Engelberg’s own resort website says “Welcome to Heaven!” While that may be putting things a little too high, we liked the resort so much when we visited that we chose a new life here, running Chalet Espen.

Engelberg is one of Switzerland’s oldest mountain villages, having been founded in 1120 by Benedictine Monks who built the monastery which still dominates the village. They also gave Engelberg its name, which literally translates as “Angel Mountain” and refers to the impressive Titlis mountain which towers above the resort. Two of the monks from the monastery were the first to climb to the summit of Titlis in 1744 (about the same time that Chalet Espen was built).

Engelberg made its name in the 1850's as a Summer spa resort, famous for the stunning mountain scenery which surrounds the village, and its fresh, clear mountain air. Queen Victoria, travelling incognito, visited the resort in 1869.

The arrival of skiing as a major Winter sport shortly afterwards turned Engelberg into an international year-round destination. Indeed, in the 1940s and 1950s, Engelberg became known as a mountain playground for the rich and famous. You will find lots of fascinating old pictures of Engelberg dotted around Chalet Espen, showing the history and development of the resort.

The legacy of this rich history can be felt in the resort's character and relaxed atmosphere, its fantastic facilities and the warm welcome extended by Engelbergers to their guests. Visitors from all countries are welcomed and English is widely spoken in the resort.

Overall, Engelberg is a very Swiss resort and a thriving year-round community, without the commercialism of some other popular resorts. The cultural celebrations that take place here each year have been going on for many centuries, and have not changed with the arrival of tourists.