When the moon comes out to play
Grand Hotel Kronenhof, Pontresina is throwing itself into the Engadin’s celebrations of the Full Moon in March 2012.
The Kronenhof Spa will stay open until midnight on Saturday 10 March, so that both hotel and external guests can relax before slipping off to sleep: swim a few leisurely lengths of the impressive swimming pool and then enjoy the delights of the hydrotherapy pool, the saunas including various steam baths, the saltwater grotto, the stone grotto steam room and the walk-in
flotation area.
The Engadin’s Full Moon activities start on Wednesday 7 March with late night, moonlit skiing from 7:30pm to 11:15pm on the ski area of Diavolezza. A traditional tummy-warming fondue in the mountain restaurant at the top of Diavolezza is followed by a peaceful descent of the slopes, which take on dramatic monochromatic shapes under the light of the moon. We would say it’s amazing, but the locals, speaking in Romansh, say it’s simply “fabulus”, which means like a fable or fairy tale – which is a far more evocative way to describe the incredible experience.
Thursday 8 March is the day of the Full Moon and there is a guided snow-shoe tour of the Muottas Muragl mountain, from 7:30pm to 10:30pm. Muottas Muragl is said to have the most beautiful views in the Engadin, so it makes sense that a slow, gentle walk has been planned that will allow participants to really savour the mystical beauty of the Alpine vistas. The walk lasts for about 90 minutes, followed by well-deserved cakes and mugs of mulled wine in the panoramic restaurant, before the oldest funicular in the Engadin takes the group back down to the valley.
On Friday 9 March, between 6pm and 11pm, visitors will have a rare chance to ride on the Rhaetian Railway by the light of the full moon to the Alp Grüm/Bernina Pass. Sitting in the observation car, with its glass sides and roof, guests will be served a complimentary aperitif before the train starts off along its UNESCO World Heritage run. Grandstand views of the magical world of imposing mountains and mighty glaciers will be accompanied by the rich history of the region, as told by local experts.
This special night-time trip begins in Pontresina (or St. Moritz), from where the train climbs past the ancient icy glaciers of the Bernina Massiv and onward to Alp Grüm. One of the high points - literally - of this trip is a meal in the Ristorante Albergo Alp Grüm at 2,091 metres above sea level, as twilight falls. On the return journey, with the full moon shining in all its glory, the lights of the train will be switched off and classical music will accompany the stunning views – your Veltlin wine will be sure to taste twice as good!
For more details of the Full Moon events, visit engadin.stmoritz.ch/winter/en/.
For more information or to book a stay at Grand Hotel Kronenhof Pontresina, visit pontresina.com.
