The rich and famous who brought fame to Gstaad

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Gunter Sachs and Brigitte Bardot, 1966 Gunter Sachs: “Gstaad is so beautiful! That it’s as it was 50 years ago is really lovely and rare.” (from: Glanz und Gloria, SRF, 2006) RDB

Roger Moore, 1983 The James Bond actor: “The locals are more interested in my car than they are in me.” (from: www.gstaad.ch) RDB

Menuhin family, 1960: Violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin, Zamira, Diane Gould, Gerard and Jeremy. Jeremy Menuhin: “When I was 18 I had a dream: owning a mountain hut with a piano and a telescope. It came true! I live in a meadow at 1,300 metres above sea level, the piano is on the upper floor of my little chalet, and the telescope is on the terrace.” (from: Blick, 24.07.2004) RDB

Actor David Niven, 1973 “David Niven is a good skier. In winter he stays at his chalet in Château-d’Oex and you can see him on the slopes and cross-country tracks around Gstaad nearly every day: ‘After every winter I’m five to ten pounds [2.25-4.5kg] lighter’, Niven says.” (from: Schweizer Illustrierte, 14.03.1977) RDB

Actor Elizabeth Taylor, 1962 Local Léonie Müller: “Film stars and farmers used to sit at the same table in Hotel Olden, and we’d like to have that again: a real encounter among the people. Liz Taylor was often a guest. Everybody sat at the same or neighbouring tables, but now the guests stay home and have parties in their chalets.” (from: Unknown Gstaad, a 2011 documentary, Arte) RDB

Actor Richard Burton, 1966 “Gstaad is the most beautiful place in the world. We [he was married to Liz Taylor] feel at home here; we work, read and play here. No matter where we have to live and work, we only feel at home in Gstaad.” (from: Schweizer Illustrierte, 31.07.1972) RDB

Madonna, 2013 “I’m in paradise, another wonderful day – I’m so lucky!” wrote the popstar on January 5, 2014, via Instagram. (from: www.srf.ch) Dukas

Monaco’s royal family in Schönried, 1960: Caroline, Prince Rainier, Princess Grace, Albert Prince Albert of Monaco: “Even as a child I came here to ski with my family. We have a very close and emotional connection to this area, which is why I am always so happy to come here when I can.” (from: Glanz und Gloria, SRF, 2012) RDB

Roman Polanski on the balcony of his chalet “Milky Way”, 24.04.2010 After the film director's house arrest, during which officials decided whether to extradite him to the US for the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl in 1977 (in the end he wasn't extradited), he said: “I feel a deep friendship, especially for the people of Gstaad and the region, because they supported me. They gave me wine and flowers. Most of the messages, calls, emails and texts I received after my release came from Gstaad.” (from: Interview RTS, 17.07.2010) Keystone

French singer Johnny Hallyday, 1968 “I don’t go to Gstaad anymore. I don’t have time. I have very good memories, it’s a beautiful place that reminds me of a film I loved as a boy, 'Sissi'. But my life has changed…” (from: parismatch.com, 14.06.2013) Keystone

Michael Jackson with bodyguard and children, 1993 A story from luxury hotel Palace Gstaad: “For example Michael Jackson, who after visiting Liz Taylor wanted to buy a chalet, and then the Palace. ‘He simply liked the castle’, remembers hotelier Ernst Scherz of his talk with the King of Pop.” (from: Schweizer Illustrierte, 11.11.2013) RDB

Actor Julie Andrews, 1972 "When Julie and Blake (Edwards, her husband) go to Saanenland, it’s like a homecoming. 'My pulse always quickens when I drive from Lake Geneva and then through Rougemont and Saanen,' says Julie Andrews." (from: gstaadlife.com, Dec. 2010) RDB

Socialite Paris Hilton (centre) in the Chlöschterli club, 2005 “Gstaad is a real oasis of calm. All these chalets are wonderful, almost like something in a movie. A joy that the snow conditions are so good because I really like to ski. There are great boutiques where I can find all the brands I like. The nightlife is really terrific. I would never have expected such a scene in the Swiss mountains.” (from: Schweizer Illustrierte, 3.01.2005) RDB

Field Marshal Montgomery, 1946 “Another prominent Gstaad winter guest was British war hero Bernard Montgomery. His legendary dinner parties always ended right at 10pm with the remark: ‘Gentlemen, the night was made for sleeping!’” (from: 100 Jahre Gstaad Palace. Zürich: Orell Füssli, 2013) RDB

Kirsty and Ernesto Bertarelli, Sotheby’s Gala, 2002 Ernesto Bertarelli, an Italian-born Swiss billionaire, said: “As a child I had several chances to holiday in Gstaad. I really fell in love with it. It’s no surprise that Gstaad has such a good reputation. And later, I wanted to benefit again from this wonderful region and its quality of life…it’s ideal for an active family and at the same time still very relaxing.” (from: Gstaad my love, the Magazine, 2012) Keystone

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“Oasis of calm” (Paris Hilton), “Love at first sight” (Ernesto Bertarelli), “Most beautiful place in the world” (Richard Burton). And the feeling is mutual: the resort of Gstaad owes a lot to its famous guests.

There’s a long list of celebrities that stay at Gstaad’s five star hotels or even own a chalet there. The resort takes great care to protect the privacy of its affluent guests, whose wealth is hidden behind wooden facades.

VIPs take advantage of both the resort’s discreet luxury and proximity to simple life.

Roger Moore was photographed milking cows. Roman Polanski feels a “deep friendship for the people of Gstaad” – especially those who gave him wine and flowers while he was under house arrest. And it’s often said that Liz Taylor enjoyed dining at Hotel Olden because local farmers and movie stars sat at the same table.

(Pictures: RDB, Keystone, Dukas; Image and quote selection: Christoph Balsiger, swissinfo.ch; Text: Peter Siegenthaler, swissinfo.ch)