Unveiling Sils Maria’s 16th-Century Swiss Gem: Chesa Marchetta
BY ROYAUME
AUGUST 2026
Restored 16th-century timber beams and stone masonry by Luis Laplace. Photo: Courtesy of Chesa Marchetta
Chesa Marchetta—a renovated 16th-century guesthouse reborn as an exclusive 13-room hotel in Sils Maria, the cultural centre of the Engadin Valley near St. Moritz—redefines private alpine luxury. Created by Artfarm, the hospitality arm founded by Hauser & Wirth’s Iwan and Manuela Wirth, this intimate sanctuary unites vernacular Engadine architecture, traditional sgraffito craftsmanship, and gallery-grade contemporary art beside a 46-cover restaurant.
In the quiet heart of Sils Maria—where the high-altitude air carries the faint, resinous scent of stone pine and cold mountain granite—Chesa Marchetta stands as a testament to historical preservation and artistic vision. The 16th-century structure keeps the architectural grammar of the Upper Engadin intact, wrapped in deep stone masonry, low-slung timber eaves, and hand-chiseled wall motifs designed centuries ago to shield inhabitants from harsh alpine winters.
Long before its transformation, the building served as a storied family pensiun and working farm, housing generations of the Godly family alongside their livestock. Its low-ceilinged stüvas and timber barns organically evolved into a gathering space for wandering intellectuals, painters, and writers drawn to the valley's extraordinary light.
Today, that dual identity as both a rugged mountain refuge and an avant-garde salon finds its ultimate expression. Chesa Marchetta operates not as a formal luxury hotel, but as a deeply personal, art-infused home where contemporary culture sits in quiet conversation with ancient Swiss heritage.
Historic Engadine Architecture and Adaptive Restoration
Nicolas Party’s pastel landscape set against patinated lime render. Photo: Courtesy of Chesa Marchetta
Led by Paris-based architect Luis Laplace in close collaboration with local Swiss craftspeople, the multi-year restoration treated every square meter of the original structure with extreme conservationist discipline. Broken lime plaster was stabilized rather than replaced, rustic floorboards showing centuries of wear were preserved, and exterior facade paintings were delicately restored using regional mineral pigments.
"The objective was never to sanitize the building or erase its domestic past," Laplace explains. “We wanted the historic patina to lead the design, integrating invisible modern comforts while allowing the stone, iron, and timber to tell their own ongoing story.”
The result is a seamless synthesis of ancient shelter and contemporary design restraint, where thick masonry walls frame mountain views without compromising the building's historic soul.
Gallery-Grade Curation within Private Living Spaces
Organic bouclé seating and bespoke stone elements by Luis Laplace. Photo: Courtesy of Chesa Marchetta
Stepping into the firelit drawing rooms and intimate lounge bar feels remarkably like entering the private alpine retreat of an avid, world-traveled art collector. Curated by Iwan and Manuela Wirth, museum-quality contemporary works are positioned naturally throughout the public spaces, stripped of white-cube formality.
In the former timber barns that now house the Cocktail Bar, Louise Bourgeois’s iconic SPIDER II sculpture and Nicolas Party’s vibrant pastel Landscape sit beneath a dramatic neon installation by Jason Rhoades. Nearby, the dining room showcases landmark masterpieces, including Alberto Giacometti’s L'Atelier de Stampa, inviting quiet, immersive contemplation between courses.
Sanctuaries of Scented Arven Pine
The 16th-century Engadine façade in Sils Maria. Photo: Courtesy of Chesa Marchetta
Across the 13 individually crafted guest rooms and suites, the interior palette shifts inward toward total sensory stillness. Walls, low ceilings, and bespoke cabinetry are lined in native Arven pine—a local Swiss stone pine renowned for its calming natural aromatic properties—paired with hand-woven wools, custom embroidery, and antique regional furnishings.
Deeply recessed window sills lined in smooth timber create quiet reading nooks, offering framing views over snow-covered village paths, alpine forests, and the surrounding Engadin peaks.
Tactile, grounding details—including custom stone fireplaces, Swiss botanical bath products, and soft ambient lighting—ensure each room functions as an independent, light-filled haven after a day on the slopes.
Cross-Border Alpine Gastronomy
The candlelit dining room set beneath antique cowbells. Photo: Courtesy of Chesa Marchetta
At the heart of the property lies the 46-cover restaurant, an intimate dining room where candlelit rustic tables rest beneath centuries-old ceiling beams. The culinary concept honors the domestic legacy of the Godly family matriarchs, merging traditional Northern Italian methods with rich Swiss mountain ingredients.
Head Chef Davide Degiovanni collaborates directly with small-scale farmers and foragers across neighboring valleys, sourcing lake fish, wild mountain game, artisanal mountain cheeses, and seasonal herbs.
Complemented by a cellar highlighting small-producer wines from the nearby Valtellina and Grisons regions, the daily-changing menu presents a refined yet unpretentious celebration of high-altitude gastronomy.
The Cultural Cadence of Sils Maria
A preserved Engadine Stube framed in aged pine. Photo: Courtesy of Chesa Marchetta
Set apart from the high-energy pulse of nearby St. Moritz, Sils Maria maintains a serene, contemplative atmosphere that has historically drawn thinkers, poets, and artists seeking solitude.
Whether returning from cross-country skiing across the frozen expanse of Lake Sils or exploring the quiet mountain trails that wind through the valley, coming back to Chesa Marchetta feels like returning to a warm, firelit home—a masterclass in modern hospitality where heritage, art, and landscape meet in perfect balance.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
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