“I had the good fortune to spend my childhood in beautiful Saanenland, in Gstaad, to be precise. Everything was much simpler then.” These opening lines of Gstaader Geschichten (Stories from Gstaad) set the scene for 1930s-1950s Gstaad, the period of author Anton Ruesch’s childhood. The book’s subtitle, Candidly Told, foreshadows how each tale is shared in an intimate way. Like a grandfather does with his grandkids — with wit, wistfulness, and a wink. Written in 2000, the latest edition was translated into English in 2020, so that Gstaad’s current visitors and residents from across the globe can delight in these stories. The Alpina Gstaad has gone a step further, putting Stories from Gstaad in every room, inviting guests to discover the history of this enchanting village. Ever committed to supporting local artisans and strengthening community ties, The Alpina Gstaad is honoured to highlight Anton’s words.

Anton became a writer later in life, telling us, “I began by writing short stories about my father’s death, such as Herrmanns Asche, where I explored what to do with the ashes and the urn. Later, I wrote a family chronicle about my second wife’s family.” He humbly adds, “That is really the extent of my writing background.”

When we ask Anton what it was like to grow up in Gstaad, he replies, “The whole village was our playground back then — there were hardly any cars.” This simpler way of life made it “wonderful to be a child here.” In Stories from Gstaad, Anton pens how “Gstaad already had the qualities and charm of a renowned international spa town,” known as kurort in German. The difference between then and now is scale. One funny anecdote Anton shares is when his Gstaad roots were put into question. After applying for an international birth certificate, he was informed that his place of birth was in fact Saanen. “I was told that Gstaad is officially not a place!”