Grand Hotel du Lac

Switzerland
Europe

The Experience

This hotel, widely held to be the setting and inspiration for Anita Brookner’s celebrated novel Hotel du Lac, has had a major makeover for the 21st century. Whereas in the last years of the 20th century it was easy to imagine Brookner’s characters lurking in the public rooms, that's impossible today--the grandeur is no longer faded. This has become a truly world-class hotel for our times. What's not changed is the exceptional architecture and the spectacular views of the lake and mountains beyond.

The Rooms

Put simply, it's worth splashing out on a room with a lakeside view. The vistas of Lac Leman--aka Lake Geneva--and the Dents du Midi range are among the best to be found in Europe. The rooms were transformed in a 2006 renovation, and designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon, who also did the Four Season George V in Paris. They're mostly decorated in pastel yellow or blue, but draped in the most luscious contrasting fabrics. In many cases there are grand French windows leading onto a balcony.

The Service

Located just down the road from the world-famous Lausanne Hotel School, the service is naturally Swiss bliss in style. Many staffers are quite young, but they're impeccably trained--smoothly discreet and seemingly all-knowing, with an intuitive ability to anticipate your desires. For example, they come around to clean your sunglasses by the pool.

The Rest

"Mountains are the beginning and the end of all natural scenery," observed John Ruskin. They're even better with a large lake in the foreground. This is a place where there is no shame in sitting quietly--inside or outside--for hours and simply indulging in contemplation. For those who want more activity, there is a Swiss Bellefontaine spa and fitness center, as well as a small but immaculate outdoor pool. You can jog or stroll alongside the largest lake in Europe, perhaps passing the statue of Charlie Chaplin who lived in the area. To get a real sense of this region, take one of the finely restored Swiss paddle steamers and head across the lake to Evian on the French side.

 

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