DIVINE ALPINE!

The hills are alive…with some of the smartest, healthiest, hippest and most effective spas on high, says Jo Foley

VICTORIA-JUNGFRAU GRAND HOTEL & SPA, Interlaken Switzerland

In the great tradition of belle époque grand European hotels, this palatial building sits at the centre of Interlaken with monumental views of the Jungfrau and the Eiger.

Offering super luxurious rooms and a great choice of restaurants, brasseries, cafes and bars (including a Spa bar which has healthy juices and vitamin-packed meals and snacks), it’s the place to base yourself whether you are looking for action or relaxation.

Those searching for a sporting life couldn’t find anywhere better – sailing in summer, skiing in winter (the slopes of Wengen, Grindelwald and Murren are but a courtesy bus ride away), while walking at all times of the year is a speciality. They even run special MBT courses for those who want to learn to walk like Kenya’s Masai tribesmen. Never mind that the Masai walk barefoot, we poor Westerners have to wear the MBT walking shoes using their feet as the design blueprint!

The fully equipped fitness centre has spinning, aerobic and dance classes, while the spa offers a host of hydrotherapy treatments alongside body and beauty therapies from Espa and Clarins.

There are 35 different treatments in total, from hot lava stone massage to facials and Vichy showers. But make sure you have time to take the little local train to the north face of the Eiger, where you can enjoy the view and a serious hot chocolate.

More info: www.victoria-jungfrau.ch.


LANSERHOF MEDICAL SPA, nr Innsbruck, Austria

Now regarded as Austria’s premier health resort, this is where you come for a serious de-stress, detox or weight-loss. Indeed, its specialist staff offer programmes dealing with the likes of insomnia, impotence, menopausal difficulties, ageing and weight-gain.

And. while it is but a 10-minute drive from Innsbruck, its setting among the mountains and valleys of the Tyrol are breathtaking. Its core philosophy is based on that of Dr F X Mayr, which concentrates on eating and digestion. Most of us do not do the former properly nor give the latter time to take its course.

Here you are taught the importance of both, which is why it is preferred you stay for a minimum of five days. Each guest has a full medical consultation on arrival, after which a tailor-made regime is outlined. And, as the centre is a holistic one, exercise and stress management are as important as diet and massage.

The gym and fitness studio offer a full range of training and classes while the surrounding area offers everything from cross-country skiing in winter to hiking in summer.

The Lanserhof also has a devoted following among Europe’s rich and famous, including Chelsea’s billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, who rents an entire wing each year.

More info: www.lanserhof.at.


VIGILIUS MOUNTAIN RESORT, Italy

This is serious get-away-from-it-all stuff. The only way there is via a cable car, and this architectural gem of curved wood is the sort of place you think only happens in fairy stories.

Surrounded by the mountains of the South Tyrol, that part of the world which historically is part Italian, part Austrian and which retains the charm of prettiness of both, it provides a near perfect setting where you can completely rest and relax.

The ultimate in organic ideals, all the materials used in the building are local and natural and this philosophy applies not only to the building and interiors but also to what is on offer at the spa.

For instance, fir cones are used instead of stones for massage and reflexology and one of its signature treatments is a hay bath. Instead of stepping into a steam room or sauna, you are wrapped in hay instead. As the hay heats up, the body gradually sweats the toxins out while it relaxes. You may smell a little like a farmyard but your skin will feel smooth and squeaky clean.

Do also try the signature Vigilius massage in which mountain herbs infuse the treatment oil. But also enjoy the clear mountain air, either from the depths of a sun-lounger or during an invigorating hike.

More info: www.vigilius.it.


ESPACE HENRI CHENOT at the Palace Merano Hotel, Italy

One of the most luxurious ways to lose weight, detox and de-stress, this hotel is one of those grand old jobs in spa towns which litter the Alps throughout Switzerland, Austria and this part of northern Italy.

The original public baths and thermal centre still sit smack in the centre of town while the Palace Hotel has gradually transmogrified into a serious spa. Here, Henri Chenot, a wizard in the art of anti-ageing, has one of his most popular clinics.

A naturopath and bioenergetic psychologist, Chenot has spent many years studying Traditional Chinese Medicine and he has merged the tenets of all three disciplines into a process known as biontology, which enables him and his practitioners to measure how the body ages and how to prescribe effective therapies and treatments.

Each stay has to be for a minimum of seven days and begins with a detailed consultation and questionnaire (it runs to 30 pages in total). Consequently, each programme is tailor-made.

Yet it’s not all suffering; there is a huge spa with some 50 therapists, and a programme of treatments is prescribed each day for every guest. Just lie back, enjoy it and watch the pounds (or kilos) fall away – don’t worry, you will suffer the detox headaches, too!

But the town is charming, the scenery exquisite and, if you haven’t the strength to venture up a slope, there is a cable car to take you throughout the year. The views alone are worth it.

More info: www.palace.it.