Holidays in buildings of historic importance: living like in the old days

Good news for Switzerland, good news for holidaymakers and good news for culture enthusiasts: these properties, some of which are centuries old, have been saved thanks to the efforts of the Holidays in Buildings of Historic Importance foundation. They were restored in collaboration with the preservation authorities with the aim of preserving as much of the historical architecture as possible and modernising it as tastefully as possible. The result is enchanting accommodation options with plenty of attention to detail.

Founded in 2005 by the Swiss Heritage Society, the “Holidays in Buildings of Historic Importance” foundation (Stiftung Ferien im Baudenkmal) combines tourism with conservation of historical monuments. Working throughout Switzerland, it takes over architectural monuments that have been exposed to decay and threatened with demolition, carefully restoring them and giving them a secure future as holiday properties. What makes this scheme so special is the fact that the carefully restored properties are rented out at reasonable prices. The aim is to allow people to actively experience architectural heritage and to raise awareness of historical buildings.

There’s no doubt: anyone choosing to holiday in one of these individually decorated monuments will return home with lasting impressions. Exclusivity is an additional draw: listen to the waves in a nostalgic half-timbered house right by Lake Zurich, walk in the footsteps of the aristocracy in a lofty palazzo in Poschiavo or take a journey through time in a romantic country villa in Charmey. There are now 42 properties on the books, and more are being added all the time. The task of saving historically important buildings and making them accessible to the public clearly has a future!