Early in September 1864, the hotel pioneer Johannes Badrutt made a portent bet, claiming before four of his British guests, who had stayed for the summer, that winter in the Upper Engadine was more beautiful than dreadful. In a time, when staying in the mountains outside of the brief summer season was deemed suicidal, he invited these four guests to return for Christmas and stay for as long as they pleased at his expense. Should he be proved wrong, he promised to cover his guests' travelling expenses from London and back.

The four guests took him up on his bet and did indeed return at the agreed time - not alone, but with their respective friends and families in tow. On the day of their arrival, the sun shone warmly off the wintery landscape and Mr Badrutt received them wearing nothing over his light shirt.

The British guests were surprised and duly impressed. Starting the tenth dayof their stay, they volunteered to cover all their expenses. They stayed until Easter! After their return home, of course, they told the tale. Every winter they came back, drawing an ever growing number of visitors to St. Moritz.

Thus St. Moritz became the cradle of winter tourism in the mountains. But the small village already had a moved history which also marked its development, as compiled on our concise.