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Top Ten Historic Ski Hotels

Flick through our Skiing and Much More brochure (or the Alpine section of our Walking and More brochure, as many of the same hotels feature there too) and you'll notice that a considerable number of hotels have quite a history, having opened over a century - and in some cases several centuries - ago. Adding to the sense of tradition of a number of them is that they have been run by the same family for a large part of that time.

Hotel Kirchenwirt, Leogang, Salzburgerland. First opened in 1326, this atmospheric hotel has to top our list as it is without a doubt the oldest. Two of the best features are the vaulted entrance hall and the locally renowned restaurant, which is also full of character. But it's not just the hotel that has been around for centuries – the Unterrainer family has been in charge for 130 years of the hotel's long history.

Romantik Hotel Bella Tola, St-Luc, Val d'Anniviers. It may not be the oldest in our selection – it was built in the late 19th century – but the Bella Tola nevertheless won the Swiss Historic Hotel of the Year award in 2001 in recognition of the efforts of owners Claude and Anne Françoise Buchs, who are co-founders of the Swiss Historic Hotels Group, to preserve the hotel's romantic fin-de-siècle elegance. Throughout the hotel are antiques, polished wood floors and plenty of Anne-Françoise's artistic touches, and even recent additions such as the spa have been built in harmony with their surroundings.

Fefor Hotel, Fefor, Norwegian Highlands. Built in 1891, this charming hotel not only enjoys a beautiful location in its own woodland dale above a frozen lake, but also boasts a distinguished former guest: Captain Scott. His visit in 1910 to prepare for his 1912 Antarctic attempt is recorded in black and white photos displayed in the hotel's public rooms, adding to the sense of tradition and nostalgia.

Posthotel Engiadina, Zuoz, Engadine Valley. More than any other of our historic ski hotels, the Engiadina, built in 1876, exudes Grand Tour elegance, from the chandeliered restaurant to the large, high-ceilinged public rooms. It does not take too much imagination to visualise upper-class Victorian travellers quietly sipping at cups of tea while warming themselves by the open fires.

Hotel Meisser, Guarda, Engadine Valley. A little further along the valley from Zuoz is Guarda, which is even more handsome than Zuoz. This idyllic village is the setting for the Hotel Meisser, named after the family that founded it in 1893. (Formerly a farm, the building itself dates back to 1645.) Five generations later, it is still in the hands of the same family – Benno Meisser now runs the hotel with the help of his parents, Kathrin and Ralf. Together, they have been careful to preserve the sense of history throughout the hotel, as well as the intimate, relaxed atmosphere that the family has built up over the decades.

Posthotel Lamm, Kastelruth, Südtirol Dolomites. This historic hotel is perfectly complemented by its surroundings. It is set in the main square of Kastelruth, a picture-book village whose great traditions include a candlelit procession most weeks, and is surrounded by other old buildings, some of them boasting intricate murals and onion-domed roofs. The hotel itself is over 200 years old, but offers every modern comfort after a major refurbishment in 2003.

Hotel Wiesenhof, Pertisau, Tyrol. Now a 4-star hotel and one of our most popular ski hotels, the Wiesenhof has known several incarnations. It started as a farm, then had a few guestrooms added to it before eventually evolving into a hotel. The modern facilities include a state-of-the-art spa which occupies the entire first floor, offering a wide range of treatments, from aromatherapy massages to weird and wonderful stone-oil baths.

Hotel Victoria, Kandersteg, Bernese Oberland. The Victoria is the oldest hotel in the village, dating back some 200 years. The original part of the hotel is called the Ritter, which retains all of its old charm. It houses the à la carte restaurant, and bedrooms here are cosy yet stylish, often with panelled walls, wooden ceilings and attractively rustic furniture. The more recent part of the hotel is not that new either – it was built in Victorian times during the boom in Alpine travel, hence the hotel's name, and is spacious and elegant.

Hotel Xander, Leutasch, Tyrol. The Xander can also boast of being older than its neighbours, and is in fact the oldest hostelry in the Leutasch Valley. Behind its centuries-old façade lies a pleasant blend of ancient and modern. The stube restaurant may have changed little with time, but the facilities are certainly more extensive than they were when the hotel first opened its doors – nowadays guests can unwind in the indoor pool, saunas, jacuzzis and Turkish baths.

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