The building was empty at the time it caught fire and no-one is believed to have been hurt.
Situated above Glacier 3000 at Les Diablerets in French-speaking canton Vaud, the restaurant was designed by renowned Swiss architect Mario Botta. It is a popular stopping-off place for skiers before they tackle the glacier slopes.
Because of its difficult location, firefighters had to ascend using three helicopters from Air Glacier and Rega. They were assisted in the operation by members of local alpine clubs, said Vaud police.
The upper part of the building, including the restaurant, appears to have been destroyed. A cable car giving access to the building is being tested for damage.
The Blick newspaper on Tuesday said the restaurant is co-owned by former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone. “We don’t know if it was arson,” he said.
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The building has a metallic framework on concrete foundations and was designed by architect Mario Botta to form a visible link between the mountain and the cable car station. Cable car director Jean-Paul Jotterand says what would have taken builders about 15 months to complete at a lower altitude had to be finished within a…
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