In 1864, Swiss hotelier Caspar Badrutt invited four British guests to his hotel in St. Moritz, Switzerland, for a winter stay. At the time, the town was primarily a summer destination known for its natural springs and ties to the pilgrimage of St. Maurice. Badrutt’s invitation revolutionized tourism, transforming St. Moritz into the birthplace of Alpine winter sports.
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, St. Moritz had become a playground for the elite, offering activities such as bobsledding, ice skating, curling, tobogganing, cross-country skiing, and snow polo. Its reputation as a winter wonderland solidified when it hosted the first official Winter Olympics in 1928.
