Grand Hotel National Lucerne

Historic – and surprisingly different. At the Grand Hotel National Lucerne, guests feel the charm of the past and the liveliness of the present, combined with warm hospitality.

The five-star city hotel on Lake Lucerne has 41 guest rooms and suites. In addition, the hotel houses 22 residences, state-of-the-art office space, six catering outlets, two ballrooms, conference rooms and a pool floor with sauna.

The Grand Hotel National AG “Fashionable since 1870”, owned by Raimondo Erculiani, is not just a hotel, but an oasis of creativity and inspiration. Each room tells a story and offers a unique experience. From elegant classic rooms to luxurious residences with breathtaking views of Lake Lucerne.

THE HISTORY
To stay at the Grand Hotel National, which opened in 1870, is to sense the omnipresent aura of a bygone glamorous era. Ever since that time, the facade on the lakeside promenade has maintained a captivating presence with its princely Neo-Baroque and Neo-Renaissance architecture, whose reflections in the water leave the guest with lasting impressions.

From the outset, the new Grand Hotel was considered a jewel of Lucerne. It was built at the right moment: Midway through the 19th century, tourism was emerging and the town became an attractive travel destination, especially for the French nobility, Russian aristocracy and British upper class.

But their arrival presented the local hospitality sector, unused to such a sophisticated clientele, with a problem. Hoteliers responded by creating an exclusive, discreet world, a microcosm of luxury catering to guests with expectations that were far higher even than what they might expect back home.

Colonel Maximilian Pfyffer von Altishofen took on the mantle of director of the Grand Hotel National in 1870. Brought up in a castle, the renowned commander knew what his distinguished guests wanted.

Seven years later, César Ritz took over the running of the hotel, thus laying the foundation for its traditional, stylish culture of hospitality. Hailing from Niederwald in Switzerland’s Upper Rhone region in Canton Valais, Ritz, a natural-born hotelier, later also ran the first Hotel Ritz in Paris with triumphant success.

Honored as the “King of Hoteliers” by the Prince of Wales (the future British King Edward VII), the grand seigneur of good taste cultivated an elegant culture of hospitality in Lucerne that still serves as an exemplar today.

In 1881 another master arrived to boost the renown of the Grand Hotel National. French celebrity chef Auguste Escoffier devotedly pampered the discerning – or fussy – palates of the aristocracy, from senior members of the German imperial family to Indian maharajas – not forgetting Sissy, Empress Elisabeth of Austria.

By way of special treats, he regularly presented guests with a selection of his world-famous signature dishes such as Lobster Thermidor, Poultry à la Derby, and Pear Belle Helene.

“The perfection of the craft must be paired with simplicity”: That was the revolutionary motto of the two top restaurateurs. For César Ritz, it meant doing away with bombastic curtains and overly courteous greetings and bringing in light colors, floral decorations, and attentive, personal service that made guests “friends of the house”.

Almost a century later, 1976 saw the architect Umberto Erculiani acquire the Grand Hotel National. Over the years and paying close attention to detail, he has subjected the establishment to extensive renovations. Among other things, 22 exclusive residences were created in the west wing for long-term tenants.

Today, the Grand Hotel National presents itself as a busy 5-star city hotel with 41 guest rooms and suites. In addition to the aforementioned residences, it houses state-of-the-art office space, six restaurants & bars, two ballrooms, meeting rooms and a pool floor with sauna.

New cosmopolitan guests enliven the grandiose setting and inject fresh grandeur into the establishment. Once a guest senses the connection between legendary tradition and sophisticated modernity, he or she is hooked!

Elisabeth Erculiani Tanner was the strong woman in the background, who watched her husband’s back and raised their two sons, Umberto and Raimondo.

ROOMS & SUITES
Immerse yourself in a different era without forgoing any comfort. Each of the 41 suites and rooms at the Grand Hotel National Lucerne is unique. Individually furnished with attention to detail, antique Empire furniture, modern art and first-class amenities.

RITZ SUITE LAKE VIEW
Reside as in a castle – like Emperor Franz and Sissi: It makes your stay in Lucerne one to remember. The impressive rooms feature 3.5-meter coffered ceilings and a 19th century chandelier, combined with technology and comfort from the here and now. The ambience of this sun-drenched corner suite is surpassed only by the fabulous views of Lake Lucerne and the Central Swiss Alps.

EMPIRE JUNIOR SUITE LAKE VIEW
Feel like royalty – and immerse yourself in a different era amid Empire-style furniture, stucco ceilings, shimmering silk wallpapers and hand-woven carpets. The antiques skillfully combine with modern furnishings and all the comforts of a 5-star hotel.

Quiet and spacious, this fabulous feel-good haven is flooded with light. It’s topped only by the balcony and its stunning views of the Lucerne lake basin, the city and the surrounding mountains of Central Switzerland.

DELUXE ROOM LAKE VIEW
Offering all-encompassing views of the lake and a 180-degree mountain vista from the Rigi to the Pilatus, this elegant double room with balcony is furnished in Empire style – with fine mahogany furniture, shimmering silk wallpaper, stucco ceilings, and an Italian marble bathroom.

Enjoy the first-class furnishings and all the amenities you have come to expect from a 5-star establishment, including free access to the pool floor with swimming pool, sauna, and massage services.

