Recently I have written a lot about the outdoor side of Switzerland, its hicks, glaciers and discovering the most beautiful natural wonders. Be sure to read “Glacier” or “The most awaited hike in Switzerland”.
However, I like to keep the balance when I travel. If for a couple of days I treat myself with a long hours of mountain climbing, I like to finish such a marathon in some beautiful place, slow down, add a little luxury. And when I write luxury, I don’t mean very expensive hotels or big resorts. For me, luxury is a wonderful view from a window over a morning coffee, a place to train close to the nature, delicious food or just an interior that pleases my eyes. I love to search for such places while travelling around the world and they have a special place on my blog in the section Luxury Travel.
The Swiss are masters of creating places with a soul, close to the nature and with an unique atmosphere, so it is not difficult to find a hotel that guarantees unforgettable experience.
My last trip to Switzerland was mainly focused on summer hikes around Interlaken and Zermatt. It was very intense, so at the end I planed to stay in the extraordinary hotel Rigi Kaltbad, which is famous for its spa. It has three stars only, but it covers all the luxury conditions I wrote you about above. Let me take you to this amazing place surrounded by the Alps.
Rigi Kaltbad - an amazing hotel in the hills
I was a little out of the way to Rigi Kaltbad because I drove straight from Zermatt. But I don’t regret this decision, because travelling through Switzerland is an attraction itself. The trains and boats are very comfortable and always guarantee views on the way. The trip from Zermatt took a little bit of time, because I was taking a train with two stops – from Zermatt to Bern and from Bern to Luzern. After that I took a boat from Luzern to Weggis. The last distance from Weggis to Rigi Kaltbad, I did with a beautiful, historic train. One trip – so many different forms of transport, but when I arrived to the place, I immediately understood the uniqueness of this hotel. It is located in seclusion, high above the village and the lake and it offers a stunning view of the Alps. The surrounding area is shrouded in silence and fog. The only things you can hear are the gentle bells of grazing cows.
The building itself doesn’t look very special. The rooms are simple and clean, decorated with typical Swiss style. However, in case of Rigi Kaltbad, you don’t come here for interior design, but for the views, the silence, the location and one of the most amazing spas in Switzerland.
It is no coincidence that Rigi has become known as the Queen of the Mountains. It’s the source of many legends and fairy tales. However, it is likely that no mountain in Switzerland offers its guests more variety than Rigi, surrounded by the Lake Lucerne from the southern side. Imagine this place as the Mediterranean Garden of Eden. It guarantees the magnificent panorama from the Swiss Plateau to the entire Alpine chain. Rigi is also unique because of its central location, easily accessible from all over central Switzerland. On the darkest days, you can also escape from the fog by going to Rigi Kaltbad (at an altitude of about 1500 m) and enjoy a little bit of the sky and warm sunshine while overlooking the mountain peaks and the sea of the clouds at the bottom. So romantic!
Bathing in a fairytale setting with a breathtaking view of the Alps
Rigi Kaltbad has a bathing tradition for over 600 years. In ancient times, the healing waters of the Kaltbad mineral springs attracted people from all over the world. Since July 2012, this tradition has been continued at the Rigi Kaltbad mineral spa, designed by the world-famous architect Mario Botta.
Rigi Kaltbad Mineral Baths & Spa reflects the respect for bathing that Greek, Roman and Arabic cultures have developed over the centuries. In these cultures, public baths were treated with the same respect as religious places of worship. In the Arab world they were even built next to each other (hammams).
Rigi Kaltbad has a bathing tradition for over 600 years. In ancient times, the healing waters of the Kaltbad mineral springs attracted people from all over the world. Since July 2012, this tradition has been continued at the Rigi Kaltbad mineral spa, designed by the world-famous architect Mario Botta.
Rigi Kaltbad Mineral Baths & Spa reflects the respect for bathing that Greek, Roman and Arabic cultures have developed over the centuries. In these cultures, public baths were treated with the same respect as religious places of worship. In the Arab world they were even built next to each other (hammams).
Rigi Kaltbad Mineral Baths & Spa is located directly underneath the newly built city square “Giardino Minerale” (“Mineral Garden”), also designed by Mario Botta. From the one side, the square borders the new Vitznau-Rigi Cog railway station, and from the other side, the characteristic round tower, which is the main entrance to both the mineral baths and the station of the cable car.
The baths were designed as a place of rest and relaxation. They are ideal for chill out after a long hiking in the mountains. During the day they guarantee a wonderful view of the mountains from the Rigi Kaltbad lookout point. At night, the baths take on a mystical character. As a guest of the hotel, you can use them for free, but if you decide to stay somewhere else, you can buy a day pass.
Foggy Swiss mornings and yoga among the hills
I spent a total of 24 hours in Rigi. It was enough to recharge the batteries. On the first day, right after arrival, I spent the whole afternoon in the spa, enjoying the place. And even though I hadn’t planned it, the next day I got up at 5am to do another short trekking to the top of Riga. To be honest, it was so hard to wake up in the early morning again, but it was worth it! The treck took 1.5 hours only and the views on the way literally knocked me out. There was absolutely nobody there. All the hills were covered in fog and my only companions were grazing cows. A truly Swiss experience.
The route of Rigi Kulm – Kulmhütte – Upper Schwändihütte – Des Alpes – Rigi Klösterli is spectacular. Is quite steep in some parts and includes a 400 meters drop between Rigi Kulm and Rigi Klösterli. The last section between Des Alpes and Rigi Klösterli is an asphalt path. If you like less tourist trails, this one will be perfect.
It starts with a clear view over the tree line of the majestic Mythen Mountains and the impressive Rossberg landslide area. To this day you can still see where 20 million cubic meters of rock collapsed in 1806 and buried the village of Goldau. The lower part of the trail leads through romantic mountain forests on the way to Klösterli. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who first visited Switzerland in 1775, stopped here inspired by the charming mountain Rigi and he felt “surrounded by the splendors of the world”. If you spend the morning here, you will understand what he meant by ☺.
I came back for breakfast and the morning yoga that I’ve been dreaming about the whole trip. In Switzerland you don’t need anything special to have an epic outdoor workout. All you need is a mat or a towel and literally every place outside is perfect for training. Yoga suits here perfectly – the place is calm and great for a meditation. It was one of my best trainings in Switzerland.
If you are looking for inspiration for your summer hiking trip to Switzerland, read my other post where I described it in details.
Previous
