Historic Hotels and Restaurants ICOMOS
Select your Region:
(Central Switzerland)
(Graubünden)
Renovated with loving attention to detail, the building now offers studio apartments for families and single travellers, a large function room with a sky-blue dome, and menus based on local produce. The hotel was built 100 years ago to give rail travellers to the Engadin a foretaste of the high-altitude mountain climate. It is a real gem in the art nouveau style – even though travellers to the Engadin (unfortunately) all too often no longer bother to get off the train.
(Graubünden)
(Ticino)
(Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein)
(Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein)
Historic dining room in the UNESCOprotected
abbey district, serving delicious
dishes featuring local products.
Astano (Ticino)
This family hotel is housed in the former post
office of Astano, surrounded by a Mediter -
ranean-style garden with terraces, pergola
and swimming pool.
Baar (Zurich (Region))
Basel (Basel Region)
Historic restaurant in Basel’s Old Town with
courtyard terrace, serving fresh cuisine and a
wide choice of wines and beers.
Basel (Basel Region)
Named Historic Hotel of the Year in 2007 by
the Swiss branch of Icomos (the Interna tional
Council on Monuments and Sites), the Hotel
Krafft was built in 1873 on the sunny north
bank of the Rhine, looking out across the
river towards the Old Town.
Basel (Basel Region)
Recognized "for the continual upkeep of the intricate historic Zunfthaus, or Guild House, which is carefully upgraded and continues to keep alive the local traditions with innovative culinary ideas".
Berne (Schweizer Mittelland)
The Kornhaus in Berne was built between 1711 and 1718. It is counted among the major works of Bernese High Baroque.
Brienz (Bernese Oberland)
This historic hotel, set beside the foaming
waters of the celebrated Giessbach falls high
above Lake Brienz, is a small, exquisite world
of its own – just as it was one hundred years
ago.
Crans-Montana (Valais)
Opened in 1930 on the sunny plateau of
Crans-Montana, high above the Rhone valley,
the Hotel Bella Lui is now recognised as an
outstanding example of Modernist architecture.
Davos (Graubünden)
Named Historic Hotel of the Year for 2008 by
Icomos (the International Council on Monuments
and Sites), the Schatzalp was built in
art nouveau style. The novelist Thomas Mann
describes it in “The Magic Mountain”.
Flims (Graubünden)
Just one hour from Zürich, set in the magnifi -
cent mountain scenery of Flims-Laax, lies a
unique, self-contained holiday world, set in the
most extensive hotel grounds in the whole of
Swit zerland.
Flüeli Ranft/OW (Central Switzerland)
The Hotel Paxmontana, built in 1896 in art
nouveau style, stands on a hilltop in idyllic
Flüeli-Ranft, where St. Nicholas of Flüe lived
and worked.
Flühli (Central Switzerland)
This Jugendstil building from the days of the great hotel pioneers is still one of Entlebuch’s great magnets. The rooms are furnished in rustic style. While the Maag family of proprietors cultivates a warm and friendly atmosphere, the chef de cuisine treats guests to delicious regional and seasonal specialities.
Gyrenbad / Turbenthal (Zurich (Region))
The first historical mention of the Gyrenbad
baths is in the Zürich tax register of 1464.
The present structure dates from the 17th
century.
Kandersteg (Bernese Oberland)
Charming house dating from 1753, offering
romantic rooms and superb Swiss cuisine.
Klosters (Graubünden)
This hotel was designed by the top Zürich
architect Hermann Schneider in 1938, in the
run-up to a Swiss national exhibition, as a
total work of art of its time.
Lake Brienz
Recognized "for the careful restoration of the elegant steamship in accordance with principles governing protected monuments".
Lausanne-Ouchy (Lake Geneva Region)
Standing on the shore of Lake Geneva in four
hectares of private grounds, the Beau-Rivage
Palace enjoys superb views across the water
to the Alps.
Lömmenschwil (Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein)
This hotel received a special award in 2004 "for the landmark preservation of a traditional country inn".
Meilen (Zurich (Region))
This inn received a special award in 2004 "for the revitalization of a historic inn including addition of a tasteful contemporary extension" and a Mobiliar award.
Montreux-Veytaux (Lake Geneva Region)
The charming 33-room Hôtel Masson lies in
an elevated, panoramic position on the old
Simplon road.
Poschiavo GR (Graubünden)
Feel the history in a palazzo of the 17th century!
Historic and friendly hotel in the Valposchiavo.
Peaceful and comfortable rooms.
Rehetobel (Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein)
A restaurant since 1805, the Urwaldhaus
serves everything from house-marinated salmon
to tripe and a menu gastronomique.
Sils-Maria (Graubünden)
Just 10km from bustling St. Moritz but in a
world of its own is the Waldhaus, perched like
a castle on a hilltop.
Soglio GR (Graubünden)
This aristocratic house, built in 1630 and
extended in 1701, was converted into a hotel
more than 100 years ago
Splügen (Graubünden)
Rooms with individual charm at a former
muleteers’ inn in the heart of Splügen village.
