Think majestic buildings, big staircases, stunning views and all star famous guests!
Stunning views, statement furniture, luxurious suites and atmospheric restaurants -while a luxury hotel ticks all these boxes, staying at a hotel with a rich history just feels different. The big staircase, the lavish parties, the famous guests filling the rooms with stories create an aura that lingers around the corridors, inviting guests into a microworld of hotel magic. And Europe, most of all, has a great history of famous grand hotels and high class resorts in the heart of its cities or in secluded areas far from the hustle and bustle. From a 14th century old coven turned into a 5 star resort to the first hotel in the Versailles and a winter palace in the Alps, these are the best historic hotels in Europe!
Below, find The Hotel Trotter’s list of the best historic hotels in Europe:
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc * French Riviera
With its glamorous past, filled with legendary guests and stylish moments, the iconic property on Cap d’Antibes is welcoming guests for more than 150 years. The idea for a peaceful refuge on the tip of Cap d’Antibes was first conceived in 1862 by Hyppolite de Villemessant, French journalist and founder of the newspaper Le Figaro. De Villemessant set out to build a retreat where artists and writers could recharge, gather inspiration and nurture their craft on the sparkling French Riviera. Firstly opened in 1870 and then again in 1890, it changed many owners and names, and began attracting a discerning clientele of famous artists, writers, actors, royalty and heads of state as early as 1920. Renamed Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in 1987, the iconic hotel is still going strong, living up to its standards and offering a one of a kind hospitality experience.
Airelles Château de Versailles Le Grand Contrôle * Versailles
The first-ever Versailles Hotel began life as a modest hunting lodge built by Louis XIII in 1623. Under the ownership of Louis XIV, Versailles became a magnificent palace renowned throughout the world. Over the course of more than 100 years, and during numerous successions to the throne, the building was embellished and enlarged to accommodate the court of Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI. Now considered one of the finest achievements of French art, the Palace of Versailles remains a cultural symbol of royal splendour.
The Woodward * Geneva
Constructed in 1901 by the French architect François Durel, The Woodward hotel holds well onto its tradition of exceptional, high end hospitality and grandeur. The grandioso palace hotel with the historic facade, boasts nowadays an exquisite design by acclaimed French interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. At what is Geneva’s first suite-only hotel guests find classic-meets-contemporary interiors, providing a stylish city sanctuary with spectacular lake and mountain views. Each of the 26-suites has been carefully curated to possess their own distinct character and individual design details with signature flourishes including marble fireplaces and bookcases. The Woodward also puts gastronomy as a high priority offering a sophisticated open kitchen concept, two bars, a tea room and a private digestif lounge, which takes the building’s history as a bank into the modern-day through the transformation of a former vault.
Mandarin Oriental Palace * Luzern
Commanding a pristine setting on the shores of Lake Lucerne and with captivating views over the Swiss Alps, this iconic Belle Époque landmark has shone in the heart of Switzerland since 1906, established by eccentric Swiss hotelier Franz Josef Bucher. After an extensive renovation, the Mandarin Oriental Palace, Lucerne is set to usher in an era of contemporary elegance and legendary service.
Grand Hotel Kronenhof * Switzerland
Welcome to the dreamy Grand Hotel Kronenhof, a five-star hotel with original old-world charm, located at the heart of the snowy Alps! Grand Hotel Kronenhof has a rich and interesting history, having first opened its doors in 1848 as the Rössli guesthouse. In its cellars, a Veltliner wine shop was established, along with stabling for the horses that transported the wines over the Bernina Pass. In the second half of the 19th century, the guesthouse business flourished and the then owner, Lorenz Gredig, extended the premises. In 2004, Grand Hotel Kronenhof was bought by the Niarchos family and underwent a massive rennovation and expansion. The architecture of this heritage-protected luxury-class establishment is inspired by its location in the heart of the idyllic Engadine village of Pontresina. Pontresina’s charm lies in the architectural blend of fine old Engadine houses with their typical “sgraffito” (decorated walls) from the 17th & 18th centuries and elegant Belle Epoque style buildings.
