With a reputation for being Switzerland’s grandest hotel, the 150 year-old Beau-Rivage Palace is true luxury in an idyllic Swiss beauty spot
One of just two five star hotels in the beautiful university town of Lausanne, Switzerland, the Beau-Rivage Palace is a beautiful building situated overlooking Lake Léman, more commonly known as Lake Geneva.
While its enviable position, offering guests breath-taking views of the lake and the Swiss and French mountains, is more than enough to entice guests, the surrounding beauty is enhanced with the palatial elements of the hotel which have been lovingly restored to create a product that leaves every guest feeling like royalty.
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Opened in 1861, architects Achille de la Harpe and Jean-Baptise Bartholoni won a competition for their work for the design and the hotel quickly gained international recognition. This lead to further expansion in the form of an annex, called ‘Le Chalet’ in 1864 and again in 1908 when a Palace wing was added, inspired by the neo-baroque movement and Art Nouveau. While completely refurbished, the luxurious, historical décor can still be seen in the hand-painted frescos and the stained-glass windows. Over the years, it has been a retreat for many famous stars and celebrities including Charlie Chaplin, Coco Chanel, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the President of Argentina, and Nelson Mandela.
The result today is an exquisite, individual hotel which is part of Leading Hotels of the World and made up of 168 rooms and suites including 27 Junior Suites and seven Executive Suites, five restaurants and bars, ballroom and meeting space and the Cinq Monde Spa from Paris.
The entrance to the hotel is small, unassuming and private but once inside the lobby, the traditional grandeur can be felt in full force. From the rows of glistening chandeliers that line the corridors to the high ceilings that draw the eye upward to visually explore the classic colours of cream and gold, the Beau-Rivage Palace is a classic-sophisticated setting from which to explore the destination of Lausanne and the surrounding area.
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Breakfast with a view at Beau-Rivage Place |
While the starting category for accommodation is the Superior Room which starts from 28 sq m, the Junior Suite offers its guests a generous 65 sq m in size allowing for a large king-sized bed, living area, bathroom with separate toilet and the pièce de résistance, the narrow but long terrace overlooking the lake. The Junior Suites also have the flexibility to connect to other rooms making it ideal for families. Upon entering, the most striking aspect of the Suite was all the natural daylight that flows in, thanks to the large patio windows, giving it an almost ethereal feel. Despite its historical connotations, the technology was discreet and advanced with an easy-to-use panel that made closing the shutters and switching on lights a simple affair. Every room in the hotel has air-conditioning, telephone, complimentary wireless access, Pay-TV, minibar, iPod plug and safe.
The five restaurants and bars are varied and offer cuisine from Japanese to Italian. Of particular interest is the Anne-Sophie Pic Beau-Rivage Palace restaurant, recognised and rewarded with two Michelin stars. It’s contemporary and elegant in design and the addition of the terrace makes it’s a desirable location for its views over the lake, the hotel grounds, and the mountains. Anne-Sophie Pic is the third generation in her family to be awarded a Michelin star but is the first to take the family cuisine values outside of France. Guests can expect a creative seasonal menu based on Anne-Sophie’s philosophy of to share and be generous.
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The luxurious Bathroom suite |
The restaurant Le Café Beau-Rivage is renowned for its relaxed atmosphere and grand terrace facing the Alps. Spacious and light, it offers guests a menu that is a double page spread of dishes made up of luxury ingredients such as truffle flavoured honey, pressed duck foie gras, and king prawns. The local favourite is the fresh and flavoursome, but not too overpowering perch fillet from Loetschberg Mountain.
Other restaurants include the sushi bar Miyako and the L’Accademia Italian restaurant.
The Beau-Rivage Palace partnered with the Cinq Mondes Spa in 2005 and is the first of its kind in Switzerland, costing approximately CHF12 million ($12.6 million). This 15,000 sq ft sprawling state-of-the-art, Spa offers its guests eight treatment rooms, a private spa suite, an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, gym and tennis courts.
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Le Montreux steamboat |
Guests can choose their favourite leisure pursuit using the Cinq Mondes philosophy which incorporates design elements sourced from Japan, India, North Africa, China and Bali and ancient health and beauty rituals. Positioned as a complete well-being retreat, the menu of treatments is extensive and includes Ayurvedic and Balinese massage, facial and body treatments as well as cosmetic offerings such as manicure and pedicure. The latest well-being offer is the Slimness Goal programme which allows guests to shape their figure and learn and retain good eating habits using the chrono-nutrition method. All treatments are suitable for both men and women.
Exclusive packages have also been created such as the Mother and Daughter Package which takes place over three days; a memorable way to spend some quality time together. The VIP Suite has its own garden and is also the only suite to have a Japanese bath for two and a private hammam. Treatments can also be performed in the room for an additional 30 per cent of the treatment price.
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The Cinq Mondes Spa offer fantastic views of the mountains |
The hotel is also popular venue among residents for local events. There are 12 banquet and conference rooms including the grand ballroom, Salle Sandoz. This room has been beautifully furnished and harks back to a time of old-world glamour. In addition, guests can also take private cruises on Le Montreux, a steamboat which tours the lake.
With its combination of product offering and beautiful restoration (it was actually appointed Historical Swiss Hotel status in 1999 by the International Council on Monuments and Sites, ICOMOS), the Beau-Rivage Palace has scooped up a number of awards including the Best Hotel in Switzerland (Bilanz, 2009) and Best Hotel in Switzerland and 20th ranking in Europe (Top 500 World’s Best Hotels, 2008 by Travel and Leisure). The Cinq Mondes Spa has also been listed as the third best spa in Europe by the Condé Nast Traveller Gold List 2008.
Just 40 minutes away from Geneva International Airport and minutes away from the shopping and nightlife district of Lausanne, the Beau-Rivage Palace is certainly worth a visit as part of any leisure or wellness trip for the ultimate luxurious experience.