Switzerland, August 2019: New England may be famous for the brilliance of its fall foliage, but Switzerland's autumn colour is equally impressive, especially in the eastern canton of Graubunden where the Swiss National Park, part of the worldwide UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is located. 

Eighty kilometres of footpaths and nature trails criss-cross the 170 magnificent square kilometres of National Park wilderness, offering visitors of all ages and abilities the chance to witness nature at is glorious best. Not just the stunning autumn foliage, but also the wild animals: look for the ibex with their sweeping horns, cute-looking chamois, playful marmots, majestic red deer and maybe a golden eagle (six pairs are resident in the park).

Grand Hotel Kronenhof (www.kronenhof.com) in Pontresina has created a “Golden Autumn Days” package to make the most of this very special time of year and it includes, among other things, unlimited use of all the mountain railways in the Engadine/St Moritz area, so that guests can jump on and let the train take the strain, while enjoying glorious views en route. 

Other excursions on this rail network lead to Chur, the capital of the canton with its car-free old town that is well worth exploring, and south over spectacular mountain passes and along scenic valley routes, with piercing blue Engadine skies overheard, to Valposchiavo, in the Italian-speaking part of the country.

Of course, there is plenty to do and see even closer to the hotel. Visits to the Engadine at this time of year are particularly popular among keen walkers and artists. Hikers might feel the need to pull on their boots and trek up mountains, but they can also kick off their shoes and sample the benefits of barefoot walking trails in Celerina, a village close to Pontresina, before treating their feet to a little bit of pampering in the warmth of the Kronenhof Spa water-jet pool. Meanwhile keen artists will want to capture the light in the valley, which is so magical it led the 19th century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche to believe that he had found “the cradle of all silver tones”. 

Offered from 15 September to 19 October, Grand Hotel Kronenhof's Golden Autumn Days package includes dinner, bed and breakfast, complimentary use of the hotel's stunning spa facilities, a 10% discount on spa treatments, unlimited access to the Kulm Golf St. Moritz golf course and tennis courts, and, of course, unlimited use of all the mountain railways in the Engadine/St Moritz area. Prices start from CHF 430 (approx £365) per night for two people sharing a beautiful double room, with the nightly rate reduced to from CHF 420 for those staying three to five nights and to from CHF 395 for those staying six nights of more. For more details and to book, please visit the Grand Hotel Kronenhof website www.kronenhof.com.  

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Notes for editors

Grand Hotel Kronenhof (www.kronenhof.com), located in Pontresina, six miles from St. Moritz, offers the best of both worlds: the chance to enjoy the glitz of St. Moritz, while staying in a peaceful mountain village. 

Grand Hotel Kronenhof has a rich and interesting history, having first opened its doors in the first half of the 19th century as a guesthouse. However, the main part of the current building, which is a registered historical landmark, was built at the very end of the 19th century in Neo-Baroque style. The latest addition, completed in November 2007 and costing CHF 35 million (approximately £24 million), consists of 28 new guest rooms and a stunning spa complex covering more than 2000 square metres.

The spa is certainly one of the hotel's highlights and has been named “the best Alpine spa” (according to Tyler Brule writing in the FT, November 2009). Facilities include a 20m indoor infinity pool with counter-current system, a flotation pool with underwater music, a wide range of saunas and steam rooms, a luxurious private suite for couples to enjoy wraps and massages together, and – for the perfect final touch – a crackling log fire in the relaxation room.

Gourmet cuisine is also a specialty at the Grand Hotel Kronenhof. Awarded the title of GaultMillau Hotel of the Year in 2009, it has three restaurants (the formal Grand Restaurant in an elegant Neo-Baroque vaulted room, Gourmet Restaurant Kronenstübli serving Italian-Mediterranean cuisine with 16 GaultMillau points and the informal Le Pavillon for light lunches). In addition, the hotel features a 19th-century original bowling alley where Swiss raclette is served. 

Finally, Grand Hotel Kronenhof is renowned for its extensive children's activities and facilities (a kids' playroom and Rondelle, a restaurant just for younger members of the family).

Recent awards for the Grand Hotel Kronenhof include:
2019 TripAdvisor Traveller's Choice Award (five years in a row)
2018 André Soares named Executive Housekeeper of the Year by Swiss business magazine Bilanz
PRIX BIENVENU awards, one of the top ten best luxury hotels in Switzerland 
Trivago, best 5-star hotel in Switzerland 
2017 World Luxury Spa Awards winner
Second place in NZZ's Swiss Hotel Ratings, named among the most beautiful holiday hotels

Both the Grand Hotel Kronenhof and its sister property Kulm Hotel St. Moritz are owned by the Niarchos family.

For more information, hi res images and to discuss a review visit, please contact:
Sue Heady
Heady Communications
T: 01608 651 692 / 078 5595 0705
E: sue@headycommunications.com