Cyclist Paul's Travels: Leysin, Switzerland (mountain village/ski resort)

You can't miss seeing this ski jump as it's on the side of the main road (and only road) as you enter Leysin (population 4,000). You can see skiers atop. I watched them ski down (through water sprinklers) make the jump and, go flying onto the foam padding.

Entering Leysin's town center. Note that big white building high above--more on that later.

Chalets above town center.

This is the entrance to the Swiss Hotel Management school. It's rated one of the best hotel management schools in the world. The main campus is located about 30 miles away in Montreux. Formerly the Mont Blanc Palace hotel, the school purchased the property in 2004. I saw these kids playing out front and they sure didn't look old enough to be going to this school. I had to investigate.

Turns out hotel management school is on summer break and they offer summer school classes (English, math etc...) for young kids. The kids hail from around the world. Talked to several from China and Brazil.

Directly below this building is that large white building I pointed out to you two previous photos ago. It's part of the Swiss Hotel Management school.

Went inside the Swiss Hotel Management school and they let me snap this photo from a balcony. This former hotel (Mont-Blanc Palace) has quite a history.

Ever heard of Club Med? It's a French company that back in the 1950's started offering all inclusive destination holidays (meaning room, food and drinks were all included for one price). Club Med properties were usually in tropical climates but, in 1950 this hotel became Club Med's first skiing, winter sports location.

This is Leysin's train station---a cog railway line was built from the valley floor to here back in 1897. I thought this was the end of the line but, turns out I'm wrong as it continues up through the mountain to a private train station.

The train leaves Leysin's main station and continues up through the mountain for a distance of about three blocks--coming out behind this hotel---the historic Grand Hotel.

Back in the 1890's tuberculosis was a scourge around the world. Affecting primarily the lungs and very contagious, there were no drugs/antibiotics back then to fight this disease. It was thought fresh air was the cure. Leysin was picked as the perfect site for the "cure". Why? Lots of sun, low humidity, thin air plus, being located on the south side of the mountain protected Leysin from cold winds.

Soon, Leysin became famous throughout Europe and sanatoriums (specialized hospitals) sprung up around town. The Grand Hotel was the top-of-the-line place to stay.

This is the end-of- the-line private train station located directly behind the Grand Hotel.

This is the backside of the Grand Hotel. See that walkway leading into the hotel? It's only about 20 feet from the train station. So, back then ((1890-1920's) tuberculosis passengers rode in separate train compartments (TB was contagious) and could discreetly enter the hotel (you were shunned and looked down upon if you had TB).

At one point (1930), Leysin had over 3,000 patients. The "cure" rate was three out of four (75%)--with 25% dying. How long did this "cure" take. Up to three years! Jeez, that's a lot of time soaking up the big air!

This is the front side of the Grand Hotel. Three pictures earlier I showed you the far end of the hotel --the oldest section. So, what's going with this place now?

In the late 1920's penicillin was one of the drugs helping in the fight against tuberculosis. Soon, there other drugs and slowly Leysin lost its luster. A German travel operator bought the Grand Hotel and brought in tourists.

In 2008 Leysin American School bought the 100,000 square foot building on 10 acres and in 2010 opened after renovations. Leysin American School gobbled up a slew a buildings in Leysin and has quite a campus. How can the school buy all the buildings? Well, it's one of the world's most expensive (if not the most expensive) boarding schools--where sending your kid to school here for one year will set you back $155,000. Multiple that by 300 students and it adds up.

An old chalet near Leysin's town center.