The Brecon raises the bar for contemporary chalet chic

Designed by Amsterdam studio Nicemakers, The Brecon sports a contemporary Swiss chalet aesthetic with midcentury echoes

the brecon adelboden switzerland
(Image credit: Photography by Michael Sinclair)

In Swiss resort towns such as St. Moritz or Gstaad, a common observation during high season is that the slopes can feel like a high-octane fashion show. But in Adelboden, a quiet ski town in the Bernese Alps, roughly two hours from Zurich, the only parading is done in late June, when local farmers festoon their dairy cows with floral headdresses and globe-sized bells to trot them down the main street and up a winding path to the alpine meadows where they will graze until the season’s end.

The Brecon

Exterior of The Brecon

Exterior of The Brecon

(Image credit: Photography by Michael Sinclair)

That said, Adelboden still has a firm grip on luxury, thanks to the recently opened The Brecon: a hotel founded by the Wales-born Grant Maunder who has been visiting the region for over 40 years and who also owns the neighbouring Cambrian Hotel. The work of Amsterdam-based firm Nicemakers, The Brecon’s design leans into a contemporary chalet aesthetic in the communal areas with warm wood wall panelling, flagstone floors hand-fitted by an artisan flown in from Wales and the classic wooden Swiss dining chairs from the hotel’s previous occupant, refinished and upholstered in mottled purple boucle fabric.

Common space at The Brecon

Common space at The Brecon

(Image credit: Photography by Michael Sinclair)

Common space at The Brecon

Common space at The Brecon

(Image credit: Photography by Michael Sinclair)

Common space at The Brecon

Common space at The Brecon

(Image credit: Photography by Michael Sinclair)

Each of the 18 rooms and four suites are subtly different, ranging in size from compact doubles to a duplex two-bedroom loft suite. The top floor ‘Village’ suite, for instance, encompasses an expansive balcony and a sitting area complete with a plush Vitra sofa, a fireplace and a small writing desk that looks onto a panoramic view of the sublime Bernese Alps across the valley.

Bedroom at The Brecon

Bedroom at The Brecon

(Image credit: Photography by Michael Sinclair)

Bedroom at The Brecon

Bedroom at The Brecon

(Image credit: Photography by Michael Sinclair)

Bedroom at The Brecon

Bedroom at The Brecon

(Image credit: Photography by Michael Sinclair)

The Brecon has cleverly positioned itself as a year-round destination. In the summer, guests can explore the region’s vast network of hiking trails or swim in the nearby glacial lakes. In the winter, skiing is the main priority: Adelboden boasts an impressive number of runs accessible from several gondolas originating from the village.

Outdoor area at The Brecon

Outdoor area at The Brecon

(Image credit: Photography by Michael Sinclair)

Outdoor area at The Brecon

Outdoor area at The Brecon

(Image credit: Photography by Michael Sinclair)

After a day on the slopes, a spa offering that includes massages and reflexology, as well as a sauna, steam room and heated outdoor pool, is available for mountain-weary legs. Most meals and drinks are included in the room rate, which means an à la carte breakfast, a light lunch and a Swiss-inspired dinner, the concise menu for which changes daily, and includes dishes like wild mushroom risotto, rigatoni with tomato and mint, and an array of local cheeses, many produced by the surrounding dairy farms’ marching cows.

Find The Brecon at Dorfstrasse 88, 3715 Adelboden, Switzerland, thebrecon.com

This article appears in the October 2024 issue of Wallpaper*, available in print on newsstands from 5 September on the Wallpaper* app on Apple iOS, and to subscribers of Apple News +. Subscribe to Wallpaper* today.

Spa at The Brecon

Spa at The Brecon

(Image credit: Photography by Michael Sinclair)

Spa at The Brecon

Spa at The Brecon

(Image credit: Photography by Michael Sinclair)

Laura May Todd, Wallpaper's Milan Editor, based in the city, is a Canadian-born journalist covering design, architecture and style. She regularly contributes to a range of international publications, including T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Azure and Sight Unseen, and is about to publish a book on Italian interiors.