Hornberg-Horneggli project

. It will replace the existing detachable 3-seater chairlift from Schönried to Horneggli, built in 1984, whose capacity and comfort no longer meet today’s requirements. At the same time, the access system will be significantly expanded: instead of ending at Horneggli, the new lift will continue to the Hornberg / Läger area. This will provide Hornberg with its first direct connection from Schönried.

The new lift will improve access to the snow-reliable Hornberg area in both winter and summer. The project includes a modern 10-passenger cable car with two sections: from Schönried to Horneggli and from Horneggli towards Hornberg. The future transport capacity is planned at around 2,200 passengers per hour. Compared to today, guests will benefit from a weather-protected, comfortable and year-round connection.

The new valley station in Schönried will also include modern arrival and service areas with parking facilities, ski school, storage areas and visitor spaces. The Horneggli mid-station will become an important hub linking the existing area with the new Hornberg connection. The Hornberg top station will provide direct access to the snow-reliable core area, restaurants, hiking trails and the planned MTB trails.

The cable car is therefore far more than a replacement installation: it forms the backbone of the future tourism development in the Horneggli–Hornberg area.

The existing reservoir no longer meets today’s requirements and will therefore be dismantled, filled in and restored. A significantly larger new reservoir with a capacity of around 178,000 m³ will be built south of the current location.

The new reservoir will provide the basis for efficiently snowmaking across the entire ski area within a single optimal cold-weather window. While the current snowmaking infrastructure is already highly efficient, the available water volume is limited. As a result, short cold periods cannot always be fully utilised. The new reservoir will significantly improve water availability and allow snowmaking operations to be managed more flexibly and efficiently.

This is particularly important for the Christmas and New Year period, one of the most important phases of the winter season. A reliable start to the season provides planning security for the mountain railway company, ski schools, hotels, restaurants, local businesses, employees and guests throughout the region.

In addition to technical requirements, the project also considers landscape and ecological aspects. The existing reservoir will be restored, while the new lake will be integrated into the natural landscape as carefully as possible. Plans include natural shoreline areas, ecological enhancements and new habitats.

The Hornberg reservoir will therefore provide the foundation for a long-term snow-reliable and economically stable winter operation.

The new 6-seater chairlift will improve the connection from Saanenwald towards Hornfluh and strengthen an important winter sports area. At the same time, connections to the existing ski slope network will be optimised and the lift infrastructure within the area can be organised more clearly and efficiently.

Together with the new Schönried–Horneggli–Hornberg cable car the project will form part of an integrated overall system for the future development of the ski area. Particular attention is being paid to the integration of the project into the natural landscape. Sensitive natural and landscape areas are located along the planned route. For this reason, the impacts on the environment, forests, watercourses, landscape and other aspects have been carefully assessed. The aim is to modernise the tourism infrastructure while keeping interventions in sensitive areas to a minimum.

The aim is to create an attractive and nature-oriented mountain bike offering that is coordinated with the new cable car as well as the existing landscape and infrastructure.

The project includes flow trails designed for a wide range of users. Thanks to the new Schönried–Horneggli–Hornberg cable car, the starting points of the trails will be easily accessible in the future. The routes will then lead back towards Schönried or Saanenmöser, creating an interconnected offer throughout the area.

The official trails will also help improve the current situation. At present, there are no dedicated MTB facilities in the area, which means that hiking trails or unofficial routes are sometimes used. The new offer will enable better visitor management and help reduce conflicts with hiking trails and sensitive natural and landscape areas.

Great importance is being placed on nature and landscape protection during the planning process. The trail routes have been carefully assessed and designed to blend into the natural surroundings as much as possible. The aim is low-impact construction with minimal intervention in the environment. The trails will therefore strengthen summer tourism while supporting an organised and sustainable use of the area.

The public consultation concerned the amendment “Cable Cars and MTB Trails Horneggli–Hornberg”, including amendments to Zoning Plan No. 2 “Valley Station / Parking Garage Schönried” and the building regulations. The public consultation period lasted from 3 December 2024 to 10 January 2025.