Poseidonion Grand Hotel * Spetses
The term “grande dame” is used in hospitality jargon to underline not only the iconic beauty behind a historic gem but also an elegant high-status ambiance. And Poseidonion Grand Hotel embodies every ounce of this expression. A landmark of Spetses island, and one of very few of its kind in Greece, it has a long history, a prime setting with awe-inspiring views, and elegant architecture of another era. Opened in 1914, and has since undergone major renovations, it still has the allure of its glorious past, when jet setters, royalties and politicians of other distinguished society members vacationed there. From the majestic marble staircase to the stunning balcony views and the Bostani -its own organic farm in the hills of Spetses, Poseidonion is a once-in-a-lifetime hotel experience.
Badrutt’s Palace * St.Moritz
A fairy-tale palace with 125 years of tradition in the heart of the Alps! Badrutt’s Palace Hotel opened its doors on 29 July 1896, by a family whose pioneering spirit for innovation and luxury remains unrivaled to this day. In the 125th year of its existence, “The Palace” remains one of the best hotels in the world and a favourite of celebrities such as Alfred Hitchcock, Audrey Hepburn and Charlie Chaplin. In 1920, it installed the first lift and the first telephone booth in the Engadin, in 2006, it put into operation a pioneering heat pump system using water from Lake St. Moritz and in 2019, it became the first luxury hotel in Europe to install 5G mobile technology. One of the most famous anecdotes is the story of the guest who asked for his wife’s birthday gift to be presented by an elephant. The Palace staff then arranged for one of the grey pachyderms to be brought from a nearby circus to the hotel lobby and thus made this sensational gift delivery possible. With over 30,000 bottles of champagne and fine wines from all over the world, Badrutt Palace’s historic wine cellar is a veritable encyclopedia of good taste!
Grand Hotel et de Milan * Milan
Opened in 1863, the Grand Hotel et de Milan preserves all the charm of an ancient Milanese “house”. It is still nowadays the favourite hotel of prominent figures of the world of culture, entertainment, fashion, music, national and international business. Among the many distinguished guests having stayed here in the past, the Maestro Giuseppe Verdi chose the “Milan” for many years: since then, the love for music and the Opera has permeated its rooms as a sublime “leitmotif”. The hotels interiors of the discreet and refined, captivate the visitor with the unique atmosphere of its rooms, enriched over the years with exclusive objects and pieces of furniture that are now part of its history. Among the hotel’s history highlights are the arias sang on its balconies in 1887, the recording of the first flat LP in the history of music took in 1902, Maria Calla’s regular visits in the 50s and the filming of Vittorio De Sica’s “Il Viaggio” there.
San Domenico Palace * Taormina
Perched on a rocky promontory high above the Ionian Sea, the emblematic San Domenico Palace was a covent in the 14th century, boasting panoramic views of Mount Etna and the ancient Greek theatre. With award-winning dining, a luxurious spa and a clifftop infinity pool, the historic property that first opened as a grand hotel in 1897. Through the early 1900s, the hotel’s reputation grew, attracting nobility and famous writers and artists, such as King Edward VII of England, the second Baron Rothschild, Oscar Wilde and DH Lawrence. During World War II, San Domenico Palace was used as a headquarters by the German army, and as a result, it was bombed by the Allies in 1943. Upon reopening as a hotel around 1946, San Domenico Palace was the scene of many over-the-top parties and from the 1950s and beyond, San Domenico Palace welcomed the world’s most illustrious stars of the screen, including Greta Garbo, Ingrid Bergman, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren. It reopened as a Four Seasons Hotel during the summer of 2021, is today the definition of high-class hospitality.
SEE ALSO:
3 magically decorated chalet-style hotels for the ultimate mountain life
Mandarin Oriental Palace Luzern: The comeback of a historic hotel
TheHotelTrotter.com is curated by greek journalist and fanatic hotel lover Eleni Stasinopoulou. With the eye of a fashion and lifestyle editor, Eleni hopes to inspire all connoisseurs of traveling, focusing on stylish hotel moments around the globe.
