The Beginning of a Long Hotel Tradition
by Paul Julen
My grandmother Pauline, grew up in a farming family - called the Zumtaugwalds - in beautiful Findeln just above Zermatt. At that time of course, in the 19th century, Findeln was very isolated, so the children couldn’t go to school in Zermatt because of the snow during winter. But her limited education did not hinder Pauline from doing an extraordinary job as wife, mother and business woman.
And here is how it all started: When young Pauline married the Zermatter Andreas Julen, she of course had no idea that the marriage - which brought seven children - would only last for a short few years. Full of confidence and belief in the future, the couple built, in 1910, a guest house just beside the church, which they simply called “Guest-House Julen”. Only four years later their happiness and luck came suddenly and tragically to an end. Andreas Julen died of pneumonia. This meant hard times for Pauline as a widow and mother of seven children. Although the guest-house was heavily in debt, Pauline never even thought about selling it. Together with her children she ran the “Guest-House Julen” successfully - against all the odds. My father, Meinrad Julen then took over the guest-house when he was 18 years old.
Countless times my father told us: “We hired the rooms for 8 Francs in full-pension and still earned enough money!” In 1936, with this hard earned money, the family bought a piece of land in the “Steinmatte” and built the new Hotel Julen, even though there was a ban on building hotels in Switzerland at the time! Without a hotel license the family opened the Hotel in 1939. One can only imagine how many fines the "Julens" had to pay at the time! At last, in the early 1940s, the family were proud owners of a hotel licence. Even though the hotel was only open in summer, the business boomed right from the start - with or without a license. In the 1940s, some Hotels in Zermatt tried staying open in Winter as well. Even though this involved large financial investments, the Zermatter hoteliers carried on - convinced that Zermatt would one day become the most beautiful Ski-resort in the Alps.
In 1947 Meinrad Julen married Olgi Julen-Furrer from Unterbäch. They had seven children together, four boys and three girls. The hotel tradition established itself in our family. Four of us now run different hotels, often bearing the name “Julen Hotels”. Besides the "Hotel Daniela" and "The Romantic Hotel Julen", there are three others - "Hotel Alpenhof", "Hotel Mirabeau" and "Hotel Europe". And my sister, along with her husband, runs a top hotel in Küssnacht near Zurich.
The Hotel Julen by "Steinmatte" has been renovated many times through the years. Out of a summer-season business has evolved a whole-year business. Again and again my father purchased land, so that the new Hotels "Europe" and "Mirabeau" could be built. Hotel "Alpenhof" was built in 1983 by my oldest brother Hans-Peter and his wife. In 1981 my wife Daniela Julen-Burgener and I took over the Hotel Julen. In the same year we completely renovated the hotel. Over the years, with the growing demand of our clients, we continually expanded the Hotel: A luxurious Wellness area was built, including an indoor swimming-pool. We became a four-star hotel. Since 1982 the hotel belongs to the international hotel-chain "Romantic Hotels International" and calls itself "Romantic Hotel Julen".
But it was not just all hotel work! My wife Daniela and I have three grown-up children: Paul Marc, Sophia and Rebecca. Paul Marc and Rebecca decided to follow in the footsteps of their parents - and I just have to mention how pleased and proud we both are. During her holidays, Sophia also enjoys working in the hotel. For three years now, Paul Marc runs the "Papperla" pub and the "Schneewitchen" Club - besides attending the hotel management school in Lucerne. In 2008 he will finish his education in Lucerne.
Our youngest daughter Rebecca will take over the "Hotel Daniela" in Winter 2007/08. It can be assumed that this generation will also write their piece of hotel history.
The "Julen" will in future continue to entertain many guests from all over the world and remain a place of hospitality and well-being.
Zermatt, in August 2007
Romantik Hotel Julen, Daniela & Paul Julen, Riedstrasse 2, CH-3920 Zermatt
Tel. +41 (0)27 966 76 00, Fax +41 (0)27 966 76 76, info@julen.com, www.julen.com
Last modified: Jun 10, 2009