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One of Switzerland’s prettiest villages, Engelberg is worth a visit for three very different reasons. As a winter sports destination, it hosts international competitions; as home to the impressive Engelberg Abbey, it also produces wines and cheeses to this day, made by the resident monks.

The third reason is perhaps the most enticing: a stay at Kempinski Palace Engelberg, a glamorous edifice that recalls an era when travel was a splendid affair. Located just a few minutes’ walk from the Engelberg railway station in one direction and the tiny village centre in the other, Kempinski Palace is the perfect base for rest and relaxation or, conversely, tests and exhilaration. Whether taking it easy in the fabulous Palace bar or speeding past the competition on nearby ski slopes—or, more daringly, down the ski jump ramp seen from the hotel—there is no better place to be when visiting this exceptionally beautiful part of the Swiss Alps. Despite its small size, Engelberg is, like the rest of Switzerland, easily accessible by train; a Swiss Travel Pass lets you travel stress-free throughout Switzerland without buying separate tickets for each journey. Swiss Travel Passes are available through Switzerland Tourism.

Entrance to Engelberg Abbey

As for the hotel itself, Kempinski Palace Engelberg embodies a bygone era of grandeur. The spacious lobby and friendly staff provide a positive second impression with style and a warm welcome, respectively, following the powerful first impression made by the building’s imposing exterior. The hotel is not stuck in the past, however; its renovated rooms blend contemporary chic mountain style with modern comforts and necessities. Although all rooms and suites are large and elegant, rooms at the end of the corridor, such as the Belle Époque Suite, are highly prized for their 270-degree views of mountains in every direction.

A grand staircase for a grand hotel

Like those in all Kempinski’s superb properties worldwide, dining at Kempinski Palace Engelberg is as memorable as it is delicious. Guests start their days in the vast Cattani restaurant, where the buffet selection includes local mountain cheeses that only Swiss microdairies can produce. Later, Cattani becomes a fine-dining venue with an extensive menu of innovative dishes. The Palace Bar also serves dinner after one or two creative aperitifs, served by a cosmopolitan staff. With the onset of the northern winter season, Kempinski Palace Engelberg becomes home to the exclusive Chalet Ruinart, where good times and laughter flow alongside the brand’s famous champagne. An evening here is not only a must-do but also a fondue.

The Belle Epoque Suite at Kempinski Palace Engelberg

Don’t skip a visit to Kempinski Palace Engelberg’s spa facilities. True to its mountain heritage, the hotel’s spa area offers a basin of shaved ice to refresh the skin after a session in the dry sauna, which gets the blood flowing. It also has a pool, plus treatment rooms for massages and facials. The tranquil relaxation room, complete with a circular fireplace, truly brings peak serenity to the spa experience.

The wintergarden at Kempinski Palace Engelberg

A rather inexplicable aspect of Swiss hotel operations in high-mountain areas is their seasonal closures in spring and autumn, when the landscapes and weather are no less pleasing, but much more appealing to guests who want to avoid the busyness of summer travel or the deep freeze of winter. Kempinski Palace Engelberg is one of the few five-star Swiss mountain hotels that stay open year-round, making it a prime choice when other properties are closed. And of course, also when they are open; no matter what time of year, this luxury hotel on ‘Angel Mountain’ will not disappoint.