Detailed Review
We have completely renovated the Schweizerhof to ensure that our guests may enjoy the qualities that will remain of prime importance in the next millennium: character, individuality and personal atmosphere - in short: hotel culture par excellence
The Schweizerhof is distinguished by five generations of family tradition, a historical building with historical decor, an ultra-modern infrastructure and, above all, our unusually high aspirations:
we aim to provide a home from home for people who are accustomed to enjoying life. It can truly be said that the more hotels you know, the more you will appreciate the Schweizerhof.
Lucerne is proud to offer its guests some of the best things in life: a first-class venue where the art of living is genuine and the culture of enjoyment, beauty and comfort is expressed at the highest level.
Press Quotes
“This is a grand old station hotel in turn-of-the-20th-century tradition... although the Schweizerhof is far superior to the average station hotel in a European capital.” NY Times 07
Independent Reviews
-
"Lakeside very grand dame, now faded and with a bit of a taste for the coporate, but with glamorous history"
Hotel Schweizerhof
By Jamie Dunford Wood
This classic lakeside hotel has unfortunately suffered with the modern development of Lucerne. It retains its glorious lake views, but where the busy road cuts behind its cousins the National and the Palace Hotels along the lake, it runs right in front of the Schweizerhof - it is little consolation it is named after it. There is an inviting looking verandah running around the outside, peopled by a few desultory tourists taking tea - inviting, that is, until you join it, and find yourself overlooking the road. Behind, there’s a modern shopping complex and multilevel car park, so the term ’town view’ is in most cases misleading. Built in 1845 and in the same family since 1861, it is the oldest of the grand hotels, but a 1999 renovation at great expense has reinforced what is now its core market - corporate conferences and conventions, as well as upmarket tour groups from Tauck Tours and Gullivers. This is a shame, since it has hosted emperors and empresses in its time, writers and musicians - Tolstoy apparently wrote a story here, while Wagner, who had a house just across the lake, completed Tristan and Isolde. The room sizes are generous but the décor is neutral and sometimes a little insipid. Many of the prints and watercolours are original, but they are restricted to one or two per room, and flower prints have begun to creep in. Bathrooms have an institutional feel, with no separate showers, though superior rooms get two sinks, with only one in standard. Furnishings are in dark wood, and again superior rooms get armchairs and small seating areas. The higher in the building you are, the more magnificent the views, not just across the lake but also towards the town, with the famous Chapel Bridge with Mt Pilatus behind. However, despite the uniformity and lack of character of the rooms, the public areas and ballrooms downstairs retain their grandeur and are more impressive than anything the National or Palace can boast in this area, ideal for conferences and weddings; and a few of the old touches of the old lady have been left behind - the ancient sit down elevator, for example, and the uneven line of the floors in the corridors, the newly hung doors not quite level at the bottom.
© Travel Intelligence. All rights reserved
Condé Nast Traveller 2008 Gold List
