Brücke 49

Brücke 49 in Vals is an incredibly humble alpine commune of good design, whereby casual luxury and Nordic styling set the tone in a row of restored traditional buildings dating in parts back to 1770, each sensitively converted into rooms, suites, apartments and social spaces – all at home high in the mountains. Vals is certainly no stranger to preservation architecture and good design, this enchanting mountain village attracts internationals like Peter Zumthor, Japanese architects Tadao Ando and Kengo Kuma and the creator of Brücke 49, Swiss-born Ruth Kramer: moreover, Vals is a unique place that farmers, craftspeople, creatives, artists, thinkers and good-hearted ordinary folk call home.

Brücke 49 is a family of forward-thinking hostelry created from the restoration bones of three heritage houses; Pension (House), Herberge (Apartments) and a great little Butik (Shop) filled with well-sourced beautiful clothes, textiles, books and cermanics. Brücke 49 is a casual basecamp of creativity in which to muse, ponder, rest, make meaningful memories and form truthful friendships. Residing at the heart of the village, the fine bones of the buildings have been painstakingly restored and although the genealogy of the collective Brücke 49 is dunked in Swiss heritage, the interiors have been designed to host an urban Nordic remit of formed elegance.

Brücke 49 is wonderfully simple and that’s what makes the place so very endearing – a stylish refuge of good design and heritage for kindred spirits. Brücke 49 Pension offers four-bedroom suites in various sizes, each with design elements, handmade beds and gorgeous linens with views of either the mountains or valley overlooking the babbling river, framed through lovely restored casement windows. 

The informal layout of the accommodation over two floors of the house consists of four double rooms; two rooms and a separate large shared bathroom concept on each landing, making it the perfect combi for those seeking a luxe bedroom in which to retreat with a good book, and equally for friends and family.

On the upper floor of the house, you’ll find The Valser Room and the smaller Tomül Room. This floor is also perfect for a larger family in need of up to 6 beds, or friends visiting the mountains together. The first floor houses the largest room with a separate living room called The Suite due to its size, and the William Morris inspired Zervreila Room, which comes with its own south-facing private balcony.

Brücke 49 is about sharing the good things in life and when fellow house guests gather around the breakfast table in either the Pension kitchen or in the comfort of your own Herberge apartment, it becomes the focal point of the day and where conversations kick-off. There is nothing to beat being slowly awoken to the wafts of fresh bread and brewing coffee from the house kitchen. In no time fellow house guests mingle and convene at the “Breakfast Club”. Meanwhile, over in the apartments, freshly baked house breads are delivered to your door. Mountain-to-table describes best the feast of delights that begin to populate the kitchen table, served on cheery mixed Danish china and ceramics. Breakfast is wholesome and heartfelt with produce sourced from local farmers who were the early adopters of organic. House-made Knäkkebrot, one of the best-ever granola, and the bounties from the Alps; fresh yoghurts, cheeses, jams & honey, cured meats and the yellowest of eggs hit the table. Breakfast is social, an event to mark the start of a good day ahead. 

A well-stocked House Pantry hosts the help-yourself concept for when you feel peckish for afternoon cake, a light bite or just a tea. In the lounge, a small curated drinks-trolley-come-honesty-bar invites house-residents to pour a glass of wine, a gin or perhaps a night-cap as you return from a dinner in one of the many local restaurants - the owners' favourite restaurants are easily sorted, as is bringing in a chef to cater when you book the whole house with friends and family.

Surrounded by the beautiful spectacular Piz Tomül Mountain, Brücke 49 sits on the banks of the river at the Valser Rhein Bridge, close to the village square of Vals and overlooking the pitched rooftops and bell tower of the village church. 

Vals is a small ski resort with just 5 ski lifts (1 chair lift, 4 surface lifts) but it does boast a very impressive 1964 metres (6443 feet) of vertical descent. Brücke 49 allows you to combine village life high in the mountains with pure escapism on your doorstep.