St-Luc VS (Valais)
Nestling on the fl ank of the Val d’Anniviers,
the Hotel Bella Tola breathes tradition,
cherishing the good things in life.
St. Gallen (Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein)
In a half-timbered house in the abbey district,
the “golden lion” specializes in homebrewed
beer and Chäschüechli cheese pie.
Zug (Zurich (Region))
The restaurant was recognized for its "Neo-Gothic tiled stove in the historic room where fine dining becomes a sensuous experience".
Zürich (Zurich (Region))
Zurich (Zurich (Region))
Recognized "for a conscientious and successful reconstruction of a building dating from the 1960s and for an excellent entrepreneurial philosophy in the field of social tourism."
Thun (Bernese Oberland)
Special mention: For "its careful and loving renovation and the historically correct resuscitation of the once-famed restaurant."
Vevey (Lake Geneva Region)
Hotel des Trois Couronnes in Vevey is the Hotel of the year 2003.
Courgenay (Neuchâtel / Jura / Bernese Jura)
The Hotel de la Gare in Courgenay was awarded special mention for "the evocative restoration of the building and its interior and the continued use of the building as it was meant to be used."
Luzern (Central Switzerland)
The hotel has received special mention for "the retaining and restoring of the original public rooms dating back to the late 19th, early 20th century...
Bauen (Central Switzerland)
The Zwyssighaus Inn in Bauen received special mention because it was salvaged and carefully restored. Because of this, we now have the well-managed birthplace of Father Alberik Zwyssig, the composer of the Swiss Psalm.
Beromünster (Central Switzerland)
The inn was awarded a special prize offered by the Swiss Mobiliar Insurance for having "retained the inn's original functionality of the two buildings dating back to the 17th century, the large inn and the restaurant, respectively."
(Basel Region)
An award was bestowed on the restaurant "for the preservation of the centuries-old Zunfthaus (Guild House) culture, whose tradition is reflected in the carefully restored and replenished historic rooms, which offer the guest a high-quality experience".
(Graubünden)
The restaurant received an award "for the preservation and maintenance of the restructured building (dating to 1936), which has been carefully restored with attention to detail. Hans Badrutt, the owner of Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, has transformed the oldest farmhouse in St. Moritz into a visionary gastro concept that is valid to this day."
(Lake Geneva Region)
An award was bestowed " 'for the owners' commitment to preserving the history of the building and offering their guests carefully restored and refurbished rooms".
(Central Switzerland)
The hotel received an award "for the professional restoration of the high-quality hotel furnishings that were preserved in their entirety and reflect all epochs of the hotel’s existence."
Buchs (Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein)
Chur (Graubünden)
Dampfschiff (Central Switzerland)
Special Commendation, 2001: For "the expert restoration of the ship in accordance with guidelines for the care of historic monuments, and in particular for the restoration of the first-class lounge".
Dürrenroth BE (Schweizer Mittelland)
Historic Restaurant of the Year 2000: The origins of the Bären Inn in Dürenroth, Berne stretch back to the year 1752. The building has a skeleton of wooden timbers faced in tiny wooden shingles.
Eglisau
Erlach (Schweizer Mittelland)
Falkenburg, Wil SG (Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein)
Special Commendation 1999: In 1887, an eating house was constructed out of a narrow terraced house, typical of the Old Town of Wil and dating from the 16th-19th centuries.
Flims Waldhaus (Graubünden)
Special Commendation 1998: The Hotel Schweizerhof in Flims-Waldhaus was built in 1903 and is typical for the period. Its main façade faces the village centre of Flims.
Hof zu Wil SG (Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein)
Special Commendation, 2001: "For the contemporary architectural interpretation of an historic building and for the re-establishment of its role as a public place within the town's social structure".
La Chaux-de-Fonds (Neuchâtel / Jura / Bernese Jura)
Special Recognition, 1997: The restoration of the Café du Petit-Paris represented the smallest building project the jury had to consider. The restoration of the old interior décor...
Locarno (Ticino)
Special Commendation 1997: The group of buildings comprising the Grand Hotel Locarno remains almost entirely as it was when it was built in 1875, together with the major portion of its original parkland.
Mogelsberg SG (Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein)
Special Commendation 2000: The guesthouse 'Rössli' in Mogelsberg, a model village when it comes to retaining its ancient structure, is an imposing log cabin style construction, faced with shingle.
Oberlangenhard (Zurich (Region))
Special Commendation 1999: The Restaurant Obstgarten in Oberlangenhard was established in a well-maintained timber-frame construction deriving from the 18th century. In 1974, the building was stripped to reveal its original timber framing.
Speicher (Eastern Switzerland / Liechtenstein)
Special Commendation, 2001 for the "loving attention to the historic character of this traditional guesthouse...
Winterthur (Zurich (Region))
Winterthur-Wülflingen (Zurich (Region))
Special Commendation 1998: The castle at Wülfingen was built between 1644 and 1647 by Hartmann Escher. It underwent reconstruction and renovation in 1767.
Pontresina (Graubünden)
Special Commendation 1999: The Saratz Hotel in Pontresina was built as a private residence in 1875. Subsequent phases of reconstruction and expansion produced the hotel complex we see today.
