Champagne Climate

We know that the world-famous “champagne climate“ has less to do with the champagne-drinking winter guests than with the sparkling, invigorating and bracing climate of the Upper Engadin. The average temperature in St. Moritz is higher than its location would suggest. The forests reach several hundred metres further up than in other high-altitude valleys with the same latitude and the lower level of eternal snow is far higher. No wonder then that the slogan “Top of the World” was added to the sun and name of the St. Moritz brand logo in 1987.

The location on the southern slopes of the Alps allows the Upper Engadin to benefit from the warmth of the Italian climate. When the atmosphere is clear, the wide valley opening up to the sun in the southwest enjoys intensive sunshine and warmth but without the development of oppressive heat, as in good weather the refreshing Maloja wind blows constantly from the southwest.
 
The special climatic features can be better illustrated by giving several examples than by extensive tables. At one time crops were actually cultivated here at 1,950 metres altitude, while in the northern Tyrol, nothing grew above 1,200 metres. All the climatic factors, the 1,800-metre altitude, the thin, low-allergenic, continuously moving air and the intense sunshine as well as the beauty of the landscape are all factors which have a profound effect on the human organism. They are powerful stimulatory factors and boost all bodily functions, in particular breathing, circulation and building blood cells as well as a general retuning of the nervous system.

According to the classification of Swiss health resorts, St. Moritz lies in a region with an intensely stimulating climate. The high-Alpine climate has a direct and beneficial effect on a variety of illnesses.

Well worth knowing: The average winter temperature in the Engadin is around -9°C. Night temperatures can fall slightly below -20° but owing to the dry climate – average 57% humidity in February – it feels no more than around -6° found in regions with higher humidity levels.