Historic Hotels in Switzerland: Geneva, Zurich, Montreux

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Beau Rivage. Geneva

Certainly one of the most distinguished hotels in the world, The Beau Rivage has been run by the Mayer family since 1865. Throughout that time it has maintained its reputation for service and hospitality, with history being made on-site more than just once.

The Beau Rivage can lay claim to having witnessed the birth of a nation: it was here that in 1918 that the treaty creating Czechoslovakia was signed. The hotel was also the site of an assassination: Elizabeth, Empress of Austria, was stabbed to death by Luigi Lucheni while leaving the hotel. TripAdvisor | Expedia | Lastminute.com

Les Trois Rois (Drei Konige). Basel

This may well be the oldest hotel in Europe. Although most of the building one sees today was constructed in the 18th century, the institution itself was established in 1026 AD. It now boasts a little over 100 rooms, and blends its historic past with up-to-date luxury.

Its museum-piece guestbook contains such illustrious and recognisable names as Voltaire, Queen Victoria, Napoleon and Kaiser Wilhelm II. It is also said that it was on the site that three kings (Conrad II, Henry III and Rudolf III) drew up a treaty incorporating the west of Switzerland into the Holy Roman Empire. Booking.com | TripAdvisor

Fairmont le Montreux Palace. Montreux

Built in 1837 and originally called the Hotel du Cygne, a new hotel was designed and built in 1906 and joined to the original by the Salon du Musique. Today, this five-star destination has 235 rooms and suites, most of which overlook the lake.

On 20th July 1936, the important Dardanelles Treaty, better known as the Montreux Convention, was signed at the hotel. Distinguished former guests include Richard Strauss and Sarah Bernhardt, while author of ”Lolita“, Vladimir Nabokov took up residence in the hotel in 1961 until his death in 1977. Booking.com | TripAdvisor | Lastminute.com

Hotel Interlaken. Interlaken

First mentioned as a hotel in 1323, it was known to be a guest house almost a century earlier. Naturally, much has changed since then – in 1491 it was extensively renovated for the first time, though part of the original wall can still be seen in the lobby of the hotel.

The hotel is rightly proud of its connection to two of the nineteenth centuries most notable creative geniuses: Felix Mendelssohn and Lord Byron, the latter believed to have stayed at the hotel in 1816. Booking.com | TripAdvisor

Die Krone. Solothurn

Die Krone is said to be Switzerland’s second oldest hotel, with mention made of it being an inn as long ago as 1418. During that time it has played host to countless European nobles and high-ranking travellers, but its most notable former patrons must surely be Napoleon and Casanova - though certainly not simultaneously.

Today, the hotel offers four-star hospitality in what has been described as the most lovely Baroque town in the whole of Switzerland. Located between the two, it is also within easy reach of both Basel and Bern. For more information try TripAdvisor | Expedia

More Period Accommodation in Switzerland

Bever

Chesa Salis Romantik Hotel. Dating back to 1590, this former Swiss farmhouse is located in the Engadin-St.Moritz region. Furnished with antiques, it offers a total of 18 guest rooms and a restaurant specialising in local dishes. Booking.com | TripAdvisor

Lucerne

Romantik Hotel Wilden Mann. An attractive old building, both inside and out, the Wilden Mann possess fifty individually finished rooms and suites. Booking.com | TripAdvisor

Hotel zum Rebstock. This timber-frame 14th century building is undoubtedly one of the most visually striking hotels anywhere in the world. TripAdvisor | Expedia

Morges

Le Petit Manoir. Built in 1764 and classified as a historic monument, this boutique hotel is only a short stroll from Lake Geneva. Booking.om | LateRooms

Poschiavo

Hotel Albrici. A fine old hotel overlooking the town’s square. TripAdvisor

Rorschacherberg

Schloss Wartegg. The former home of Austria’s last Empress (Zita of Bourbon-Parma), this is a genuine sixteenth century castle in the north eastern corner of the country. ‘Rapunzel-esque’ would be a fairly accurate description. Expedia | TripAdvisor

Samedan

Music und Kulturhotel Palazzo Mysanus With a history dating back to the mid-1500‘s, this 20-room period hotel is within easy reach of the skiing areas in and around St. Moritz. Booking.com | TripAdvisor

Soglio

Palazzo Salis. Built in 1630 and extended less than one hundred years later, Palazzo Salis has been recently restored. TripAdvisor

Zurich

Romantik Seehotel Sonne. Documented as far back as the mid 17th century (as the ‘Sun Inn’), this beautiful building is located on the shores of Lake Zurich. Booking.com | TripAdvisor

Romantik Hotel Florhof. Providing quietitude in the heart of the city, Hotel Florhof is a pretty building dating back to the 16th century. Booking.com | TripAdvisor | Expedia

Hotel Storchen. The name is something of a mystery, although legend has it that it comes from when two rare storks nested on its roof many centuries ago. Although it has a history of hospitality stretching back more than half a millennium, the building today is largely the product of a reconstruction during the 1930’s. It should be noted, though, that the likes of Richard Wagner have stayed here. Booking.com

Help us the expand this section devoted to historic Swiss hotels by letting us know of any heritage accommodation (castles, boutique hotels, traditional inns) in towns and cities such as Bern, Morges, Lucerne, Lausanne, Zurich, Basel, Geneva, Montreux, Davos, St Gallen, and Winterthur. Furthermore, we are particularly keen to learn of period hotels serving many of the nation’s ski resorts. Those premises associated with historic icons of Switzerland and the rest of Europe are of specific interest. Thank you.

Historic Hotels in Switzerland

If you can’t find it below, see all Swiss hotels at Booking.com, Expedia, Lastminute.com, LateRooms

Les Trois Rois, Basel

Romantik Hotel Florhof, Zurich

Le Petit Manoir, Morges