High in the Swiss Alps, one mountain stands out for its starring role in cinema history. Schilthorn, a 2,970-meter (9,744-foot) summit in the Bernese Oberland region, is best known as the site of a spectacular villain‘s lair in the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty‘s Secret Service. But the story of how this once-obscure peak became an iconic film location is an adventure worthy of 007 himself.
The Early Dreams of a Mountain Railway
The idea of building a railway to the top of Schilthorn dates back to the early 20th century. In 1905, the first plans were drawn up for a cog railway that would ascend the mountain from the village of Lauterbrunnen. But the challenging terrain and high costs derailed the project.
Over the next few decades, various schemes were proposed to make Schilthorn more accessible to tourists and alpinists. But it wasn‘t until the 1960s, with the advent of modern cable car technology, that the vision finally became a reality.
An Engineering Marvel Takes Shape
In 1962, Schilthorn Cableway Ltd. was founded to construct a state-of-the-art cable car system to the summit. It was an ambitious undertaking, requiring the construction of four sections spanning 6.9 kilometers (4.3 miles) and ascending over 2,100 meters (6,890 feet) in elevation.
The first three sections – from Stechelberg to Gimmelwald, Gimmelwald to Mürren, and Mürren to Birg – opened between 1965 and 1966. The final stage, from Birg to the Schilthorn summit, was completed in 1967 at a cost of 8.5 million Swiss francs (equivalent to about $20 million today).
The engineering challenges were immense. The cable car had to withstand extreme winds, sub-zero temperatures, and heavy snow loads. The Birg-Schilthorn section alone required the construction of a 2.8-kilometer (1.7-mile) span, which set a world record for the longest cable car ride without an intermediate support tower.
Enter James Bond
Just as the cable car neared completion, Schilthorn caught the eye of filmmakers planning the next James Bond movie. Producers Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman were searching for a suitably spectacular location to serve as the mountain hideaway of Bond‘s arch-nemesis, Ernst Stavro Blofeld.
When they learned of the futuristic revolving restaurant being built at the Schilthorn summit, they knew they had found their location. The restaurant, originally planned as a simple tea house, was expanded into a modernist masterpiece with a rotating floor that completed a circuit every 55 minutes. In a nod to the Bond script, it was christened Piz Gloria – the name of Blofeld‘s fictional mountain-top lair.
The film crew arrived in October 1968 for a five-month winter shoot that saw Schilthorn transformed into Blofeld‘s hi-tech headquarters. Key scenes were filmed inside the still-unfinished Piz Gloria, with the restaurant‘s floor-to-ceiling windows providing a jaw-dropping backdrop of alpine peaks.
In a shrewd bit of negotiation, the filmmakers agreed to finance the completion of Piz Gloria in exchange for exclusive use of the facilities during filming. The production poured over a million Swiss francs into finishing the restaurant, which opened to the public in June 1969 – just in time for the film‘s premiere.
Schilthorn‘s Rise to Fame
The release of On Her Majesty‘s Secret Service put Schilthorn firmly on the tourist map. Visitor numbers skyrocketed as Bond fans flocked to see the real-life Piz Gloria and retrace 007‘s alpine adventures. In the year following the film‘s debut, cable car ticket sales increased by 52.7%, from 65,136 to 99,478 passengers.
Schilthorn capitalized on its newfound fame by fully embracing its Bond identity. The Piz Gloria restaurant kept its cinematic name and began offering Bond-themed menus and events. An open-air viewing deck was added, along with displays highlighting the location‘s use in the film.
In 2013, Schilthorn opened "Bond World" – an interactive museum showcasing the making of On Her Majesty‘s Secret Service. Visitors can tour a recreation of Blofeld‘s office, see original costumes and props, and even channel their inner Bond in a bobsled simulator modeled after a famous action sequence filmed on the slopes below Piz Gloria.
More than Just Bond
While 007 may be Schilthorn‘s claim to fame, this alpine wonderland offers plenty of other attractions. The cable car ride alone is worth the trip, with breathtaking views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks along the way. On clear days, the summit affords a panorama stretching from the Black Forest of Germany to Mont Blanc in France.
Schilthorn has also become a popular launching point for alpine adventures. Hikers can trek across the Schilthorn plateau, while experienced mountaineers use it as a gateway to challenging climbs on the surrounding peaks. In winter, skiers and snowboarders descend the powder-covered slopes.
The Piz Gloria restaurant remains the mountain‘s star attraction, serving up refined cuisine alongside its famous revolving views. The restaurant can seat up to 350 diners and includes a cocktail bar, sun terrace, and souvenir shop. Diners can sample Bond-themed specialties like the "007 Burger" or sip a martini (shaken, not stirred, of course) while drinking in the alpine panorama.
Today, Schilthorn welcomes over 300,000 visitors a year, making it one of the top tourist attractions in the Bernese Oberland. It has even hosted other film and television productions looking to capitalize on its cinematic cachet, including a 1987 Bollywood action film and a 2001 Swiss reality TV show.
The Legacy of Schilthorn
The story of Schilthorn is a testament to the transformative power of cinema. Before On Her Majesty‘s Secret Service, it was a little-known peak overshadowed by its more famous neighbors. But its star turn as a Bond villain‘s lair catapulted it to international fame and set the stage for its development as a world-class tourist destination.
In a way, Schilthorn‘s reinvention mirrors the evolution of the Bond films themselves. What began as a modestly-budgeted spy series has grown into a global pop culture phenomenon, with each new installment promising bigger thrills and more exotic locales.
For fans of the franchise, a pilgrimage to Piz Gloria is a chance to step into the world of 007, to soak up the alpine atmosphere that defined one of the most memorable Bond films. But even non-fans can appreciate Schilthorn as a marvel of engineering, a spectacular natural wonder, and a symbol of the enduring allure of the Swiss Alps.
As the cable car glides up to the summit and the Piz Gloria comes into view, it‘s easy to imagine you‘re a secret agent arriving for a clandestine rendezvous. The fact that you‘re more likely to be greeted by tourists and fondue than Blofeld and his henchmen hardly diminishes the thrill. Because for a brief moment, in this most cinematic of settings, everyone can feel a little like James Bond.
