Berglodge Goms

Sometimes life takes unexpected turns. Michèle Zbinden and Patrik Birri actually just wanted a vacation home in Münster, the main town in Switzerland’s Goms district. But eventually they made the village, where the sun supposedly shines 300 days a year, the center of their lives. In 2021, after five years of construction, they opened a hotel made entirely of wood. When building the Berglodge Goms in the Swiss Valais, skilled regional craftsmen used the traditional construction method of interlocking stacked timbers. The building materials were sourced locally, as were the tradespeople involved in constructing the hotel. Wood is also the dominant material in the 13 double rooms. Even the bathroom walls are lined with it. The hosts have combined light, natural tones with grays and pastels. Large windows offer a sweeping view of the village and the mountains. Thanks to wrap-around balconies, each room has its own private entrance. The scent of larch wood permeates the air, be it in your own room, in the breakfast room or in the lobby, and evokes the same feeling of relaxation for body and mind as in the forest. In winter, a cozy fire crackles in the old wood-burning stove, which the owners had specially restored. You won't find any clocks here, so time really does seem to pass more slowly in the mountain lodge. As the hosts manage everything themselves, from reception to yoga and cross-country skiing lessons to the kitchen, the motto is: keep it simple. Guests take their drinks from an honesty bar. Dinner is served twice a week, often with fresh ingredients from the garden. When the weather is good, meals are also served there ¬ a frequent treat with 300 days of sunshine. 

WHAT WE LIKE MOST:

• The pure timber construction blends harmoniously into the village with its historic chalets, and combines traditional construction with modern architecture.
• Michèle and Patrick are hosts with heart and soul. They look after travelers with dedication and have personal tips for things to do.
• The many loving and personal details, such as the antique wood-burning stove
• The Berglodge Goms is an organic hotel.
• The hosts’ decor lets their favorite material, wood, speak for itself, and have dispensed with anything superfluous.
• The large garden ¬ you can end the day here after a beautiful hike with a drink from the self-service bar.
• Relaxing in the Finnish sauna
• All rooms have a balcony or direct access to the garden, and the large windows have a gorgeous view of the mountains or the green surroundings.
• While away the time in the lounge’s reading corner.
• Hiking or biking in summer, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing in winter and alpine skiing nearby – the Upper Valais valley offers opportunities for exercise in the fresh air at any time of year.
• With extras such as a visit to the sauna, a massage, a cross-country skiing or yoga lesson, guests can put together their own personal wellness vacation.
• Münster’s beautiful historic village center, with wooden houses and sacred buildings, invites you to take an afternoon stroll.

GOOD TO KNOW:

• Start the day relaxed and healthy with a vegetarian breakfast made from organic ingredients. Especially delicious: the large selection of bread.
• A vegetarian, three-course evening menu is usually cooked twice a week, on Fridays and Saturdays. Additional dishes are available on request.
• Children 11 and up are welcome.
• Comfortable natural beds from Hüsler Nest ensure a restful night's sleep. 
• The Berglodge Goms has been awarded the maximum number of points in the Hotel & Lifestyle classification of HotellerieSuisse and is classified as a snow sports, hiking and biking hotel. 
• Seminars and courses can also be held in the large and bright exercise room under the roof.
• A large part of the energy requirement is covered by the hotel's own photovoltaic system.
• A type-2, 11 kW charging station is available for electric vehicles.
• Münster has several rustic restaurants.
• The hotel is ideal for train travelers, as it is located right next to the train station.