I have a dream in Riom, Tarasp and Mulegns
30 August 2024
The Schweizerhof (closed) and the Waldhaus(burnt down) in Vulpera, the Kurhotel and Trinkhalle (closed) in Nairs, and the Hotel Tarasp (closed) in Tarasp were once the pride of the Lower Engadine (canton of Graubünden).
These grand hotels enjoyed their heyday in the Belle Epoque until the First World War (1914-1918) and the Second World War (1939-1945).
The beautiful nature, the healthy (mountain) air, the many springs with soothing mineral water, and the accessibility after the construction of the railway connection and the lifting of the car ban in 1925(!) attracted thousands of wealthy tourists and patients. They often stayed in the spas and hotels for months with large entourages.
After 1945, other target groups arrived, staying for a few weeks at most. New therapies and medicines also diminished the importance of spas.
Hotel Tarasp
In Tarasp, the hotel fell into ruins, and many residents gave up hope and courage. All the residents? No, the Tarasper artist Rudolf Glaser has a dream:
“Recently, I (The Hotel) had a dream: they gave me a new body, and I moved into my new existence. I now house flats for older people, a café and a small boutique. The place became popular again, and I came back to life’.
(Kürzlich hatte ich (Das Hotel) einen Traum: Man gab mir einen neuen Körper und ich zog in mein neues Dasein. Ich beherberge nun Wohnungen für ältere Menschen, ein Café und eine kleine Boutique. Der Ort wurde wieder beliebt und ich damit).
Charles Laurent Carisch (1882-1914), the grandson of Johannes Jacob Carisch (1820-1906), inherited an enormous fortune from his father Charles Auguste Carisch (1851-1906) in Riom, which Johannes had earned as a restaurant owner (confectioner) in Paris. Charles dreamed of a grand hotel in Riom.
When you visit Riom today, it is hard to imagine a palace in such a small village high in the mountains. However, St. Moritz, Sils, Tarasp and Davos were similar villages at the beginning of the tourism boom.
Riom
Charles Laurent had the vision, the architect, and the money, but the First World War thwarted his plans. He died as a French soldier, taking with him the dream of the Grand Palace Riom.
But dreams can also come true. The proof is in Mulegns and Riom (canton of Graubünden). In just a few years, the Nova Fundaziun Origen has restored Mulegns and Riom to a world of the Belle Epoque.
The Weisse Villa (links), Hotel Löwe (rechts)
The White Villa (Weisse Villa), the Hotel Löwe, the construction of the White Tower (der Weisse Turm, as the successor to the Julier Tower), and the permanent exhibition on the history of the famous Graubünden confectioners (who also had a dream) in the White Villa have (almost) been realized.
Mulegns, der Weisse Turm, work in progress (summer 2024)
Model in Riom
Mulegns, model of the White Tower in the former telegraphy office of Hotel Löwe
Even the tiny village of Riom is now a world-famous centre for textiles, culture and art. And all of this began a few years ago with a dream.
Impressions of Hotel Löwe (summer 2024)
