History

past times
(1913–1940)

One hundred years ago, the Dutch conductor Willem Mengelberg, a prominent figure within the music avant-garde of the 20th century, undertook a hike from his holiday resort in Scuol-Tarasp towards the Fimber Pass with the destination of Ischgl in Paznaun. He passes by Zuort on the way and is enthralled by this mystical place.

The chalet, designed by him and richly decorated by the local Lanfranchi family and Swiss carvers, some of them locals, was completed in its first version in 1911. In 1920, he bought the farm and the farmland from the Frigg farming family. Their nephew, Clot Corradin, had been the tenant farmer for more than ten years and responsible for the actual construction. He became an artisan himself, under the guidance of the local carver Häfner from Strada and Lucerne's Furrer.

Together they now build a chapel as a log structure and produce the ornate furnishings including pews and altar, all according to Mengelberg's exact specifications. The work is essentially completed in 1928. The carillon - a speciality of the Dutch - was installed on the ridge of the chapel by the famous bell foundry Rüetschi Aarau, in the form of 15 bells operated by a keyboard. The carillon still works today, even if it is no longer operated regularly, as it was in Aunt Elly's (see next section) time in the 80s. A mechatronic upgrade for electronic operation and a common keyboard is a vision - then the carillon can once again sound daily.

Mengelberg Foundation
(1951–2010)

1951 is the year of Mengelberg's death (born on 28 March 1871 in Utrecht). In wise foresight, he placed the fiefdom with land and all buildings to a foundation bearing his name. Thus, for about 50 years, countless musicians were able to visit the Chasa during their summer holidays. Until 1987, they were looked after on site in the summer by Miss Elly Heemskerk, who was the actual guardian of the Chasa until her old age and was herself active on the foundation board. She was the daughter of a famous Dutch admiral (Spitsbergen) and the first violinist in Mengelberg's Concertgebouw Orchestra, which he conducted for 50 years, from 1918.

New Times in 2010

After his death 1951, Zuort is looked after by the Mengelberg Foundation. The latter, unable to guarantee continuity after 2009, passes the property in to the hands of the St. Moritz doctor Peter Robert Berry IV, nature lover and supporter of culture. He now endorses the vital roles of temporary bridge and flywheel.

Zuort bears three foundations:

• idealism: Mengelberg Foundation
  Berry Foundation

• collective responsibility: Friends of Zuort Club

• self sufficiency: Swiss Historic Hotel
  

past times
(2010–2016)
 

Since May 2017 our Haflinger horses are no longer in Zuort and back in their home place of South-Tirol, at the Wietererhof in Jenesien, Bozen.
www.wietererhof.com