In Geneva, two palaces stand guard along the Quai du Mont-Blanc, facing Lake Geneva; two palaces and two legends too: the Beau-Rivage and the Hôtel de la Paix. Both built in 1865, when people used to come to Geneva in villé-giature, these splendid rivals are now quietly preparing the festivities to celebrate their 150th anniversary. "One of the things we're thinking about is a book on the history and lore of the place.says Nicole Hungerkamp, spokesperson for the Hôtel de la Paix. In the imposing atrium with its neo-classical columns inherited from the 19th century, the very contemporary designer furniture has been chosen for its colours and soft textures. As a result, there is a real sense of well-being when you walk through the door of this large 'little' hotel with 69 rooms and 15 suites, located in the heart of the financial district and renovated in 2006 when the Concorde group took over the reins.
Glamorous or trendy Geneva
Today, it continues to be regularly embellished, notably by the decorator of the Hôtel de Crillon, Sybille de Margerie, who uses the theme of the drop of water for the rooms overlooking the lake. An almost natural theme, given that "70 % of the rooms have an uninterrupted view of the famous jet d'eau, the city's emblem".says Nicole Hungekamp.
Alongside its legendary elegance, Geneva is also home to more playful hotels, targeting a young and trendy clientele. Such is the case of the N'vY hotel, set in a massive white block dating back to 1968 and completely renovated in 2012. The Geneva-based Manotel group did not hesitate to spend 15 million Swiss francs to turn it into a coveted destination. "This hotel was designed for the business clientele of generation Y, who are used to surfing and moving quickly from one theme to another.explains Edoardo Officioso, the director. As a result, the lobby is a vast open space, divided into themed sub-areas, with techno-logy and the New York spirit as the common thread. Created by designer Patrick Ribes, the whole space has an audacious bobo-chic feel, marked by the presence of contemporary works of art. "Our concept is resolutely arty/trendy/cosy".explains Edoardo Officioso. From the rock-crystal ice cubes used to refresh cocktails, to the tagged brick walls of the café that evoke the East Village of the 1980s, to the touch-screen tablets integrated into the tables and the suspended beds in the 153 rooms, everything has been designed to surprise and seduce.
System D in Basel
This contemporary approach can also be found in Basel, albeit a little less boldly. Hotel D, the brainchild of a small Alsatian chain, opened at the end of 2010 in a new building in the heart of the old town. The concept of this four-star boutique hotel with 48 rooms is very urban, with beautiful wooden walls and rough floors, plum and aniseed-coloured sofas and a lobby-lounge opening onto the street through monumental bay windows. Within this minimalist yet very enveloping universe, there are services in tune with the times: iPod stations, free internet, organic welcome products, etc. Given its success, a new D hotel is due to open in the city in spring 2014.
But tradition is still the order of the day in Basel. Just leave the Hotel D and cross the street to enter a completely different world, that of Switzerland's oldest hotel, the famous Trois Rois. "The first documents mentioning the hotel date back to 1681." explains manager Caroline Jenny. But the current building dates back to 1844.
Because it was leaning too dangerously towards the Rhine, a total renovation was undertaken in 2004. To achieve this, three historians were hired before the work began to consult the original plans and make it possible to rediscover architectural elements that had disappeared. The project lasted two years, and the reopening took place in 2006 with original features finally restored, such as the two chandeliers in the splendid atrium, which is also a listed historic monument. Other little gems include a former Anglican chapel, built for wealthy Britons on their way to the mountains, whose murals have been faithfully restored to house a delightful library.
Despite the imposing nature of the building, the hotel has just 101 rooms, the most famous of which is the Napoleon Suite, named after his whirlwind visit to the area. Its spring green colour is enhanced by gilding, and it is obviously furnished in Empire style with authentic pieces. The hotel's other assets include the Cheval Blanc restaurant, led by German chef Peter Knogel, who has two Michelin stars, and the cigar bar with its 120 different offerings, carefully selected by its head barman, Henning Neufeld, one of the best in the world.
Rich restored homes
Even if this grand hotel is the city's absolute benchmark on the Rhine, large patrician mansions transformed into charming hotels are Basel's true trademark, like the Teufelhof, located on the heights of the city, where the medieval city walls still stand. This building with its lime-green shutters plays the exclusivity card. No two rooms are the same, whether spacious or intimate, under the rafters or facing the pretty courtyard where wisteria and fig trees flourish. The charm is all the greater when you consider that, every year, works by contemporary artists are exhibited in the immaculate corridors. After all, everything here is white, from the lampshades to the duvets and sofas. Despite its modesty, this tiny 33-room boutique hotel boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Bel étage, named in a nod to the Belle Epoque décor of the room, with its parquet floors and mouldings, without the slightest fuss.
