Explore old traditions of the Maiensäss at the Hotel Guardaval

In this story I share with you the history of the Maiensäss hotel located in Sporz, a hamlet directly above Lenzerheide in the canton of Graubünden/Switzerland and how these houses have been turned into a unique romantic luxury alp hotel.

Here is the link to the promotion offer:

Special Package for LOVEFOODISH Guests

With the Lovefoodish Promocode you will get an additional Apéro Plate to start your romantic weekend of 2 nights.

What means Maiensäss?

The word ‘Maiensäss‘ derives from the month of May (Mai in German), when the cattle were raised for the first time in the year. It is also a special form of an Alm/Alp that is a cleared area with huts and stables. The houses are 300 years old and rich of history and traditions.
In 2009 the Hotel Guardaval was built on fabulous preconditions to offer a place where the beauty of the nature, local traditions and luxury alpine design melt together.

Find 11 Maiensäss huts and barns located 1600 meters above sea level. Some of the houses have maintained their original facade. Fantasize what happened behind these facades years ago!
The Hotel is managed by Ralph Treuthardt, an experienced Hotel Manager and Chef. Ralph’s and the staff’s mission at Hotel Guardaval is to show you the secrets of the Maiensäss, to lead you to precious moments of peace, serenity, consciousness.

Accommodation

Find 50 retreats with different arrangements and categories available. Get a chic double room in the authentic Maiensäss style or the private chalet with an own sauna, whirlpool and hay bed. Every room differentiates from each other. Be prepared for a unique experience. In the SPA Guarda Sana your body and soul get spoiled and energized with lots of attentions. Get a massage to relax your muscles and prepare the senses for a mouthwatering dinner. Find all booking details here.

Seminars & incentives

People looking for a calm and inspiring place with space for creative ideas fare away from the busy city should try this surrounding. It makes an ideal venue for inspiring exchanges. Everything you need is available: modern equipment, brights rooms and space.

Food & 1 Michelin star

Choose from two restaurants. The Crap Naros serves Local dishes and cheese fondue. The fondue is one of the best you can find in that area! Don’t miss that. The spacious outdoor terrace is great in summer, if you are lucky you got the chance to meet Roger Federer having a beer, since he lives in Lenzerheide.

For dinner choose the restaurant Guarda Val. Chef Thomas Walz and his team are amazing. The ambience is elegant and warm. The menus vary. I love the symbiosis of modern and ancient that merge together. The plates are mouth-watering, colorful, delicate and prepared with love.

Secret hint – Wine and Cheese!

If you got the chance let Ralph Treuthardt guide you through the wine cellar that owns over 300 different wines and great sorts of cheese. There is a wide selection of local wines. I love the fact that he knows the suppliers personally, supports their local business and has the background of every ingredient used in the hotel.

Don’t miss the wine & Dine events at Hotel Guardaval, where you got the chance to be introduced to their excellent quality products.

Leisure time! Feel the old traditions during your stay

Hotel guests get the opportunity to experience nice packages during their stay. Milk a cow to get fresh milk for breakfast or visit local farms to experience real farm work. If you are in the mood of hiking, this place is just great or try the great biking trails.
In winter go for a sledge ride or snow walking. Use the hotel transportation service that brings you to the close by skiing slopes or picks you up at the bus station.

My personal highlights

The Maiensäss houses are indefinable calming and charming. Hearing the wind rustling is a precious way to fall asleep for me. Taking a bath looking up at the sky and watching the stars is the cherry on the cake.

I  experienced the staff being very helpful. Their happy smiling faces made me understand, that working in such an idyllic and natural ambience must be energy charging. Having personal chats exchanging stories of immigrants was touching and threw me back into my own life as the kid of an immigrant.
Hearing the Wurlitzer Jukebox playing Elvis and the Beatles gave that additional feeling of jumping back in the years. Everything matches perfectly here. I absolutely recommend a stay at Hotel Guardaval. You will be inspired.

Thank you for using the Lovefoodish accommodation guide.

www.hotelguardaval.ch

My personal highlight: Paradise for families, couples and solo travels find modern comfort, peace and a blue sky full of shiny stars at night

Choose the Privà Alpine Lodge Resort if you want to keep your living habits from home in an alpine surrounding.

The Chalet Village is a real pearl in Lenzerheide. Its concept of offering living spaces in 90 Chalet-Apartment and 3 Chalets is unique. In the Chalet Village you have everything you need:

Underground parking, shuttle transfer from/to train station, direct access to the ski slopes, ski school and rental, play land for kids, mini-shop, a wellness area and great restaurant.

Take a short walk through the forest to get to the lake of Lenzerheide, which is lovely for ice skating in winter and swimming in summer. If you love Biking, discover the most beautiful and secluded places around here on great bike trails. There are many events and activities, too, in the whole region! Find more details here.

Accommodation

Feel at home when you enter into the Chalet Village. Privà Lodge offers a modern living for couples, families and groups in spacious and high quality equipped apartments. The interior design and furniture are elegant and modern with a wonderful alpine touch. Choose an apartment with a private infrared sauna you will not regret it! In Winter you can do the Kneipp just on your snowy terrace!

There are various categories of rooms and sizes available that match your budget. Find here all details.

A world for kids

Families love this place. There is a ski and snowboard school and a special kids program (starting as of 2 years old) where they can have fun and entertainment all day long. A professional is there to take care for them.

Food & drinks

Feel the hearty hospitality everywhere in this house. Corina and Daniel the manager of the house take care of their guest’s wishes personally. All the staff carefully understands your needs and makes you feel home from the first moment you enter the door. There is a restaurant, a bar and a restful Cheminée Lounge in the resort or if in a hurry order your food take away.

My personal highlight

The highlight of my stay at the Privà Lodge, (I admit that I abused a bit the fact that I am a food blogger) was the chance to have a look behind the scenes in the kitchen and chat with the staff. I immediately felt like being part of a team. Exchanging my instagram name with their youngest Chef Vera made me feel honored and happyfoody.

Further, Kenny, also a Chef at Privà Lodges explains with lots of attention where the ingredients come from they use. Now I do also know, that they prepare a great Italian carnaroli risotto rice, the Acquerello risotto produced in Vercelli/Northern Italy! Thank you for this insight! It’s a great joy to see people creating food for you with creativity and love. It connects me with the plate, once served on the table.

The restaurant offers delicious traditional Swiss meals prepared with local and international products. Their meat menu and pizza are my favorite ones on the menu. Taste their selection of local white and red wines. They are excellent.

I absolutely recommend having a cheese fondue in the little wooden “Berghüttli” (little alp house). It’s a magic atmosphere dining with candlelight having a fell on your lap and feeling like being up 2500 m high in an alpine house. And even practical, after your Fondue you walk only 5 minutes back home.

So if all of this matches your ideal winter or summer holiday up in a tranquil village, check it out or get in contact with Privà Alpine Lodge. I enjoyed my stay and lovely talk to Daniel and his staff. Thank you!

www.privalodge.ch