Leysin, Switzerland
It looks like back in the 1930's hotels sprang up on the steep hillsides of Leysin with
another building boom taking place in the 1950/1960's. Today,
Leysin with its dated buildings
and few new ones, looks like a town in a time warp. Many of the
former hotel buildings have been converted into school buildings
or dorms for students. An American school (high school) has created
a good-sized campus on the hillside. There's also a Japanese
school and an American university. The biggest and grandest hotel
in Leysin (formerly the Palace Hotel), is now home to a Swiss
hotel management school. Thanks to a hazy light fog, the valley
floor isn't visible in this photo.
Downtown shopping streets
aren't much to brag about with few choices. This is the spiffy
exterior of a restaurant in
the village area. Judging from
looking into the windows of empty storefronts, there used to
be an artist colony here. Horseback
riding takes place here. Here's the ski
lift.
Is this place
hopping or is it dead in the summer?
Quiet
place.
Is there a lake
and/or golf course in town?
No.
Arriving by
car the only option?
From the
valley floor town of Aigle you can take a train to Leysin.
Does the place feel claustrophobic?
No.
Lots of choices
for acccomodations (hotels/ chalets) and do I have recommendations?
No. All
the former grand hotels have been put to other uses.
Could I spend a whole summer here or would I get bored?
A week would be max. |