Zurich is not to be outdone in this spirit of rehabilitation, as demonstrated by Hotel B2, which opened in March 2012 on the former site of Hürlimann, a brewery more than a hundred years old. Three immense chandeliers, each made up of 300 authentic bottles, dominate the lobby and illuminate a library of 33,000 volumes. Suffice to say, the whole thing is spectacular! "The lobby and restaurant are now located where the two main vats once stood.explains Magdalena Krol, Marketing Director. To keep with the brewery spirit, a carpet in front of each of the 60 rooms reproduces the copper-coloured image of the vats of yesteryear. Another reference to the past is the mini-bar - free of charge, just like the Internet - featuring a Hürlimann beer. "In addition, as we are located on a natural spring that was used to make beer, thermal baths have been installed".explains Magdalena Krol. You won't want to miss the sumptuous spa with Roman baths in the basement, or the whirlpool baths on the roof, from which you can enjoy a 360° view of the whole city.
Great art in zurich
In another district, ZüriWest, which is undergoing a complete metamorphosis, 25-Hours, one of the small, fun design hotels in a Hamburg chain, opened in November 2012 thanks to the imagination of designer Alfredo Häberli. The fresh, tangy look of the hotel is almost childlike, with stylised trees and multicoloured birds, a candy-pink bar, 1950s lines and nods to Zurich life. In each of the 126 rooms, there is an iPod station and welcome products with an eco-friendly name: "stop the water while using me". The 25-Hours concept is working so well that a new hotel is already planned for 2016.
And yet, in Zurich, nothing is more beautiful than the Dolder Grand, a legendary hotel perched high above the city. Conceived in 1899 not as a luxury hotel for international guests, but as a resting place for the people of Zurich themselves, it can still be reached by a bucolic little cogwheel train. In 2004, when there was a change of ownership, a major renovation was required, including the construction of an additional wing. The task was entrusted to Norman Foster himself. "We remained closed from 2004 to 2008 because we wanted to create a modern establishment while retaining the splendour of the past".explains Vanessa Flack, spokesperson for the Dolder Grand. As a result, many elements from the past have re-emerged, such as the Art Nouveau painted wooden ceilings that were hidden behind a concrete floor for decades. In total, the project will have cost 440 million Swiss francs, not including the impressive art collection, which is truly worthy of a major museum.
"We're exhibiting these works as you would hang them in your own home, and we've decided not to give the names of the artists".says Vanessa Flack. To find out more, get hold of an iPad on which you can navigate from a Pissarro to a Hodler, from a Dubuffet to a Keith Haring, from an Andy Warhol to a Botero, from a Jean Tinguely to a Niki de Saint-Phalle... Absolutely breathtaking. So, to recover from your emotions, there are two options: a dinner in the two-star restaurant or a dip in a whirlpool bath with a view of the Alps in the extraordinary 4,000 m2 spa...
Notepad
HOTEL BEAU RIVAGE GENEVAQuai du Mont-Blanc 13
Phone: +41 22 716 66 66
Fax: +41 22 716 60 60
Email : info@beau-rivage.ch
Internet: www.beau-rivage.ch/fr
HOTEL DE LA PAIX GENEVA, 11, Quai du Mont-Blanc
Phone: +41 22 909 60 00
Email : hoteldelapaix@concorde-hotels.com
Internet: www.hoteldelapaix.ch
HOTEL N'VY GENEVA18, rue Richemont
Phone: +41 22 544 66 66
Fax: +41 22 544 66 99
Email : nvy@manotel.com
Internet: www.hotelnvygeneva.com
HOTEL D BASELBlumenrain 19
Phone: +41 61 272 20 20
Fax: +41 61 272 20 21
Email : sleep@hoteld.ch
Internet: www.hoteld.ch
THE THREE KINGS BASLEBlumenrain 8
Phone +41 61 260 50 50
Fax: +41 61 260 50 60
Email : info@lestroisrois.com
Internet: www.lestroisrois.com
HOTEL TEUFELHOF BASELLeonhardsgraben 49
Phone: +41 61 261 10 10
Fax: +41 61 261 10 04
Email : info@teufelhof.com
Internet: www.teufelhof.com
HOTEL B2 ZURICHBrandschenkestrasse 152
Phone: +41 44 567 67 67
Email : zurich@b2boutiquehotels.com
Internet: www.b2boutiquehotels.com
25-HOURS ZURICHPfingstweidstrasse 102
Phone: +41 44 577 25 25
Fax: +41 44 577 28 88
Email : zuerichwest@25hours-hotels.com
Internet: www.25hours-hotels.com/zuerich
THE DOLDER GRAND ZURICHKurhausstrasse 65
Phone: +41 44 456 60 00
Email : info@thedoldergrand.com
Internet: www.thedoldergrand.com
