Categories: Travel

There’s a historic Swiss village in BC that pioneered mountaineering in the Canadian Rockies

Photo via Swiss Edelweiss Village Foundation / Facebook

If you’re a big mountain person, it really doesn’t get much better than the Canadian Rockies. And British Columbia just so happens to be the birthplace of much of Canada’s mountaineering history, heavily influenced by Swiss alpine culture. Yes, we’re talking about the historic Edelweiss Swiss Village!

Situated in the breathtaking town of Golden alongside Canada’s highest-elevation restaurant and suspension bridge, the Swiss village dates back to the early 20th century, when the legendary Swiss Guides came over to introduce their alpine-forward way of life.

Mountaineering history & traditions

Influenced by the natural splendour of the Swiss Alps, the guides are largely responsible for shaping mountain culture in western Canada as a whole. This includes all of the hiking and mountaineering that BC has become known around the world for!

According to the National Trust for Canada, it all began in 1899, when certified Swiss guides were brought to Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) hotels in the Rockies to teach safe climbing techniques.

Between then and 1954, the guides led hundreds of “first ascents” on peaks, marking the start of BC’s mountaineering culture and Swiss-Canadian heritage, according to the Edelweiss Swiss Village Foundation.

Built by the CPR for guides and their families, Edelweiss Village was constructed from 1910 to 1912, consisting of six chalets that visitors of the region can now explore today, thanks to its new ownership under Montayne.

Resort info

Now a preserved village and resort, visitors are able to stay in the original, intricately decorated chalets that made BC history!

Overnight stays in the restored historic cabins start at $620 a night and go up to $847, depending on the number of guests.

So there you have it, mountaineers. If you haven’t yet journeyed to the birthplace of western Canada’s scene, this is a must-visit to add to your winter bucket list.