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Conservation and Heritage

Cradled in a bend of the serpentine Furka Pass, the Hotel Belvédère stands as a silent monument to a bygone era. Once alive with the warm laughter of guests, this historic hotel now rests in solemn stillness under the stars, with only the occasional streak of headlights to break the darkness. Built in 1882, the Belvédère was a sanctuary for those journeying to the Rhône Glacier, once home to Europe’s largest man-made ice cave. By 2015, the glacier had receded 1,300 meters, causing the hotel to close its doors and board up its windows. Long exposure, lit with aerial lighting rigs as part of the "Icebreaker" project, a self funded passion project highlight the impacts of climate change on glaciers. In support of 2025, the UN International Year of Glaciers' Preservation.