Even if you’ve never set foot in Switzerland, chances are you’ve already laid eyes on the mountain village of Andermatt—perhaps unknowingly—while watching the 1964 James Bond classic, Goldfinger. One of the film’s most visually breathtaking scenes depicts Sean Connery as Bond driving along the twisting curves of the Furka Pass, a mountain pass that connects Andermatt in the Canton of Uri with Gletsch in the Canton of Valais.
As he alights his Aston Martin at a curve on the east side of the Pass, the camera pans down from its elevation of 2,429 metres towards the furthest stretch of the valley, all the way towards Andermatt. Had Bond not been so hotly in pursuit of Auric Goldfinger, he too would most likely have succumbed to the charms of this delightful village, which sits at 1,400 metres above sea level in the heartland of Switzerland.
Nearly six decades after Goldfinger was released, Andermatt has maintained its sense of serenity, tucked neatly into the Alps within a rugged, high-peaked fold of the Ursern Valley. Among the feathers in its cap—excellent local and international transport connections (Zurich is just a 90-minute drive away) and an abundance of sunshine, for instance—the extensions to the village have transformed the municipality into a real estate jewel.
Under the direction of Andermatt Swiss Alps AG, an investment of CHF 1.8 billion has paved the way for the construction of 42 multi-family buildings with condominium units and 28 exclusive villas, alongside additional projects including convention facilities and six hotels. The residential developments in the new neighbourhood of Andermatt Reuss have proved particularly tantalising to international buyers: apartments and houses purchased from Andermatt Swiss Alps are exempt from Switzerland’s ‘Lex Koller’ legislation, which tightly restricts the acquisition of Swiss property by foreign buyers.
Within the perimeter of Andermatt Reuss, modern apartment buildings artfully arranged around meandering streets—in keeping with the close-knit environment of a traditional Swiss village—offer an impressive variety of architectural styles, combined with sustainable design and sumptuous interiors. Prime examples include the cedar shingle-clad SILVA, which features a forest bathing-inspired interior design concept developed by Swiss architectural firm MACH, and Val Val’s 15 contemporary Swiss Alpine residences and penthouses (priced from CHF 1.75 million), complemented by an expansive roof terrace.
Should buyers find themselves torn between properties—perhaps La Vetta’s 18 residences and penthouses (priced from CHF 1.25 million) might catch their gaze too, with their sophisticated Italian design accents and state-of-the-art yoga room—there’s more good news. None of the apartments here are subject to the Swiss Second Home Law (which prohibits the construction of a second home in a commune where more than 20 per cent of properties are already second homes), opening up further opportunities for ownership.
With the pleasure of possessing a residence in Andermatt comes an enviable Alpine lifestyle, to be enjoyed through all four seasons. In winter, the village is a skier’s paradise, with gondolas running to the mighty Gemsstock mountain, plus connections to a sizeable ski area over the Oberalppass and as far as Disentis, as well as the cross-country trails of Valais. With the departure of the snow, residents can try their hand at the Andermatt Golf Course—an 18-hole, par-72 championship course with panoramas as bracing as the winds that sweep across the surrounding wildflower meadows and Reuss River.
The presence of five-star hotel The Chedi Andermatt and the 650-seat Andermatt Concert Hall provide immediate access to luxury hospitality and a lively cultural scene (star tenor Rolando Villazón is scheduled to perform early next year), and there are more plans afoot. Swiss chef Andreas Caminada, one of the youngest chefs in Europe to achieve three Michelin Stars, will open a restaurant towards the end of 2024, while the ultra-chic Cotton Club will soon enliven the clubhouse beside the Andermatt Golf Course.
A home in Andermatt can also highlight the simpler delights in life: a newly conquered hiking or biking trail, a visit to a family-run dairy farm, or the near-primal thrill of taking a favourite sports car along an Alpine pass. Best of all is the uninterrupted vista at the southwest corner of the village, capable of running the length of the Ursern Valley on a clear day. It can never be obstructed by new buildings, making the view—and your Andermatt residence—the treasure of a lifetime.
