Perched atop a lush hillside overlooking the majestical Lake Lucerne, the Château Gütsch is a fairy-tale castle with a modern spirit and spectacular views worth travelling for. With 27 elegantly styled rooms and suites, historic architecture paired with beautifully updated furnishings, an elegant restaurant and panoramic outdoor terrace, acres of manicured nature and its very own Gütschbahn funicular; that whisks guests up to the hotel in a few minutes, it’s no wonder the castle has played host to royalty, celebrities and society’s elite for more than 130 years.
Hotel exterior © Hotel Château Gütsch
It’s hard to decide which is more impressive at Lucerne’s Château Gütsch: its gorgeous Gustavian style interiors with retro prints or its monumental 50,000-square-foot towering structure presiding above the lake. At this castle hotel in the hills—with views that extend across Lucerne towards the snow-capped alps—everything amazes. The grand property, built in 1888 by architect Emily Vogt, was inspired by the fairy-tale like castles of Bavaria and as such over the years attracted many illustrious guests, with the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Sophia Loren and legendary Queen Victoria, who famously holidayed here. Today, the property continues to captivate and following an extensive redesign in 2014 by famed interior designer, Martyn Lawrence Bullard— who cleverly rejuvenated the 19th century residence—Château Gütsch presents itself as a magical refuge, where modern pleasures meet old-world refinement, in a historic location above the lake.
Inside its a showcase of beautifully devised spaces that both elevate and honour the spirit of the historic building. AD100 designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, whose portfolio includes numerous luxury hotels and celebrity properties, injected new life into public spaces with mesmerising modern prints, bold colors and gorgeous Gustavian style antiques. The standout Gütsch Bar is a masterpiece on its own, boasting Bullard’s iconic Adras ikat wallpaper in different shades of blue, jazzed up with velvety green armchairs and an entire gold-leafed ceiling that illuminates the space. Equally impressive are the antique oil paintings–from the hotel’s private collection – that artfully line the walls while opposite, large swinging windows give way to spectacular views of Lake Lucerne. To the right, the grand Rittersaal Hall boasts a glamorous blue theme with twinkling chandeliers and antique furnishings, and on the floor below, a stone corridor adorned with artefacts leads to the Lumieres restaurant, surrounded by epic panoramas of the city below.
LAKESIDE DREAM
Discover unique summer stay offers at Hotel Château Gütsch
Lounge (1), Rittersaal ballroom (2), Corner suite (3) © Francis Amiand
What about the Rooms?
Everything has been so cleverly designed in the 27 rooms and suites, with each boasting a unique style that takes you back to a more refined era. The rooms inside the Orangerie builsing, for example, exude a sense of elegance and whimsy, with pastoral wallpaper in shades of blue, green and purple and graceful Louis IV and Gustavian antiques, while the Queen Victoria suite is a decadent affair, featuring sumpsuous red furnishings, beamed ceilings, a four-poster bed and a claw-footed bath tub in the centre of the space. All rooms have modern bathrooms with walk-in showers, stocked with Molton Brown soaps, while large French windows give way to stunning views across the lake.
How about the restaurants?
The food at the gourmet restaurant Lumières reflects that of a talented chef that takes pride in offering contemporary Mediterranean cuisine, presented beautifully with precision and creative flair. Head chef Ludovico di Vivo, who previously trained at the Capri Palace in Italy, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise into the kitchen, whisking up inventive dishes like the scampi and artichoke with Shiitake mushroom broth and mussel cream, or the green pea taglioni with tuna roe sauce and Amalfi lemon zest — and not to be missed are sweet delights such as the rhubarb, white chocolate and raspberry cake (shaped like an actual raspberry) that won’t disappoint.
Outdoor terrace © elevatedliving
Lumières restaurant © elevatedliving
Anything else?
As you wander around the hotel’s historic stone pathways, look out for its adorable Gütschbahn; an old-world funicular that takes guests to and from the hotel in about one and a half minutes. Once at the top your first reward is the sprawling views across Lake Lucerne towards the mountains — accompanied with freshly made cocktail, of course.
Hotel lobby © elevatedliving
Room balcony © elevatedliving
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