The history of the hotel

 

 

1540

Beginning of wellness tourism on Mount Rigi

First mention of the supposed healing properties of the natural spring at Kaltbad when Barthli Joler from Weggis was returned to health after bathing in the cold water. This marks the early beginning of wellness tourism on Mount Rigi. By the year 1600, over 100 people a year make the trek to bathe in the spring water.

 

1775

Goethe visits Mount Rigi 

The poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe visits Mount Rigi during his first visit to Switzerland and noted in his diary: «The splendour of the world all around».

 

1868

Opening of the high-class Rigi Kaltbad

Opening of the high-class Rigi Kaltbad hotel with 240 beds, dining hall, salon for social gatherings, women's sitting room, writing room and a music salon. In the same year Queen Victoria of England rode on horseback from Küssnacht to the lookout at Rigi Känzeli and wrote excitedly in her diary: "We are amused!"

 

1879

Mark Twain visits Mount Rigi

The American traveller and author Mark Twain visits Mount Rigi and writes his humorous journal: «A trip to Mount Rigi».

 

9 Feb 1961

Catastrophic fire in Rigi Kaltbad

At 4 o'clock in the morning a mighty reddening of fire emerges over the Rigi. The Grand Hotel is on fire! It was especially special for the Weggis fire brigade: The last firefighters weren't even home from the ... Agatha celebration!  The building, which was built around 1870, could no longer be saved despite the large-scale deployment of the fire brigades. At the time of the fire, around 180 guests and 60 hotel employees were in the house. And a few hours later it was clear that eleven people died in the flames. According to the weekly newspaper, “many could only escape death by fire in pajamas or nightgowns”.

 

1966

Opening of the «Hostellerie Rigi» Hotel at Rigi Kaltbad.

The “Neue Rigi Kaltbad-Hotel AG”, founded in 1964, built the Hostellerie Rigi Kaltbad between 1964 and 1966 according to the plans of the famous architect Justus Dahinden, a nephew of the Rigi hotelier Alois Dahinden. 

 

2012

Reopening 

After an extensive construction phase, the Hotel Rigi Kaltbad, the village square and the Mineralbad & Spa Rigi Kaltbad were reopened and inaugurated in summer 2012. The Swiss star architect Mario Botta has given Rigi Kaltbad its unmistakable style and character with the new village square and the bathing and wellness area. The Mineralbad & Spa Rigi Kaltbad continius the 600 year old bathing tradition of the “Chalte Bad” in a modern way.

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