A classic high-altitude resort of the type that only exists in Switzerland, Arosa is famous for its views over the local peaks and its well laid out lift system. The local ski club was founded in 1903, making it one of the world's oldest, and the ski school began in 1933. Developing from a destination for health giving holidays in the last century in to one of the pioneering winter sports meccas before the era of modern skiing, Arosa has managed to turn itself in to a winter sports destination with the facilities modern tourists want, but at the same time continued to capitalise on the stunning natural beauty and unspoilt quality, an ever more valuable asset.
From a practical point of view Arosa also scores highly thanks to its altitude - one of the highest traditional villages in Europe. The village's location at the end of the steep Schanfigg Valley gives it another strength in the modern era - no through traffic. However, as with other classic Swiss resorts such as St Moritz, Crans Montana or Engelberg, Arosa cannot really be described as a picturesque alpine village, with almost fifty hotels, including two five star establishments, each with over 200 beds, one a ten storey high rectangular concrete building - this is not a village of quaint little wooden chalets. That being said, Arosa is a rather scattered affair and Inner Arosa, a little way above the main resort, is the more picturesque, with the main base by the Obersee rather less scenic.
The resort was turned from a remote village to an international destination resort by a Dr Otto Herwig-Hold, who thought it the ideal location for his tuberculosis sanatorium back in the 1880s. Since then kings and queens, along with celebrities such as Sophia Loren and Thomas Mann, have made up the guest list. Early winter sports fans had a basic bobsleigh run and hickory wood skis to enjoy the snow. Today it attracts a wide range of clients from the rich-without-glitz brigade who have money but don't want to flaunt it, to lively young 'boarders.