RESIDENCE
Have you always wanted to live by a lake? Every residence boasts a wealth of living space and a fully equipped kitchen. These home-from-homes benefit from our optional first-class hotel amenities, ranging from dining experiences in one of our restaurants to relaxing on the pool floor with its swimming pool, sauna and massage services. This is what modern luxury living is all about.

DINING
A range of gastronomy under one roof: Four restaurants with lakeside terraces, a café, and the legendary National Bar. The voyage of culinary discovery takes you from France to Italy to Vienna and from there eastward as far as China.

BRASSERIE JULIETTE
Look forward to our brand new concept, the Sharing Brasserie Juliette at the Grand Hotel National Lucerne, where we will present classic French dishes with modern touches.

We are proud to offer you our classics such as artichoke, beef tartare, beef fillet “Café de Paris” with pommes alumettes and marrow leg with garlic bread, prepared with passion and skill by our experienced kitchen team.

We place great emphasis on the quality of our ingredients and only use the freshest and highest quality products. We will keep you posted and look forward to offering you an unforgettable culinary experience in our sharing brasserie Juliette, where you can enjoy our classic dishes, very soon.

NATIONAL BAR
Preserved in the original style of the 1870s, the National Bar exudes an engaging charm. It’s where locals mingle with guests passing through, and where cool meets classic. A feel-good place any time of day, the National Bar is a microcosm well worth experiencing.

The locals and our hotel guests love our bar. It brings the glorious history of the hotel to life and is a perfect fit with the present – and with the past. Whether you’re alone or with your significant other, with friends or with business partners, feeling good is the order of the day here.

Whiling away the time in a relaxed atmosphere, having whatever takes your fancy from the bar or menu, and crowning a successful day in style – this is what the National Bar is all about. From morning till midnight.

CAFE CESAR
With its bistro flair, Café César is where guests and local residents mingle to start the day with coffee specialties and fresh croissants or to watch people playing boules on the Nationalquai.

KLINGLER’S RESTAURANT 
Where Mediterranean cuisine meets Italian charm in timeless elegance. Featuring high-quality ingredients, the cuisine at Klingler’s Ristorante (14 Gault&Millau points) conspires with the host’s consummate hospitality and delightful views of Lake Lucerne to provide a unique ambience. Enjoy homemade pasta in the Italian tradition and an exquisite selection of wines, many of which are also available by the glass.

JIALU NATIONAL
Welcome to the Middle Kingdom. As the chefs follow recipes that have been handed down the generations, the Chinese specialties are prepared in a manner that’s genuinely original. Discover the eclectic cuisine, which features ingredients from our homeland, and experience Chinese culture in an ambience that’s as authentic as the dishes served in porcelain bowls.

FRANZ RESTAURANT
The ambience at Franz consists of a refined blend of imperial Viennese specialties served in an elegant listed setting. The cuisine comprises popular traditional specialties such as Wiener Schnitzel and Tafelspitz, as well as other classics and seasonal dishes. Meanwhile the afternoon is spent celebrating our typical Viennese coffee house culture with a well-stocked array of cakes.

MEETINGS
Just a few steps away from the lake, our conference and seminar rooms are airy and flooded with light, and are thus the perfect location for exchanging inspirational views and perspectives.

BOAT YOUR MEETING
A boat trip is a must-see when visiting Lake Lucerne, as it combines stunning views with the gentle sound of the waves and a relaxing break on board. It’s an unforgettable and indescribable experience, but not impossible with a ship from the SNG fleet, complete with a crew.

Whether for celebrations, meetings, or anniversaries, on the waves of Lake Lucerne, a special event becomes an extraordinary one. Choose one of our pre-set packages or plan your own individual event with us.

WEDDINGS IN LUCERNE
Celebrate in sensational style. From receptions by the lake to desserts in the ballroom – whether in stilettos or sneakers, this is where your dreams will come true.

Cut the wedding cake and dance the night away in blissful happiness. Celebrate the most beautiful day in your lives in a completely carefree and in-the-moment way, but also in style – at the Grand Hotel National, the romantic venue for your dream wedding on Lake Lucerne.

SWIMMING & RELAXING
Gliding through the water – that’s always kept at an agreeable temperature – frees the mind and infuses the body with fresh energy. Complete your lengths undisturbed in Lucerne’s only hotel pool and forget the world for a few moments.

RELAXING & RELEASING
Does your back ache or your neck feel stiff? A professional massage helps tension, fatigue or pain melt away, and you feel its benefits to the full – from your head and neck to the soles of your feet.

PERSPIRING & UNWINDING
Hot and cold – tune into your own body. And afterwards, enjoy breathing the fresh air and basking in the glorious views – in undisturbed privacy, directly above Lucerne’s animated Nationalquai.

EXERCISING & ENJOYING 
Magical moments from sunrise until nearly midnight. The Migros Fitnesspark National vis-à-vis the hotel offers a unique bathing and sauna landscape complete with salt lounge, Kneipp path and seductive oases of tranquility. Our guests are entitled to discounted admission.

DISCOVER LUCERNE
In cooperation with the Unesco Biosphere Entlebuch, we would like to give you the opportunity to get out into nature after an exhausting meeting and undertake exciting challenges or excursions together with the entire team.

We will gladly take care of the planning and assist you with transportation to the nearby recreation area. Feel free to let us know what we can organize for you! We’re looking forward to hearing from you.

Rooms: 63

Price: from 415 EUR per night

Source: www.grandhotel-national.com