Recently christened ‘the best small city in the world’, the ‘Olympic City’ of Lausanne in Switzerland has new-found charm. Perched on the shores of Lake Geneva, with a population of just under 200,000, the city is renowned for its views, waterfront walks, cobbled streets and Blondel truffles. Perfectly positioned to take advantage of diminutive destination is the Royal Savoy Hotel & Spa, a princely, five-star Art Nouveau property built in 1909 and painstakingly restored to its current contemporary beauty.
Seen as a landmark of Lausanne, its ‘Grand Chateau aesthetic’ denotes elegance and luxury, and the Royal Savoy serves as the perfect meeting point for those seeking culture, history and heritage when vacationing in Switzerland.
The hotel reopened in 2015 and now features 196 rooms and suites, divided between the historical building, which houses the exceptional Royal Savoy Suite – a modern and elegant spacious apartment – and the Garden Wing, which includes the spacious Penthouse Suite, a contemporary rooftop space comprising three bedrooms, kitchen, wellness space and views over the lake and the Royal Savoy gardens.
By day, let your inner cultural connoisseur take charge, with a stroll along the waterfront, a climb up the 18th-century Market Staircase, explore the newly-opened Plateforme 10 arts district (The Royal Savoy can organise a private VIP tour of Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts for art aficionados), before ending your day at the Olympic Museum.
Retreat to the urban oasis of the Royal Savoy for an evening stroll around the 5,000sqm bucolic grounds, or hideout at the Spa du Royal and take advantage of its state-of-the art facilities, including indoor and outdoor pools, vitality pools, ice fountain, steam room and sauna. Finish your night at La Brasserie du Royal, a beautiful contemporary French restaurant or drink in 360 panoramic views of Lake Geneva and the Alps from the SkyLounge on the roof.
An urban oasis in the heart of a storied city, the Royal Savoy has become an integral part of Lausanne’s skyline and history, proving to be an idyllic combination of style, culture and calm.
Royal Savoy Hotel & Spa | +41 21 614 88 88 | www.royalsavoy.ch