monocle

Another weekend, another mountain top. Today I’m 1,000 metres higher than last Saturday, Lake St Moritz shimmers and sparkles below me, the village is bustling with locals and visitors enjoying the very nice weather (sadly it will have changed by the time you read this), and my colleagues at Monocle Radio are bringing the village square to life with a bit of music and interviews for the first Makers & Shakers weekend in St Moritz. Tomorrow I’ll be hosting Monocle on Sunday from the same square, so if you’re in the region or fancy an early drive to the Engadin, pop in for a coffee and a quick hello. Although we haven’t quite decided on the programme for tomorrow, I’ve been thinking about the forces that make up village life and why we’re so drawn to extra-scaled city life. Before I present my “Top 10”, I would like to add a caveat: my idea of ​​the perfect village is shaped by two decades of living in St. Moritz. That means stable rail and road connections to a few major cities (Zurich and Milan), an airport for those moments when you need to charter a plane or hitch a ride with a friend, solid infrastructure and, of course, breathtaking scenery wherever you turn. That’s what makes a village: 1. Recognisability. Nothing sets the tone for a perfect day (or weekend) than walking through the village and being able to nod to the bank clerk on a cigarette break, the man from the wine shop, the manager of the grand hotel and the lady who runs the kiosk. I’m not in St. Moritz every week, but I like that after almost 25 years in the scene, I feel a constant sense of connection – and that so many people are still part of it. 2. Trust. With recognition comes a social contract: “You don’t have to pay me today, I’ll just send you a bill later”; “Why don’t you take it home, try it and if you don’t like it, bring it back.” The level of trust found in many European Alpine valleys is something to be cherished and preserved. Sometimes I feel it deserves some kind of UNESCO recognition as an intangible, essential asset for heartfelt human behaviour.3. A square. A village needs a focal point and a well-thought-out square is key for meetings, greetings, markets and more. The square should provide ample seating, shade, a few good cafes and bars and not be too brightly lit at sunset.