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BARGAIN LUXURY TRAVEL - SWITZERLAND
CHATEAU
D’OUCHY – LAUSANNE
Elegant Whimsy Castle Hotel Style on Lake Geneva Riviera
The
Chateau D’Ouchy is one of my favorite hotels I’ve stayed
in Switzerland. Perhaps it’s my predilection for stylishly updated
castle hotels. Or maybe it was my room, a suite in the medieval tower
with my own
private elevator, I’ll call the “Rapunzel Room” for its
ivy embraced stone Romanesque architecture tower windows looking on the lake,
though
inside, anything but medieval, in ultra contemporary style with curtained
cardinal bed and spacious marble bathroom. Perhaps it’s the location,
just steps from the new Lausanne funicular underground train straight from
the rail
station, and the panorama of the Lake Geneva Riviera just out the door.
The 12th Century Chateau
D’Ouchy
was built as the castle fortress residence of Landri de Dumes, the Bishop
of Lausanne, in 1170 on a prominent spot on
the lake shore, but much of it destroyed during the Bernese rule of the area.
The square single tower keep with one suite per floor is the only part of the
original medieval castle left. The Chateau was rebuilt in 1889 as a Victorian
era neo-Gothic manor, and then a hotel hosting the tourists of the grand age.
It stood as a convenient and charming accommodation in the center of the Lausanne
Ouchy lakeside district, catering to the paddle steamer cruise boats which
still ply the lake (see Lake
Geneva Paddle Cruisers). A bit worse for wear
after a century, the old grand dame hotel was completely renovated and refurbished
into a chic and stylish upscale luxury property and reopened in 2008, listed
as one of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
A still charming mix of the old and very new with a magical avante-garde twist,
the sweeping lines of the glowing inner-lit central lobby bar contrasts and
compliments the ancient stones of the medieval keep seen rising above through
the skylight glass turning the one-time courtyard into a bright space of curious
and curiously welcoming Alice in Wonderland space, with live music in the evenings
from Tuesday to Sunday. Spiral wrought iron staircases of the old mansion remain
with in the modernized luxurious contemporary surroundings decorated with whimsical,
yet tasteful pieces of modern art, parquet marble floors and crisp white linens.
The
Chateau D’Ouchy
hotel has 50 rooms of unique character, including 10 junior suites and
3 executive
suites located in the keep tower. Most of
the rooms are contemporary in style with comforatble eclectic furnishings
and all the amenities, though the top floor executive suite, maintains
the wood paneled style and stained
glass
windows
a medieval
bishop might be
accustomed to, with full all around views of the lake and Lausanne. The
Chateau D’Ouchy does not have its own full spa, only a sauna and
small Turkish Hamamm on the first floor, but guests of the hotel have free access
to the spa and wellness facilities of the five-star Lausanne Palace Hotel a
few doors away. The pool of the Chateau d’Ouchy is behind a hedge surrounded
yard to separate it from the busy lakeside promenade, but if the waters of
the lake for a sail or paddle boat ride on glistening waters against the
snow-capped Alps peaks beacon, just step out the door. Steps away also is the hotel where Lord Byron and Percy Shelley stayed on their Lake Geneva tour.
In
the Castle Restaurant, the dishes of chef Edgard Bovier can be enjoyed
in the nautical setting indoors or on the terrace set right on the esplanade,
looking over the paddle boats of summer on the lake, a popular spot for
a drink to watch the cavalcade of roller bladders, kids, and passing Riviera
bikinis. Focused on local regional produce, the full of flavor of the Mediterranean
fusion cuisine will tease the taste buds. For special occasions a private
glass enclosed wine bar is available adjacent to the private dining room.
Within
a short stroll are a variety of restaurants, shops, the Olympic Museum
(see Olympic
Museum Lausanne) and the Musee d'Elysee photography museum.
Take a lake cruise on one of the ultra modern solar powered Bateaux
Solaires boats
which dock
nearby,
or
a sailing
trip
on
the lake
in the
hotel’s
own private boat, the L'Etoile du Leman. © Bargain
Luxury Travel
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Chateaux
D'Ouchy
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More Switzerland Luxury Getaways:
Park Hotel Sonnenhof Liechtenstein
Hotel Steffani St Moritz
Hotel
Ambassador Zurich
Beau
Rivage on Lake Geneva
Wilden Mann Hotel and Restaurant Lucerne
Hotel des Trois Couronnes Vevey
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