The Swiss voice in the world since 1935
Top stories
Stay in touch with Switzerland

High-altitude Swiss mountain restaurant burns down

Flames burn the restaurant on a mountain top.
Firefighters had to be airlifted to the restaurant to control the blaze. Canton Vaud police

A restaurant built 3,000 metres above sea level in the Swiss Alps, and a favourite destination for tourists, has been partially destroyed by fire.

Police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the blaze that consumed the Botta de Glacier 3000 eatery on Monday.

+ The macabre secrets of Switzerland’s melting glaciers

The building was empty at the time it caught fire and no-one is believed to have been hurt.

Situated above Glacier 3000 at Les Diablerets in French-speaking canton Vaud, the restaurant was designed by renowned Swiss architect Mario Botta. It is a popular stopping-off place for skiers before they tackle the glacier slopes.

Opened in 2001, the construction took 70 builders some 10 months to complete at a cost of CHF17 million ($17.6 million).

Because of its difficult location, firefighters had to ascend using three helicopters from Air Glacier and Rega. They were assisted in the operation by members of local alpine clubs, said Vaud police.

The upper part of the building, including the restaurant, appears to have been destroyed. A cable car giving access to the building is being tested for damage.

The Blick newspaper on Tuesday said the restaurant is co-owned by former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone. “We don’t know if it was arson,” he said.

More


Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

Higher direct payments do not stop scrub encroachment on alpine pastures

More

Higher direct payments fail to curb scrub encroachment on alpine pastures

This content was published on The scrub encroachment on Swiss alpine pastures leads to the loss of grassland and damages the typical landscape. It is also responsible for the decline in biodiversity. Despite higher direct payments, the bushes continue to spread.

Read more: Higher direct payments fail to curb scrub encroachment on alpine pastures
Swiss population satisfied with life according to survey

More

Swiss population satisfied with life according to survey

This content was published on In a survey, the population of German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland expressed general satisfaction with their lives. Respondents were less happy with politics and their personal finances, according to the online comparison service Moneyland.

Read more: Swiss population satisfied with life according to survey
Millionaires prioritise well-being over material possessions

More

High-net-worth individuals prioritise well-being over material possessions

This content was published on The priorities of wealthy private individuals have shifted against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade disputes. While spending on luxury goods is declining, demand for travel and experiences is unabated.

Read more: High-net-worth individuals prioritise well-being over material possessions
Spanish flu: virus genome deciphered a century later

More

Swiss researchers sequence genome of 1918 Spanish flu virus

This content was published on Researchers from the Universities of Basel and Zurich (UZH) have sequenced the genome of the Spanish flu virus, thanks to a sample taken from an 18-year-old Swiss boy who died in the city on the Limmat in 1918, when the pandemic spread around the world.

Read more: Swiss researchers sequence genome of 1918 Spanish flu virus

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR