Winter sports Glacier 3000: New panorama restaurant opens after fire

Two years after a devastating fire, the Glacier 3000 in Les Diablerets shines with a newly built panorama restaurant designed by Mario Botta. The reconstruction involves increased fire protection and innovative technologies.

Following a devastating fire in 2022, the Glacier 3000 ski resort in Les Diablerets has opened a new tourist complex. The highlight is the panoramic restaurant, which was rebuilt according to the designs of renowned architect Mario Botta. The inauguration took place on Thursday, attended by Vaud State Councillor Isabelle Moret and Botta himself, who described the rebirth of his project as "very moving".

The reconstruction offered the opportunity to improve fire protection and integrate new technologies. Botta, who was involved in the original project back in 2000, praised the progress that has made the restaurant even better. State Councillor Moret expressed the hope that the new restaurant could develop a similar symbolic power to the Eiffel Tower and emphasized the importance of the site for year-round tourism in the canton of Vaud.

Innovative architecture and sustainability

The total cost of the reconstruction amounted to 30 million francs. One of the most striking innovations is the south façade, which was fitted with over 600 photovoltaic panels. These make it possible to cover the energy requirements of the various restaurants almost independently. Despite these modernizations, the external appearance of the building remains largely unchanged due to building regulations.

The new restaurant offers three areas with a total of 480 seats on three floors. A 250 square meter panoramic terrace on the roof offers a breathtaking view of the Matterhorn and 24 other four-thousand-metre peaks.

A look back at the fire

The fire occurred on the night of September 18 to 19, 2022, when the Panorama Restaurant went up in flames. Fortunately, no one was in the building and there were no injuries. The cable car remained undamaged and winter sports operations were able to resume after around seven weeks with limited catering services.

The cause of the fire is still unclear, but arson has been ruled out. Investigators suspect a technical problem as the cause. The reconstruction of the restaurant marks a new beginning for Glacier 3000 and underlines the importance of the location as a beacon in the region's four-season tourism strategy.

SDA