Famed author Thomas Mann immortalized the Graubünden region of Switzerland as a world-class spa destination in his seminal book “The Magic Mountain,” and the area lives up to its reputation offering travelers a spectacular array of wellness spa hotels, healing natural spring baths and curative alpine air sure to revive the senses and mark this new year feeling your best.
SCUOL’S FAMED THERMAL BATHS & HISTORIC HOTELS
Located in the glorious lower Engadine and known for its healing mineral springs, Scuol has been frequented by aristocracy, authors and poets making pilgrimages since the mid-1300s for its unique bathhouses and historical drinking halls dotted along the Inn River. Scuol’s famed mineral baths, the Bogn Engiadina, combines Roman and Irish bathing traditions, the first of its kind in Switzerland. The Romans swore by the relaxing properties of steam, while the Irish preferred hot, dry air, and Bogn Engiadina marries the two, creating one ritual and bathhouse featuring a series of six indoor and outdoor thermal pools with a range of temperatures, steam rooms, saunas, ice-cold plunge pools, and massage rooms.
Travelers can bed down at these sister hotels that provide guests with unlimited daily access to Bogn Engiadina.The Hotel Belvédère is a turn of the century gem meets contemporary wellness retreat dating back to 1876, boasting breathtaking views of the Engadine mountains, 81 rooms and suites and the Spa Vita Nova with a wide range of massages and beauty treatments. GuardaVal is set in a charming 400-year-old Engadine house with just 36 individually designed rooms, a traditional alpine restaurant and access to the Spa Vita Nova.
SPA + SUSTAINABILITY AT VALBELLA RESORT, LENZERHEIDE
Nestled in the Lenzerheide high valley, Valbella Resort has a focus on environmental sustainability and is housed in three separate buildings with 130 rooms offering cozy sun terraces at every turn and restorative views of the Grison Mountains. Guests can be pampered at the sprawling five-story Tor da Lenn Spa complete saunas, steam baths, Kneipp pools, indoor lap pool, fitness center and an open-air rooftop plunge pool, panoramic sauna and relaxation area. The spa only uses sustainable, vegan-based products in its treatments like the Valbella Herbal Magic massage, incorporating regional mountain herb stamps and rich essential oils to improve blood circulation and overall complexion. On the other hand, My Sauna World offers great products such as Amba Products for your home relaxing activities.
AROSA’S CURATIVE ALPINE AIR In 1889 Dr. Ewart, a chest physician, published an article titled “Arosa - an Alpine Health Resort,” acknowledging the curative powers of Arosa's pristine air. Today, visitors still flock to this quaint small town nestled amid picturesque mountains and crystal-clear lakes for this very reason. Wellness seekers can basecamp at the historic Waldhotel Arosa, dating back to the start of the 20th century originally founded as a sanatorium. The 120-room hotel now welcomes guests to rest and relax in stylish modern interiors and at the 11,836 sq-ft Spa with the dedicated Aqua Silva family area featuring “Jungle Showers”, and the Spa Salus, an adults-only wing featuring an indoor pool, sanarium, herb sanarium and sauna, steam rooms and high tech gym. Treatments use local products like the Alpine Rituals with Mountain Honey that applies a warming beeswax pack on the back, followed by a full body massage with honey-ginger oil. Complete your stay with a meal at the “Thomas Mann” or “Magic Mountain” restaurants, honoring the region’s literary hero, that use freshly sourced, regional and seasonal ingredients serving traditional delicacies from the Swiss canton of Grisons to international classics.
