crafted with intention, can become a form of art.

The Atelier Mindset

ike an artist preparing a canvas, we begin not with a list of places, but with a sense of mood.

What does this traveler seek — renewal, celebration, silence?

What tone will the journey carry — the calm of early snow, the warmth of late-summer wine, or the crisp clarity of alpine morning light?

“Designing a journey is not logistics — it is composition.”

Designing a journey, to us, is not logistics. It is composition. Each choice — of route, of rhythm, of resting place — contributes to a larger harmony.

A pause at the right moment can hold as much meaning as a destination.

The art lies not in adding more, but in knowing what to leave out.

The art of thoughtful creation - because luxury is never in a hurry

Every recommendation, every contact, every hidden path we include has been felt before it is suggested.

We know the texture of the places we propose — the scent of wood smoke in a remote valley inn, the sound of the river beneath a bridge few travelers cross, the touch of linen in a room lit only by dawn.

Our itineraries are stories told in places instead of words — and each traveler becomes the protagonist of their own quiet narrative.

When craft meets emotion

In the same way, the success of a journey lies not in how far you go, but in how deeply it stays with you.

The success of a journey lies not in how far you go, but in how deeply it stays with you. That is why every Mont-e-Val escape is built upon emotion — the anticipation of the unknown, the gratitude of arrival, the serenity of memory.

We design these journeys to evolve with time:

a meal that lingers longer than expected, a conversation that changes the course of a day, a moment of stillness that becomes unforgettable.

The Signature of Mont-e-Val

There is an unmistakable rhythm to a Mont-e-Val itinerary — a quiet confidence that allows each traveler to breathe into their experience.

Nothing loud, nothing hurried.

Just the feeling of being in harmony with the landscape, with oneself, with the art of being away.

Because the most beautiful journeys are not consumed — they are composed.

They live on in memory like a work of art: timeless, personal, and true.

Every Mont-e-Val itinerary is a bespoke composition. Begin yours today

The Art of Slow Luxury in the Alps

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 13:57:40 GMT

Where time slows, beauty deepens - and travel becomes an art

In a world that moves ever faster, true luxury has become something rare — not measured in gold or glitter, but in time, silence, and meaning. Mont-e-Val was born from this understanding: that the finest journeys are not about more, but about less. Less noise. Less rush. Less obviousness.

More soul.

A return to essence

Alps have always been a place of purity. Crystalline air, ancient forests, the quiet hum of cowbells carried by the wind — they remind us of what remains when the unnecessaryThe falls away.

Here, amid peaks and valleys, slow luxury is not a trend. It is a way of being. It’s the art of awakening the senses again — through the scent of pine, the texture of hand-woven linen, the taste of mountain honey at breakfast.

Mont-e-Val curates journeys that honor this rhythm. Each itinerary is designed like a piece of music: balanced, intentional, and deeply personal. A morning hike to a hidden lake may be followed by an afternoon in a spa with a view; a private dinner in an alpine farmhouse might end with candlelight and the sound of rain on wood.

The Beauty of the Unhurried

Slow luxury is not about opulence — it’s about awareness.

It’s the pleasure of arriving at a boutique retreat after a scenic drive, knowing that every detail has been quietly considered. The joy of discovering a local vintner whose wine tells the story of his valley. The rare feeling of being completely present.

Our travelers come not to consume, but to connect. With nature. With culture. With themselves.

They seek places that feel like secrets — not because they are hidden, but because they are genuine.

Crafted with Care

Every Mont-e-Val journey begins with a conversation. We listen — not only to what you say, but to what you mean. Your pace, your moods, the way you wish to experience time.

From there, we create what we call a signature itinerary: a personal map of moments that reflect your way of traveling.

Our network across South Tyrol, Tyrol, and beyond allows us to weave together stays in intimate lodges, mountain spas, and design-driven chalets. But what defines the experience is not the place — it’s the feeling.

A sense of belonging to something timeless and true.

A calm form of luxury

We believe that discretion is the new decadence.

That beauty lies in things made by hand.

That service, when done right, should feel invisible — like the soft presence of a mountain breeze.

To travel with Mont-e-Val is to rediscover what you have forgotten in the noise of modern life: the taste of simplicity, the rhythm of slowness, the poetry of the Alps.

Because the art of slow luxury is not a destination.

It is a way of returning — to the world, to others, and to yourself.

Because the art of slow luxury is not a destination.
It is a way of returning — to the world, to others, and to yourself.

Begin your own slow luxury journey. Discover the art of travel with Mont-e-Val