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Arosa and Tarasp

A traditional form of Swiss bathing has experienced a renaissance, intriguing the modern wellness scene with its combination of two elements of Swiss culture – natural health and dairy farming.

White daisies are just one of the many types of wildflower that grow in Swiss meadows.

Today, taking an open-air Swiss molke (whey) bath in a wooden tub on a grass-topped Alpine peak has become all the rage – again. Taking a dip in this milky-white froth feels rather like being a modern Cleopatra. Wellness tourists are discovering that there is something wonderfully wholesome and nurturing about lying in a deep bath of milk next to an Alpine cheese hut as Switzerland’s country folk did in times gone by. Popular in Switzerland’s mountain regions, according to rural lore this dairy-rich immersion is believed to make the skin silky soft, help fight the signs of ageing and rejuvenate each and every cell and sinew in the body.

Whey-bath Experience

Generally, this is what a whey bath involves. After stripping off in a wild-flower meadow, you lower yourself gently into the bath to allow your body to absorb the soothing qualities of the whey. You relax into the milky depths to feel the positive effects of the liquid on the skin as it helps to regulate the skin’s pH, stabilizes the acid barrier of the surface of the body, smoothes wrinkles and carefully cleans the outer dermal layers.

Heated to a temperature of around 38°C (100°F), the whey soon engulfs every bodily nook and cranny, helping to alleviate itchy skin and relieving allergies and improving the complexion. Freshly produced from working cheese farms, the whey comes straight from the to the tub. Around 30–40 minutes is the ultimate whey-bath wallow. The experience is enhanced by the surroundings – panoramic views of Alpine peaks and the smell of scented pine forests further stimulate the senses. Few scenes are as restorative as that of cattle on a backdrop of cut-glass peaks and the sound of tinkling cowbells and mooing herds.

Old-fashioned farming culture in Switzerland fiercely upholds traditions, and whey bathing is a lasting legacy of the country’s dairy-herding heritage. Spa-goers who give it a try swear that they feel revitalized and restored – and that can’t be dismissed as the dizzying effects of altitude surely?

3 things you must not miss

1 Schloss Tarasp Revel in the historic 11th-century grandeur of Tarasp’s magnificent castle, perched on top of a pine-trimmed peak. www.schloss-tarasp.ch

2 Summer Music During the summer Arosa hosts a number of musical events, including opera and musicals and a jazz festival. www.arosa.ch

3 Mountain Railroad Experience jaw-dropping snow-topped vistas at a gloriously leisurely chug-chug pace on one of Arosa’s charming mountain railroads. www.arosa.ch

Pines, pure air and the natural mountain springs of Arosa.

Where to Experience It

In historic Tarasp, on the River Inn, surrounded by glaciers and rugged peaks, the traditional Swiss whey bath is offered by a small, independent cheese-farmer at the Alp Laisch dairy on a one- or two-person-per-day basis. Set among scattered Alpine hamlets, a small lake and the towering spires of the Schloss Tarasp (castle), enjoying a nutrient-rich dip here allows wellness tourists to enjoy the warmth of rural Swiss hospitality before a hike up to the mountain summits or a stroll around the 11th-century splendour of the castle.

Nestling in the snow-capped peaks of Arosa, the Bergoase Spa at the Tschuggen Grand Hotel (see page 36) is in a magnificent setting that is matched by the stunning design of the building’s stylish interior. Created by Mario Botta and opened in 2006, the 5,000-sq m (53,819-sq ft) spa combines Alpine-evoking rugged white granite and polished maple. A dozen cosy therapy rooms offer a wide array of pampering, including a bath in whey from the resort’s own Sennerei Maran Dairy. This is the option for you if the prospect of bathing outdoors doesn’t appeal.

INFORMATION

ALP LAISCH t +41 78 708 25 31

w www.myswitzerland.com(see below)

Pre-booking is essential, with prices from CHF 40 for a deep, whey-milk dip(check www.myswitzerland.com/en/home/autumn/excursion-summer/landscapes/scuol-tarasp-warm-whey-bath-with-a-view.html).

BERGOASE SPA,TSCHUGGEN GRAND HOTEL

t +41 81 378 99 99 w www.tschuggen.ch

A 20-minute whey bath costs CHF 70