Hotel Paradies, Ftan, Switzerland

Well worth the distance travelled, this luxury hotel is the ultimate refuge for its guests. At the end of the Engadine valley, a small road off the highway leads you sharply upwards into a raging winter wonderland, weaving for several kilometres through frozen pine forest. At the upper limit of the tree line lies a cluster of buildings marking the mountain hamlet of Ftan. The hotel drive is marked by two super-tall pine trees, and the Paradies stares into the face of one of the most magnificent series of mountains in the Alps, a jagged horizon tempered by languorous aspens covered in snow on the lower slopes.

Inside the luxury hotel, this view and the sensation of being up in the gods are magnified by glass screens in the open-plan lounge, which is warmed by a double-sided fireplace. The building is 95 years old and used to be an artist's atelier; it has one of the biggest libraries of any hotel in Switzerland, full of art books, with an original Kachelofen (tiled oven) in the centre, around which the room was built, as well as a leather-and-mahogany walled reading room. The name of this luxury hotel comes from the artist's original plot of land—and from the view.

The facilities

One of the dining rooms is an old Engadine-style Stube - or parlour - with painted wooden walls. La Bellezza is a gourmet restaurant with food that is renowned by chef Boris Benecke. Vitalino has magnificent views of the Alps, serving breakfast and four course gourmet dinners. Stüva Paradis serves hearty and rustic meals with a comfortably traditional atmosphere. For a cosy night in, the Fireplace Bar offers quality time in an intimate setting.

The Garden of Eden is an oasis of relaxation and rejuvenation for the guests of this luxury hotel. Treatments of mind and body, the sauna with whirlpool and a massage while enjoying the murals painted on the walls all connect into making this an experience of pampering. A fitness centre is also available to meet the needs of all guests at any physical level—from yoga to reflexology and snowshoeing there is an option for everyone.

The rooms

This 4 star hotel has 23 luxurious rooms and suites, all having a south-facing balcony with a beautiful view over the valley and the Lischana mountain range. Spacious and functional, the interior of this luxury hotel is decorated with fine fabrics and a natural elegance. Marble bathrooms and original artwork give the rooms a relaxed and cosy atmosphere.