Beau-Rivage Palace - Magnificence Redefined

By: LuxuryFacts Team

 

Posted on: July 10, 2010

 

Hotel Beau-Rivage Palace is a splendid palatial hotel with a history spanning more than a century. It has housed refugees in its magnificent rooms during the World War I and has seen various important treaties being signed under its roofs. 

 

The Beau-Rivage Palace today is the result of a major renovation with the goal of preserving the hotel’s authentic character and guarding the excellence of the establishment. It is one of the finest hotels in Switzerland. It is located in Lausanne, a city known for its vibrant and attractive life style, on the shores of the magnificent Lake Geneva and facing the idyllic Alps. Many rooms overlook the serene Lake Geneva, and the hotels picturesque park of ten acres. 

 

With 169 rooms, 33 of which are suites, two restaurants, two bars, a lavish ballroom, eleven banquet rooms, a conference center and the Cinq Mondes Spa, the Beau- Rivage Palace is a world unto itself. The hotel’s immaculate leather bound guest book contains the names of social luminaries like Coco Chanel, Mary Pickford, Gary Cooper and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Noel Coward and Somerset Maugham not only stayed in the hotel but featured it in their writing. Emperor Hirohito, Nelson Mandela, Poincare, the President of Argentina and Lord Curzon are amongst the pantheon of world leaders who have stayed at the hotel.

 

The Beau-Rivage Palace is a true centre of dining excellence. The hotel’s restaurants include La Rotonde, recently crowned with a Michelin star for the delicacy of its langoustines, the zest of its eggs à la truffe, and the boundless creativity of Chef David Sauvignet. Sample lobster, St. Jacques, bar de ligne, poularde de Bresse or ris de veau here. For a more informal atmosphere, guests can enjoy the elegant brasserie Cafe Beau-Rivage. Another beautiful option during the summer months is Le Montreux, a steamboat, where cuisine is served directly from the ovens of the Beau-Rivage Palace. 

 

Indulge in exquisite whiskies and noble cigars at the English Bar. The Beau- Rivage Palace’s legendary wine cellar houses some of the world’s most remarkable wine, numbering in the region of 600 crus and 75,000 bottles. While the wines from Bordeaux remain the most popular requested, other major European wine centres have not been neglected, beginning with Switzerland, which remains for many foreign guests a curiosity. Haut-Brion, Cheval Blanc, Romanée Conti, or Humagne from Valais, Merlot from Tessin, Brunello from Tuscany or Rioja from Spain, the greatest labels find place next to more modest but none the less interesting wines. In short, everything has been undertaken in order to transform your stay into a moment of sumptuous delight

 

The 15,000 sq ft Cinq Mondes Spa incorporates ancient health and beauty rituals as well as design elements from Japan, India, North Africa, China and Bali. The spa offers an assortment of treatments ranging from Ayurvedic massage, Balinese massage, Taoist facial massage, Body scrubs with natural papaya extracts, etc. The Cinq Mondes Spa awakens the five senses with gentle fragrances, the sensorial and tactile experience of walking through the Promenade de Pluie Tropicale (tropical rain promenade), teas from around the world, relaxing music and a Zen atmosphere.

 

The hotel welcomes each little guest also lovingly. From the moment of settling into the room (crib, chest of toys, DVDs) to the various learning and discovery activities (floral workshop, pastry class, treasure hunt throughout the hotel) or the supportive services available (special menus, babysitting, skiing trips), nothing is left to chance in order to guarantee a stay that families will never forget. The hotel caters for babies through to teenagers. There is no age limit to staying and enjoying this pleasure palace!