History

Perched high in the Swiss Alps since 1894, Hotel Regina invites you to experience the timeless beauty of the Jungfrau Mountains and Lauterbrunnen Valley. As a proud Swiss Heritage site since 2004, our Victorian-style hotel combines historic elegance with modern comfort.

Whether you’re admiring the picturesque peaks from your room or exploring the village of Wengen, you’ll feel the charm and tranquility that define this extraordinary location.

Each room and suite offers stunning views, ensuring that the first thing you see each morning is the breathtaking natural landscape. After a day of exploring, relax in our Wellness Area with a soothing sauna, hammam, or an indulgent massage, or enjoy a cocktail in the elegant Piano Bar.

For a true culinary treat, visit “Chez Meyer’s,” our fine dining restaurant with 15 Gault Millau points, or “Jack’s Brasserie,” where traditional and innovative dishes are crafted from fresh, local ingredients.

No stay at Hotel Regina is complete without meeting Caramel, our beloved 10-year-old Cocker Spaniel. Owned by Guido and Ariane, the heart and soul behind Hotel Regina, Caramel is a local celebrity among our guests. His friendly presence and “Walk Caramel to Fight Cancer” initiative, inspired by Amanda, the owners’ daughter, help raise funds for cancer research. Caramel brings joy to our guests, embodying the warmth and hospitality that define Hotel Regina.

Whether you’re here for adventure or relaxation, Hotel Regina offers unforgettable experiences, unparalleled service, and a touch of magic in the Swiss Alps.

The History of Hotel Regina – The Magic of Swiss Hospitality in Wengen
Told by Mr. Guido Meyer, Owner and Heir to a Hotel Tradition

Everything began in the second half of the 19th century when Wengen started attracting travelers. At that time, the first three hotels in Wengen were all operated in the Schiltwald area, behind what is now Café Mary’s, near the finish line of the Lauberhorn races.

One of these hotels was “Mary’s,” owned by a doctor’s wife. Her name was Marie, but since most of the guests were English, the hotel was simply called “Mary’s.” However, it was located slightly further back than its present-day site.

Back then, guests were transported to Kleine Scheidegg in a palanquin or on mules. At that time, the valley primarily attracted English tourists, but also writers, musicians, composers, and other artists who were drawn to the accessibility of the region—a place where no high mountain passes had to be crossed. Here, they found inspiration. Goethe, for example, wrote several poems about the valley’s streams, deeply impressed by the enchanting landscape.

Other artists, such as Richard Wagner, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, and Felix Mendelssohn, were also fascinated by the valley’s beauty. Mendelssohn even spent two years here, finding in the landscapes a source of inspiration for his music.

When the railway project was initiated, several hotels were built on the Wengen plateau, about two kilometers from Schiltwald. One of these was Hotel Regina, which was constructed in 1894. Upon its opening, it was sold for more than 115,000 Swiss francs, including a large estate, to the Reinert family.

Almost all hotels in Wengen were built before 1900, which unfortunately marked the end of the three original hotels in Schiltwald. At that time, there was no official star classification system, but a quality assurance system had already been established—similar to other prestigious regions such as Northern Italy (the Upper Italian Lakes) or the French Riviera. The "Palace," the first hotel in the region, was considered a 5-star establishment, while the "Regina" (the Queen) was classified as a 4-star hotel. The other hotels followed this hierarchy.

World War I still brought some guests, but during World War II, the history of Hotel Regina was particularly challenging. Around 6,000 American soldiers were interned in Wengen at various times. Due to limited bed capacity, many of them secretly fled to return to the war—escaping across Lake Geneva, traveling through France, Spain, and Portugal, and receiving support from the resistance.

Magdalena Reinert, the last owner and manager of the hotel, who had no descendants, sold the hotel in 1959 to Immobilien AG am See, a subsidiary of Migros. This company also owned Castel Zuoz and Regina Interlaken.

In 1959, my parents, Jack and Erika Meyer-Oppliger, took over the management of the hotel. In the early years, they also managed other hotels during the summer, including the Regina in Interlaken (now a hotel management school) and the Titlis Hotel in Engelberg, which unfortunately fell victim to a fire a few years later.

As the summer season grew in importance, managing multiple hotels simultaneously became increasingly difficult. In 1984, after their retirement, Immobilien AG am See offered my wife, Ariane Meyer-Biollat, and me the opportunity to take over the management of Hotel Regina. This allowed us to fulfill a great dream, as we were both already working in the hospitality industry.

I had graduated from the renowned Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne and gained international experience in India (New Delhi, Oberoi Group), South Africa (Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth as F&B Director), and Crete (Ikaros Village).

My wife, Ariane Meyer-Biollat, attended the art school in Biel and initially worked as a decorator, tour guide in France, and accountant in Johannesburg. She also opened a restaurant in Port Elizabeth before joining the management of Ikaros Village on Crete.

In 1984, we took over the management of Hotel Regina in Wengen. Two years later, the opportunity arose to purchase the hotel. From that moment on, we have worked with passion and determination to make Hotel Regina flourish, welcoming travelers from all over the world year after year. Each season brought wonderful encounters and countless unforgettable memories.

In 2024, we are preparing to pass the torch. We have appointed a new director and entrusted Hotel Regina to Sophos Hotels, a hotel management company that will continue operating the hotel on our behalf.

We look back with pride on 65 years at the helm of this iconic hotel – Hotel Regina Wengen, the most beautiful hotel in one of the most beautiful places in the world.