Hotel Villa Maria

The Hotel Villa Maria, above the Engadine Valley, sits on the road from Bad Scuol as it winds up into the hills toward the picturesque Tarasp Castle. Although the road loops around the hotel, there is an ornately tended garden with decorative gnomes and a “pitch and put” green along the side. The 100-year-old inn, painted a pale yellow with intricately carved wooden balconies and brown shutters, has a Victorian flair which is given a Swiss touch by the traditional boxes overflowing with geraniums hung at every window. Inside, there is a country ambiance—carved pine ceilings, intricate paneling, pine furniture, antiques, and fresh flowers abound. The bedrooms are attractive. All have light-pine furniture offset by the same provincial-print fabrics used in the window coverings. Everything is fresh and new and very pretty. For guests who stay three days, a demi-pension plan is available, with breakfast and dinner included in the room rate. For these guests there is a bright, cheerful dining room overlooking the back garden. In addition, on the street level there is a gourmet restaurant with beamed ceilings, thick planked-wood walls, many antiques, a fireplace, and a charming fondue restaurant off the garden. The Villa Maria is in a wooded area with walking trails feathering off in every direction.