Like so many of Europe’s centuries-old castles, Schloss Schauenstein, in remote Fürstenau, Switzerland, has lived many lives. Once part of a fortress belonging to a local bishop, it was developed into a home in the 17th century for the noble family it’s named after, and later served as a reform school, a salon for academics, and, briefly, a “Centre for Innovative Learning.” But it wasn’t until 2003 that the structure gained global fame, when chef Andreas Caminada transformed it into a restaurant with rooms, serving dishes so spectacular you’d need to spend the night.
“From the very beginning, the focus at the castle was on the overall experience,” Caminada says. “I wanted Schloss to be a place for more than just good food.” Part of his mission in becoming the building’s steward was to preserve and promote the charm of the small abandoned Swiss villages he encountered in his youth; he grew up just a half-hour’s drive from here, in Sagogn. Accordingly, “I intentionally chose the right light, tableware, and fabrics to make a visit to the restaurant feel personal,” he adds. In 2010, Schloss Schauenstein won three Michelin stars, making a then 33-year-old Caminada one of the youngest chefs in Europe to achieve that distinction and sparking the development of a significant business. (In addition to nine other eateries, Caminada also runs a magazine and, in early 2025, launched a cooking show called Dinner Club on Prime Video.)
But his most exciting project yet is an ongoing renovation of Schloss Schauenstein, which is nearing completion this spring. In 2022, Caminada tapped Danish design firm Space Copenhagen to help him reimagine the interiors of both the guest rooms and the dining room. “Every element is important, and one important feeling is the youthful vibe we project,” Caminada says. “We want to be energetic and ahead of time.”
The result, much like his cooking, balances modernity and tradition. Signe Bindslev Henriksen, Space Copenhagen’s founding partner, notes. “Andreas challenges the local boundaries in a very beautiful and respectful manner, and we tried to do the same.” Her team preserved many of the castle’s original features, including its iron staircases and the built-in cupboards in the wood-paneled rooms. Then they layered on a mix of pieces from contemporary designers and local craftsmen. “A journey in the castle should feel like you are walking through the past, present, and future,” Bindslev Henriksen says.
Each of the nine guest rooms has been outfitted with Mario Bellini modular sofas, Viennese cane chairs from Cassina, and custom lamps designed by Space Copenhagen. The furnishings in the restaurant include pieces made by local artisans. Cabinetmaker Serge Borgmann, for example, created service stations with intricate drawers for herbs using the Japanese joinery technique sashimono.
The second-floor lounge has a Versailles-meets–Tate Modern aesthetic. Guests can sink into ribbon-curved rattan chairs from Italian firm Bonacina and sip aperitifs while admiring works from Caminada’s personal art collection, which includes Sylvie Fleury’s neon signs and paintings by Vivian Suter and Conrad Jon Godly. “From the start, we invented a design narrative around the idea of this being the country house of a worldly count filled with eclectic finds from his travels,” says Bindslev Henriksen. “In the end, the castle brings out the personality of Andreas. He admires and surrounds himself with fine things. Whether you stay as a guest or simply dine here, you’re getting a glimpse into his world.”
Previously published on Robb Report USA
Photography by Joan Nathanael Minder
